Jennifer was the first to rush toward the direction the note had come from.
Amy quickly climbed a nearby tree to survey the area.
Sarah stared curiously at the note itself.
Jane took the most direct approach.
She walked straight to the tree in the middle of the grove and prepared to dig.
Anna muttered under her breath as she wrapped her chest bindings-
"When you were facing me just now, you could all unite against a common enemy. Why are you each doing your own thing now?
Did that woman from Creados send me here to bring you all together?
I'm telling you, I'm not going to be your leader.
I'm working alone!"
Anna stressed this, yet her body moved of its own accord to help dig up whatever was beneath the tree.
She had no other motive.
She was just curious.
Anna wanted to know what was under the tree.
A chest!
Beneath the tree was an enormous chest, with a sheet of paper stuck to it-
I mean you no harm.
That is why I am giving you a chance.
A chance to back out.
Leave now, and you can return to your own lives. Open this chest, however, and everything will change.
The note was unsigned.
But all five women present knew Cassandra Credos had left it.
"How could we possibly back out at a time like this?"
Anna muttered, but rather than opening it immediately, she turned to Amy, Sarah, Jennifer, and Jane.
Sarah and Jane were immediately tempted.
The two women, who considered themselves ordinary people, felt this was far too dangerous. If they could take a safer option, all the better.
Amy and Jennifer, however, thought further ahead.
Having come this far, would that woman really let them go?
Just as Anna had