By Thursday, Jas was regaining strength, thanks to Ivy Mae’s lavender remedy. The group worked tirelessly, packing essentials for their journey.
As Roman rummaged through the cluttered shelves, he discovered a map buried in one of Ivy Mae’s old books, marked with cryptic symbols. “This could lead to Edin,” he said, though he didn’t sound convinced.
While they sorted through the stacks of supplies, a sudden jolt sent a nearby book tumbling to the floor. It landed open, and a crumpled newspaper clipping fluttered out, landing at Jas’s feet. Intrigued, they bent down to pick it up.
The headline read: Economic Blackout Leads to Stock Market Crash and a New Economic Era. As they read the article, Jas felt a strange resonance with their current situation. The words spoke of resilience, of communities coming together in the face of adversity.
Roman glanced over, curious. “What’s that?”
“It’s an old clipping from Ivy Mae’s blog,” Jas replied, their voice filled with wonder. “It talks about how the Economic Blackout changed everything. It seems so relevant now—about how people can come together when the system falls apart.”
Ivy Mae, overhearing, approached and took a closer look. “Ah, I remember writing that. It was a time when the world felt upside down, but it also brought out the best in people.”
Miracle whined at the door, staring into the crack as though waiting for something. Ivy Mae whispered, “Maybe Shadow’s already gone ahead.”
Jas, still weak but determined, said, “If we’re leaving, we leave nothing behind.” They tucked the newspaper clipping into their pocket, feeling its weight as a reminder of the strength found in unity and transformation.
As they continued packing, Jas couldn’t shake the feeling that the clipping was more than just an old article; it was a sign of hope, a call to embrace the challenges ahead and transform their destiny together.