The next day, we prepared for the next leg of our journey—the City of the Forgotten.
Before we left, Edee handed us a fragile, timeworn map.
"This will help," she said, her voice calm but firm.
"But don't expect the path to be straightforward."
I nodded, gripping the map tightly. Hopefully, it would make finding our way easier.
But before heading there, I had one last stop to make. I needed to return to Topaz Orphanage, the place where I was raised.
I wasn't sure if they had kept anything from my past, but if there was even the slightest chance of finding something that once belonged to my real family, I had to take it.
"Stay a little longer," Dylan said, his voice unusually soft.
I shook my head.
"I can't. Sorry, Dylan. I need to finish all of this as soon as possible. And I have to get back to the city before we move on to our next destination."
Dylan just nodded.
Xander and Vlad were already waiting, standing silently a few feet away. Though they didn't say much, their presence reassured me.
No matter how strange or dangerous things had become, they had stayed by my side. Somehow, I was grateful for that.
The orphanage hadn't changed much. The worn brick building, partially covered in ivy, stood at the edge of town, surrounded by a rusted iron fence.
Laughter rang through the air as children played in the courtyard, their carefree joy a stark contrast to the weight pressing down on my chest.
Inside, the head caretaker, an elderly woman named Miss Bernadette, greeted me with surprise.
"Leighton? My goodness, it's been years."
"I know," I said, offering a small smile.
"I was hoping… I know it's a long shot, but do you still have any of my old belongings? Anything from when I was a baby?"
Miss Bernadette's expression softened with understanding.
"Let me check the storage room. Wait here."
Minutes later, she returned with a small, faded box.
"This is all we have."
I carefully lifted the lid, my heart pounding. Inside, wrapped in a delicate cloth, was a tiny gemstone charm—old but intact. I ran my fingers over the worn threads, feeling an odd connection to it.
"This was with you when you were found at our doorstep," Miss Bernadette explained. "We never knew where it came from."
I swallowed hard and carefully placed the charm inside my bag. Maybe this was the missing piece of my past I had been searching for.
After a brief conversation with Miss Bernadette, I thanked her and left the orphanage.
Since we were still in the city, I took the opportunity to charge my phone. As soon as it powered on, my stomach dropped.
"Oh no," I muttered.
Missed calls. Dozens of them. And unread messages—all from Keanu.
I hesitated, my finger hovering over the screen. I didn't dare call or text him back.
"Whatever happens, happens," I told myself.
If they fire me, I'll just find another job somewhere else.
But before I could decide what to do, my phone rang.
Keanu.
I wasn't ready, but I answered anyway.
"Leighton? Oh my God, where were you?"
"I'm so sorry, Keanu," I said, wincing.
"The Chief Editor wanted to give you an assignment," he said, excitement in his voice.
"This could be big for you!"
I hesitated.
"You're not happy?" His tone shifted.
"I thought you'd be excited."
I opened my mouth but didn't know what to say. "I…" I stopped.
A beat of silence. Then—
"Don't tell me you're sick and hospitalized again?" Keanu asked suspiciously.
The moment he said it, an idea struck me.
"Yes," I blurted out.
"I am. The doctor said I need to rest more. I'm afraid I can't do anything right now."
"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that, Leighton. I should've known you weren't feeling well."
His concern was genuine, which only made me feel guiltier.
Then he said the words I dreaded.
"Where are you? I'm coming to visit."
Panic surged through me.
I quickly faked static noise.
"Hello… hello? Keanu? I can't hear you."
I paused, then added, "Hello? You're still there? Hellooooo…?"
Then I hung up and, without hesitation, switched my phone off again.
When I looked up, both Xander and Vlad were staring at me.
"What?" I asked defensively.
Xander shook his head, unimpressed.
Vlad just smirked.
"I had to," I explained.
"You don't expect me to tell him the truth, do you?"
Neither responded, but their amused expressions said enough.
With the charm secured, we finally set off toward the City of the Forgotten.
The journey led us to the Black River—a wide, eerie expanse of water that pulsed with an unnatural darkness.
The air grew colder as we approached, and whispers slithered through the wind, beckoning me forward.
"This place is cursed," Xander muttered, his eyes glowing faintly.
As we attempted to cross, shadowy figures rose from the depths, reaching for me. My vision blurred, my mind growing hazy. A cold voice seeped into my thoughts, luring me toward the water.
"Come closer... give in..."
I staggered, my body moving against my will. Panic surged through me. I was being pulled into something unseen.
"Leighton, snap out of it!" Vlad's voice cut through the fog, but it felt distant.
Xander grabbed my arm, shaking me.
"She's being possessed!"
I felt the darkness coil around my mind, trying to consume me. But just as I was about to slip away, warmth spread from my wrist—the bracelet Edee had given me.
A sudden surge of energy pushed the darkness back. The woven charm protected me, keeping the creatures from fully taking control.
With a final burst of effort, we pushed forward, fighting off the shadows until we made it across. I collapsed onto the other side, gasping for breath.
"You okay?" Xander asked, kneeling beside me.
I nodded weakly. "I think so."
Just as we recovered from the river, we entered a dense forest. But something was wrong. A thick haze swirled around us, blinding our vision.
"Something's not right," Xander hissed, his stance tense.
Blinded by the fog, both Xander and Vlad were vulnerable.
Vlad clenched his fists, frustration clear on his face.
"This isn't natural."
Before panic could settle in, a familiar voice cut through the mist.
"Leighton!"
Dylan emerged, carrying a small pouch of herbs.
"Breathe this in," he said, tossing them toward Xander and Vlad.
The haze didn't seem to affect him as much—perhaps because of the herbs.
"How did you find us?" I asked, relief washing over me.
Dylan smirked.
"I could sense you were in danger. We're connected, remember?"
With his steady presence leading the way, we navigated out of the suffocating fog.
At last, we emerged into a desolate clearing, where the remnants of a forgotten village lay in eerie silence.
My eyes fell on a weathered, splintered signboard, its faded letters barely legible.
"Hollow Hamlet."