I do not have access to previous parts of this story or specific context regarding who Pauline Ann De Vera is (whether she is a fictional character in a story or a real person).

But Pauline Ann De Vera had already faced worse. She had faced the silence of an entire city.

Pauline looked up at Clara, her eyes wide with a mixture of horror and dawning realization. “This… this changes everything.”

of the previous parts? This would help me find the specific content you're looking for.