Chapter 12: Into the Hollow
The map was faded and frayed, the ink nearly worn away by time, but the symbol at its edge burned bright in Emma’s mind: a crescent moon wrapped in flame.
It wasn’t on any modern map of Hollow Creek. Not on any satellite image. But the terrain was unmistakable—beyond the eastern ravine, through a stretch of forest the townspeople avoided even in daylight. The locals had a name for it.
The Hollow.
Lucas had warned her that the path wouldn’t be clear. The forest there had a will of its own, shaped by the magic left behind. It could twist trails. Fracture time. Pull memories from the roots and weave illusions to confuse the mind. They would need to rely on more than just their eyes.
They left just after dawn, packs strapped to their backs, weapons and ritual t
