Whisperings in the Dark
The campfire danced with uneasy light, casting long shadows over the weary faces of Ivy Mae, Roman, Jas, and their newfound companions, Maria and David. They had stopped in a small clearing, shielded by towering trees and the faint hum of the nearby river. The night felt heavier than usual, the air thick with a foreboding silence.
“We heard about Haven from a trader we met south of here,” Maria said, her voice barely audible over the crackling flames. She wrapped her arms around herself, as if trying to ward off more than just the chill. “He said it was a sanctuary—safe, thriving. But…” She hesitated, exchanging a glance with David.
“But what?” Ivy Mae pressed, leaning forward.
David sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “He said not everyone makes it there. The journey’s dangerous. There’s a man… they call him ‘The Engineer.’ He controls one of the main routes north, and if you cross his path, you’d better have something he wants.”
“Or what?” Jas asked, his voice trembling despite his effort to sound brave.
Maria’s eyes darkened. “Or you don’t cross at all.”
The group fell into uneasy silence. Roman poked at the fire with a stick, sending a shower of sparks into the air. “Sounds like a bully with too much power,” he muttered. “We’ll steer clear of him.”
“That’s what we thought too,” David said. “But avoiding him means taking the long way around, and time isn’t something any of us have in abundance.”
As the fire burned low, Ivy Mae stared into the flames, her mind racing. Haven was supposed to be a beacon of hope, but now it felt more like a mirage on the horizon