CHAPTER THREE — The Cave Beneath the Pines
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Far beyond the edge of town, where the pines crowded so thick they almost touched, the cave yawned open like a secret waiting to be confessed.
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Aiden stood near its entrance, eyes on the horizon. Lila leaned against the rock, tracing old carvings with her fingers.
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“She’s back,” Lila said quietly.
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Aiden turned sharply. “You’re sure?”
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Lila nodded. “I felt it. Like the air remembered her.”
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He sighed. “That could ruin everything.”
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“Or fix it,” Lila murmured.
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Inside the cave, a pale light shimmered — their bond mark, the Chaufiwah curse that bound them all. The glow pulsed like a heartbeat.
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“Ruby won’t stop until she finds the truth,” Lila said. “Even if it means exposing us all.”
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Aiden’s expression hardened. “Then we need to find her first.”
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CHAPTER FOUR — Ordinary Isn’t Safe
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At Hillcrest High, life went on as usual. Students rushed through corridors, gossip hummed like bees, and Ruby’s name was just a legend whispered by a few nostalgic teachers.
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Theo sat in chemistry beside Annabelle — effortlessly confident, always late, nails perfectly painted.
“Hey,” she whispered. “You okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
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He almost laughed at the irony. “Just… bad sleep.”
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From across the room, Flora rolled her eyes at Annabelle.
Their silent war continued — subtle, bitter, unspoken.
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During lunch, Charlie joined them, full of energy and bad jokes. “Guess who found out the school basement used to be a bomb shelter? Creepy, right?”
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Theo froze. Cave. Basement. Hidden places.
He wondered if Ruby knew about that too.
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Later, walking home alone, he saw something impossible — a faint silhouette watching from the trees. The same girl. Ruby.
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When their eyes met, she disappeared again.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEChEuaVXLT
and then Add to home screen.