Conversation ebbed as Chris stepped aside to let Francis and David through. Chairs scraped. Someone lowered the music the rest of the way until it became little more than a hum beneath the tension.

  The shift hit immediately. Too many eyes. Too little space.

  Francis stayed close at his side, her hand brushing his elbow once before she let it drop. Not to steady him. Just to let him know she was there.

  Chris cleared his throat. “Alright. Everybody relax.”

  No one did.

  Rowan was already on her feet, eyes sharp behind her glasses. “What happened?”

  David opened his mouth.

  Nothing came out.

  Francis answered for him. “There was a raven.”

  Several people glanced toward the ceiling.

  Chris shot her a look. “Francis…”

  “I know what I saw,” she said, firm now. “And so did she.”

  Questions came from several directions at once.

  “A raven?”

  “Like a bird?”

  “You mean a spirit?”

  “Where?”

  David raised a hand, palm out. The room stilled because something about him looked… unmoored.

  “It was real,” he said finally. His voice sounded steadier than he felt. “It was on the sink. Then it wasn’t…”

  He shuddered. “Then it was on me.”

  Confused looks passed around the group. Many shifted to concern for David.

  Rowan’s gaze flicked to Chris. Then to Francis. Then back to David. “Did it… do anything?”

  “No,” David said. He shuddered. “It just watched me.” He brushed his shoulder.

  The AC hummed.

  Francis nodded, adding, “With her eyes.”

  Chris dragged a hand down his face. “Okay. That’s enough for tonight.”

  A few people shifted, unsure whether to argue or agree.

  “Whatever that was,” he continued, “we’re not unpackin’ it right now. Everyone take a breath. Get some water. Sit down.” Chris ducked into the kitchen, pulling Francis with him. They returned with a few bottles of beer and a bowl of snacks.

  David lowered himself into the nearest chair when his legs threatened to give out again. The table felt too close. The air still too thick. But he stayed.

  Rowan took a seat next to David. “You’re not alone,” she said quietly.

  He looked to Rowan, “You ever see random birds in a bathroom?”

  Rowan laughed softly. “No, that part’s all you. I meant the other stuff… being trans in a world not ready for it.

  My parents were terribly awkward around me. They didn’t know how to act…”

  She smiled, her eyes fading back to memories, "The stuffy scholars in the grey suits also struggled with it. Fortunately for me, there were other teachers that understood and did what they could to help me feel comfortable. You got that here, with us."

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  David smiled relief reflected in his eyes, "Thanks, Rowan."

  The others drifted over toward David.

  David leaned back and looked up at the faces approaching. None showed malice or judgment.

  The room settled—carefully, like everyone had agreed not to touch something fragile in the middle of the table.

  David stayed seated, elbows on his knees, hands clasped tight enough that his fingers ached. The chair still felt too close. The air too thick.

  Chris hovered nearby for a moment, then nudged a cold bottle across the table. “Beer?” he asked quietly.

  David hesitated, then took it. He didn’t open it right away, just held the glass, letting the chill sink into his palm.

  Chris gave him a sly wink. “You got this.”

  Carson slid into the chair across from David and tapped her bottle lightly against his. “I dealt with something like you did in the military too,” she said.

  Angela sauntered over and leaned against the wall beside David. “When I came out,” she said, “my family looked at me like they didn’t recognize me anymore.” She exhaled. “That look stays with you.”

  Jayden took the seat next to Carson. “In the office, I get those looks,” he said. “The worst is the restroom. They know what I’m about but say nothing… because HR.” He shook his head slightly. “Still, they say it all the same. It’s tough to face that day in and day out.”

  David's shoulders relaxed. He exhaled and only then realized how shallow his breathing had been.

  “Thanks,” he said quietly. “All of you.”

  Francis paused, reading the room. “I take y’all have shared some of your own experiences with Raven to assure her she’s not alone in this?”

  Chris glanced around. “Or someone just died…”

  David chuckled softly. “No one died. But yeah… they shared some of their stories with me.”

  Francis nodded slowly.

  The humor drained from Chris’s face.

  She looked David straight in the eye.

  “You’ve paid your penance.”

  Her voice softened.

  “Now it’s time for us to pay ours.”

  Francis took a seat next to David and Chris sat opposite her.

  He popped the cap off his beer and took a hard pull. “I wish I had the whisky right now…”

  David looked up, puzzled. “Everything okay?”

  Francis hesitated. Just a breath. Then she nodded. “Yeah. It’s just… time.”

  Chris let out a slow exhale. “You remember, early on, when you asked why this place exists?” he said. “Why Francis started all this?”

  David nodded. “You said there was a story there.”

  Francis folded her arms loosely, like she was keeping herself from shaking. “I told you I’d share it someday,” she said. “Guess this is that day.”

  She glanced at Chris. He gave a small nod.

  Francis took a slow breath.

  “It was a few years back.”

  She began. “I was headstrong. Angry. Thought religion was just another scam cooked up to keep women quiet and scared.” A wry smile tugged at her mouth. “Still do, mostly.”

  Chris snorted. “Amen to that.”

  She shot him a look, then continued. “I was walkin’ home late. Took a shortcut I shouldn’t have. Three men decided that was an invitation.”

  David felt his shoulders tense.

  “I won’t get into details,” she said quickly. “Just… I knew I was in trouble. Real trouble.” Her voice dipped. “The thugs that came out of the bar looked at me and saw a freak. They felt inclined to teach the freak how to dress like a proper man."

  Chris’s jaw tightened.

  “I remember thinking, this is it,“ Francis said. “And then—” She stopped. Swallowed. “I heard a voice.”

  The room leaned in.

  “Not out loud,” she added. “Not like someone standin’ behind me. It was… inside. Calm. Certain.” She shook her head slightly. “It said I’d be okay. That I wasn’t alone.”

  David’s breath caught before he could stop it.

  Chris picked up the thread. “I don’t know why I decided to drive that way,” he said. “Wasn’t my usual route. Wasn’t even thinkin’ about her.” He shrugged. “But I got there just in time.”

  Francis nodded. “Just in time.”

  Neither of them spoke for a moment.

  “When it was over,” Francis said, “I told myself I imagined it. Trauma does weird things. Your brain lies to protect you.” She looked down at her hands. “But I couldn’t shake the feelin’ that if I hadn’t trusted that voice… I wouldn’t be here.”

  David stared at Francis eyes wide.

  She continued, “Chris insisted that I go to the hospital to make sure I was okay.”

  Francis shuddered, "The thugs never touched me but I was still terrified."

  "A nurse was there," Chris continued. "She was talkin' crazy stuff about a woman goddess name Hecate and she insisted that was who Francis heard. I couldn't make heads or tails of it so I went to get coffee to clear my head… it had been a long night after all."

  Chris cleared his throat. “I came back, and the nurse was gone.” He frowned. “I asked around about her.”

  "Nobody had heard of her." Francis finished.

  Francis huffed a quiet laugh. “That’s when I really started wonderin’ if I’d lost it.”

  “So you started diggin’,” David said softly.

  She looked up at him, surprised. “Yeah,” she admitted. “Books. Folklore. The old myths I used to roll my eyes at.” A pause. “I found stories about women standing at crossroads. Voices in the dark. Assurances given, not commands.”

  Chris glanced at David. “She didn’t go lookin’ for faith,” he said. “She went lookin’ for proof she wasn’t crazy.”

  Francis met David’s gaze now. “I never heard a name,” she said. “Never saw a face. Just that voice. And that feelin’.”

  Her eyes searched his. “Have you… ever experienced somethin’ like that?”

  The question hung between them.

  David swallowed. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “I have.”

  Francis studied him for a moment.

  Her shoulders loosened.

  She nodded once.

  “Then you know what I’m talkin’ about.”