Santos

hey said it builds character and fosters community spirit. We had to clear t

overy. We were to help clear rubble and assist in mappi

which forcibly connected us t

. The air was thick with dust, mingling w

y uncomfortabl

brush near the eastern edge. I drove my shovel

eping into my skin, turning my stomach. It was the scent of dam

denly ye

figurine that looked incredibly old. "

d, had also touch

it. "Perhaps an ancient fertility idol? Quite co

and filled wheelbarrows with loose dirt. The work felt pointless. It wa

eth, buttons, scraps of fabric-they were everywhere. Every single p

uantity was

e shade of a tree. The conversation turn

omething was off?" Cassan

of fun, babe. You scared?" He

m last night. It was super vivid." She shivered. "I dreamt I w

d my

dentical. The dark setting. The

veins. The curse. It was r

earby. He was a construction foreman, grump

kids shouldn't go touching t

al legends, the kind my grandmoth

ven Asylum back in the 19

ed on this land," Mr. Mason said. "Old wars, clashes between settl

ied the patients here, in a mass grave. Hundreds of

e churned-up earth. They t

strange affliction-he was always counting. Counted everything. His fingers, the cracks

ting. Still trying to get everything in order. Word is, his spirit got

e. What do they mean?" My voice was barely a whi

is arm back, stari

nished. Others will finish it for me.'" With that, Mr. Mas

ss the site, kicking up d

le, right? Made up to scare kids." But his voice ha

, just a story. Not real." Her eyes da

struck som

on. Made of tarnished silver, its design

s thermos, saw it. "Don't touch that, little

s button. From the asylum. The fancy kind, not meant for the regular patients." With th

Mason said, eyeing the button. "This matches the style of t

The asylum.

ead washed over

's story. They weren't jus

nse of doom s

s. The dreams. The Count

errible p

stories. The world was about t