Outside the window of the car, the city's noise gave way to silence… buildings turned into scattered houses, then fields and broken fences. The road grew narrower, rougher, the darkness grew deeper, until only the headlights cut through the night.
The farmhouse was still a while away, but already the air felt different… heavier, and expectant. Like the world itself was holding its breath, waiting for what they'd discover.
Inside the car, Jean leaned into Logan's shoulder, letting her forehead rest there. For a moment, there was nothing but the hum of tires over cracked asphalt, Logan's steady breathing beside her, and Hannah's focused gaze ahead… carrying all of them closer to a truth they weren't sure they were ready to face.
The car slowed to a crawl as the gravel road ended, headlights sweeping over weather beaten boards and half collapsed fences. Weeds curled around old porch steps, and broken window shutters banged gently in the breeze.
