She remained there beneath the emerging stars, the taste of cave dust still on her tongue, the echo of ancient words haunting her chest. Samantha dropped to her knees, her shoulders quivering under the weight of a truth that made no sense—but felt terrifyingly real.
Tears spilled freely now. She bowed her head and let the sorrow fall.
“This was just a waste of time,” she whispered through clenched teeth. “I came all this way for riddles… for silence.”
A sharp gust of wind swirled around her, though the forest ahead remained still. And then—
“Child…”
The voice returned. Not from outside—but from deep, deep within the cave. Not loud, but thunderous in its own way. Not cruel, but cold enough to freeze the blood.
She turned her head slowly. The cave mouth loomed behind her like the jaw o
