Ryan drove for another afternoon before finally arriving before nightfall.
As the familiar land came into view, a heaviness settled in his chest. That place never gave him warmth. To him, it felt more like a station where people reached out for money, not a home. He was nothing more than a tool in their eyes.
Mary stepped out and stood at the top of the mountain, looking down at the village nestled below. Smoke curled faintly from rooftops, and the landscape spread out calmly beneath the dusk.
"From up here, the village actually looks quite beautiful," she said softly. "I just don't know where the thing we're looking for is."
She paused, then continued, "Tonight, I'll bring Cleo out to look for it. Hopefully, we'll have better luck this time."
Ryan stood beside her, his expression tense.
