Rohgah ran.
Branches tore at his clothes as he pushed through the trees, following Sofia's scream.
"Sofia!"
Nothing.
He stopped.
The forest had gone silent again.
Too silent.
His chest rose and fell heavily.
"Sofia!"
A faint sound came from somewhere ahead.
A sob.
Rohgah immediately ran toward it.
He found her near a huge black tree.
Sofia was on the ground, one hand pressed against her chest. The silver pendant was glowing so brightly that it illuminated her face.
Rohgah dropped beside her.
"What happened?"
Sofia looked at him.
Her eyes were filled with terror.
"You shouldn't have come."
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
"Then why were you screaming?"
She stared past him.
Rohgah turned.
Nothing.
"What are you looking at?"
Sofia grabbed his arm.
"Don't move."
Rohgah froze.
A low growl came from beneath the ground.
The earth trembled.
Sofia's grip tightened.
"It's awake."
"What is?"
"The thing beneath the forest."
A crack suddenly appeared in the ground.
Rohgah pulled Sofia to her feet.
"Run!"
They barely moved before black roots burst from the earth.
Rohgah raised his hand.
A wall of purple magic exploded between them and the roots.
The impact sent them flying backward.
Sofia hit a tree.
Rohgah landed several feet away.
He immediately stood.
The ground split open.
Something enormous began rising from beneath it.
It had no face.
Only two glowing red eyes.
Its body looked like smoke covered in black armor.
Sofia whispered,
"The Hollow."
Rohgah stared at the creature.
"What is that?"
"The reason people disappear in Blackthorn."
The creature opened its mouth.
There was no sound.
Yet Rohgah heard a voice inside his head.
Brother.
He staggered.
Sofia looked at him.
"You heard it."
Rohgah nodded slowly.
The creature moved.
Rohgah fired a spell.
The blast hit its chest.
Nothing happened.
The creature raised one hand.
Rohgah was thrown against a tree.
"Rohgah!"
Sofia ran toward him.
The Hollow turned toward her.
Rohgah pushed himself up.
"Stay away from it!"
The creature suddenly reached for Sofia.
Rohgah's eyes flashed.
Something inside him snapped.
He raised both hands.
A violent wave of magic exploded through the forest.
The Hollow was forced backward.
Trees shattered.
The ground cracked.
Sofia stared at Rohgah.
His eyes were glowing silver.
Not purple.
Not blue.
Silver.
The same color as her pendant.
"Rohgah…"
He didn't hear her.
He was staring at his own hands.
The magic surrounding him was unlike anything he had ever produced.
Then the Hollow spoke.
Not inside his mind this time.
Out loud.
"Child…"
Rohgah froze.
The creature tilted its head.
"You have returned."
Rohgah's heart pounded.
"Returned from where?"
The Hollow pointed toward Sofia.
"From her."
Sofia began crying.
"No."
Rohgah looked at her.
"What does that mean?"
Sofia shook her head.
"Don't listen to it."
The Hollow moved closer.
"The blood remembers."
Rohgah stepped forward.
"What blood?"
The creature's red eyes burned brighter.
"Brother."
Sofia screamed.
"STOP!"
She ran between them.
The Hollow suddenly became still.
It stared at Sofia.
"You remember."
Sofia's lips trembled.
"I remember nothing."
"You remember the river."
Sofia covered her ears.
"Stop!"
"The fire."
"No!"
"The woman."
Sofia collapsed.
Rohgah caught her before she hit the ground.
She buried her face against his chest.
"I don't want to remember."
Rohgah looked toward the Hollow.
"What did she forget?"
The creature slowly disappeared into the ground.
Before vanishing, it spoke one final sentence.
"Ask Machir who your mother was."
Then everything went silent.
Rohgah stared at the ground.
His mother's face.
He had never known her.
Machir had always refused to speak about her.
Whenever Rohgah asked, his father changed the subject.
Now he understood why.
He looked down at Sofia.
She was unconscious.
"Sofia."
No response.
Rohgah lifted her into his arms.
Then he heard footsteps.
Nicole, Ashbel, and Bella emerged from the trees.
Nicole stopped when she saw Rohgah carrying Sofia.
"What happened?"
Rohgah didn't answer.
Bella looked around.
"The ground is cracked."
Ashbel knelt beside one of the broken roots.
"This isn't normal magic."
Nicole looked at Rohgah.
"What did you see?"
Rohgah stared at her.
"A creature."
"What kind?"
"I don't know."
Ashbel stood.
"Where is it?"
"Gone."
Nicole's eyes narrowed.
"And Sofia?"
"She fainted."
Bella looked at Sofia.
"Why?"
Rohgah hesitated.
Then he said,
"She knows something about me."
Nicole's expression changed.
"What?"
"She called me brother again."
The three girls exchanged another glance.
This time, nobody laughed.
Nobody dismissed it.
Ashbel slowly whispered,
"Then we need answers."
A voice suddenly came from behind them.
"You won't get them."
They turned.
Machir stood among the trees.
His face was pale.
His robes were covered in dirt.
He looked exhausted.
Rohgah gently placed Sofia against a tree before standing.
"You knew."
Machir said nothing.
"You knew something was beneath this forest."
"I knew."
"You knew Sofia was connected to it."
"Yes."
"And you knew she would call me brother."
Machir closed his eyes.
"Yes."
Rohgah's fists tightened.
"Then tell me the truth."
Machir looked at him.
"I can't."
Rohgah's eyes flashed.
"You don't get to decide that anymore."
Machir stepped closer.
"You don't understand what you're asking."
"Then make me understand."
"The truth will destroy everything you believe about yourself."
Rohgah laughed bitterly.
"Maybe everything I believe is already a lie."
Machir didn't respond.
Rohgah stepped closer.
"Who is my mother?"
Machir looked away.
"Answer me."
"She is dead."
"Who killed her?"
Machir's face tightened.
"I did not kill her."
"Then who did?"
Silence.
Nicole, Ashbel, and Bella watched carefully.
Finally Machir whispered,
"She died protecting you."
Rohgah froze.
"From what?"
Machir looked toward Sofia.
"From them."
"Who are they?"
Before Machir could answer, Sofia suddenly woke.
Her eyes opened wide.
She looked directly at Machir.
"You lied."
Machir went still.
Sofia slowly stood.
"You told me he would never remember."
Machir's face hardened.
"Sofia."
"You told me the memories were gone."
"They were supposed to be."
"But they're coming back."
Machir looked at Rohgah.
"That is why we must leave."
Rohgah shook his head.
"No."
Machir's eyes narrowed.
"Rohgah—"
"I am not going anywhere until you tell me everything."
Suddenly, a loud horn echoed through the forest.
Then another.
Students were being called back.
Machir looked toward the sound.
"We need to return to school."
Rohgah stared at him.
"Why?"
Machir's voice dropped.
"Because the people who were looking for Sofia now know exactly where she is."
Sofia's face drained of color.
"Who?"
Machir looked into the darkness behind them.
"The royal hunters."
Bella immediately drew her sword.
Nicole's eyes darkened.
Ashbel raised her hands.
Rohgah stepped in front of Sofia.
"Let them come."
Machir stared at his son.
"You don't understand."
A distant howl echoed through the forest.
Then another.
And another.
Dozens of glowing eyes appeared between the trees.
Sofia grabbed Rohgah's arm.
"They found us."
Rohgah stared into the darkness.
For the first time, he wasn't afraid.
He smiled.
"Then let them find me too."
But Machir whispered something that made his blood run cold.
"They aren't here for Sofia."
Rohgah looked at him.
"They're here for you."