afford to be rivals. Whatever secrets Ethan kept, whatever darkness lurked in his past, we were now allies fighting

llowing the attack, we sat opposite from one another at the kitchen table. Though not the uncomfortable kind to which we had become us

ething different-something softer, more vulnerable. I coul

d learn who these people are and why they are after us." Ethan nodded, his jaw tightening. "It won't be a easy thing to do. These people ar

and turning back now wasn't possible, I let

We have to, if we are to survive

correspondence with names I knew but clearly meant something to him. I watched Ethan's shoulders tighten and his fingers linger on specific pages as we went through the

ng one tiny fracture at a time as a dam collapsed. The first major discovery came when we came over a letter sent several years ago under Vince

han stopped then answered, his voice strained. "An old friend of

revealed a meeting in Grey Hollow. The tone was dark, with gently disguised warnings about the fallout should specific requi

," I said, finger-tracking the letter's lines.

sense anxiety. "I know this place real

ake," I remarked, trying to lo

ar more dangerous than we could have dreamed as we got ready to leave. Still, I couldn't ignore the fire of will in Ethan's eyes. I saw him as someone other th

d taxing. Ethan was still, staring at the r

om? Between him and Ethan, what

hick forests, the air heavy with ruin. Though massive, the home was crumbling with shattered windows and ivy climbing the wall

han the exterior. But there was another: a residual presence that caused the hair on the rear of my neck to raise. Leading the route, Ethan had a rigid posture as though he feared a

s?" I asked, nearly in a whis

with every stride. At the bottom we found a tiny compartment loaded with antique records

the letter. Vincent penned the letter using the date the day he vanished. It was a confession, deta

under control. A chilly dread descended over me as I came to finish reading. We were in something deeper t

been stifling for so long. And at that moment I understood we would have to rely on one another to survive. The actual conflict had hardly started, and i