47

CASSY

We arrived in the abandoned town in the dark, shadows stretching across the crumbling streets like black veins.

Phin's hunch was accurate. A faint scent lingered, traceable but fragile. Then, just as quickly as it appeared, it vanished, leaving nothing but empty air. My chest tightened as dread crept in, but I refused to let it stop us. Teddy was out here somewhere, and I wouldn't leave without him.

As we moved cautiously through the overgrown weeds and cracked pavement, the town felt eerily quiet, like a place forgotten by the world.

The silence stirred memories I had tried to bury deep. I couldn't help but think back to that time with Kael, the time we almost lost him.

The parallels were too close, too unnerving.

I had promised myself I wouldn't let anyone else get that close to the edge. But here we were again, chasing after Teddy, and the fear was like an old wound that refused to heal.

The memory of Teddy's pale face, barely clinging to life, flashed in my mind, and I h