Friday: The Legacy of Zipolita
The morning dawned cold and gray, a mist clinging to the ground like a shroud. The group moved with heavy hearts, packing their belongings in silence. Jas clung to Sam, his small hands gripping tightly as if he could hold on forever.
“You don’t have to go,” Jas whispered.
Maria knelt beside him, her voice soft but firm. “Yes, we do. But we’ll see each other again. I promise.”
Sam pressed a small carved piece of driftwood into Jas’s hand. “For luck,” he said simply.
Ivy Mae stood apart, watching the exchange with a mixture of sorrow and determination. “Follow the river,” Maria reminded her. “It’s your best chance.”
“And stay clear of the Engineer,” David added. “He’s more dangerous than you realize.”
As the two groups parted ways, Ivy Mae felt the weight of their loss settle on her shoulders. She turned to Roman and Jas, her voice steady. “We’ll find Haven. For them. For all of us.”
They followed the river north, the water’s song guiding them into the unknown. Behind them, the sound of laughter faded into silence.
Later that day, as they passed through a valley, Jas pulled out an old, battered device. "I found this in the ruins back there," he said. "It's a blog, from before... well, all of this."
Ivy Mae paused, eyes narrowing with curiosity. She glanced at the screen. The page read: The Changerz. The name felt oddly familiar, like a whisper from the past.
“It’s written by a woman named Zipolita,” Jas continued. “She was a photographer and artist. She created a secret blog, shared info, tried to help people navigate everything happening. Said she lived to 108. Isn't that funny? Her and Bernie...”
Ivy Mae nodded, a quiet smile tugging at her lips. “It’s not just a coincidence. People like her, like Bernie... they never really leave. Their words, their actions—they ripple through time.”
Roman, ever the skeptic, raised an eyebrow. “You think this Zipolita’s words helped?”
“I do,” Ivy Mae said firmly. “Her fight was for all of us. And now, it’s our turn to carry it forward. We are the change.”