The city was quiet as Caleb pulled the car onto the empty road, the hum of the engine cutting through the silence. He glanced at the GPS mounted on the dashboard, its screen showing a blinking marker deep in the middle of nowhere.


    Evelyn sat in the passenger seat, her arms crossed and her gaze fixed out the window. She hadn’t said much since they left his apartment, and Caleb wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not.


    “So,” Caleb said, breaking the silence. “You want to tell me where we’re going?”


    Evelyn didn’t look at him. “There’s an old ruin in the forest about two hours from here. The next key is there.”


    “And you’re just… certain of that?” Caleb asked, his skepticism clear.


    “The first two keys pointed to it,” Evelyn replied. “The carvings on the second one were a map.”


    Caleb frowned, gripping the steering wheel tighter. “You mean the one from the crime scene?”


    Evelyn nodded. “The coordinates were buried in the patterns on its surface. Whoever designed the keys—they didn’t want just anyone finding them.”


    “And yet, here we are,” Caleb muttered.


    Evelyn glanced at him briefly. “You’re welcome.”


    “For what?”


    “For not leaving you to figure this out on your own.”


    Caleb let out a short laugh, though there was no humor in it. “Yeah, because this whole thing is going so great.”


    Evelyn didn’t respond. She turned her attention back to the window, her expression unreadable.


    The road grew darker as they left the city behind, the headlights barely cutting through the dense fog that clung to the asphalt. Caleb’s eyes flicked to the GPS again, the blinking marker still far ahead.


    “You still haven’t explained why you’re doing this,” Caleb said after a moment.


    Evelyn glanced at him. “What do you mean?”


    “I mean, why get involved at all? You don’t strike me as the type to play hero.”If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    “I’m not,” Evelyn said simply.


    “Then what is this? A personal vendetta? A chance to settle some old score?”


    Evelyn didn’t answer immediately. She shifted in her seat, her gaze fixed on the road ahead. “It’s personal,” she said finally.


    “That’s not an answer,” Caleb said.


    “It’s the only one you’re getting,” Evelyn replied, her tone sharp.


    Caleb shook his head, muttering under his breath. “You’re impossible.”


    They drove in silence for the next hour, the tension in the car thick enough to cut with a knife. Caleb wanted to push her, to demand answers, but something about her demeanor kept him quiet. She wasn’t just guarded—she was carrying something heavy, and whatever it was, she wasn’t ready to share it.


    The GPS beeped suddenly, breaking the quiet. Caleb glanced at the screen, frowning. “Looks like this is where we get out.”


    The gravel road ended at the edge of a dense forest, the trees towering overhead like sentinels. Caleb parked the car and killed the engine, stepping out into the cool night air. The silence was immediate and absolute, broken only by the faint rustle of leaves in the wind.


    Evelyn climbed out of the car, pulling a small pack from the backseat. She adjusted the strap on her shoulder, her movements precise and deliberate.


    “This way,” she said, nodding toward the narrow trail that disappeared into the trees.


    Caleb stared at her for a moment, then sighed. “Of course it’s in the middle of the woods. Why wouldn’t it be?”


    The trail was barely visible, overgrown with weeds and tangled roots. Caleb shone his flashlight ahead, the beam catching on the occasional twisted branch or jagged rock.


    “How do you even know about this place?” Caleb asked, stepping over a fallen log.


    Evelyn kept moving, her steps light and deliberate. “Because I’ve been here before.”


    Caleb frowned. “When?”


    “A long time ago,” Evelyn said.


    “Not exactly a detailed answer,” Caleb muttered.


    “It’s all you need,” Evelyn replied.


    Caleb rolled his eyes but didn’t press further.


    The farther they went, the darker the forest became. The trees grew thicker, their branches clawing at the sky like gnarled fingers. Caleb’s flashlight barely cut through the shadows, and every sound made his grip on his gun tighten.


    “You think they’re following us?” Caleb asked, his voice low.


    “They’re always following,” Evelyn said.


    “That’s comforting,” Caleb muttered.


    Evelyn glanced back at him briefly, her expression hard. “We’re in their territory now. They know we’re here.”


    “And you didn’t think to mention that before?”


    “Would it have changed anything?”


    Caleb opened his mouth to respond, then stopped. She had a point.


    They reached a small clearing after what felt like hours. Evelyn stopped abruptly, holding up a hand. Caleb froze, his flashlight darting between the shadows.


    “What is it?” Caleb whispered.


    Evelyn crouched down, brushing her fingers lightly against the dirt. Caleb stepped closer, shining his flashlight on the ground.


    Footprints. Faint but unmistakable, leading deeper into the forest.


    “They’ve been through here recently,” Evelyn said, her voice low.


    “Great,” Caleb muttered. “So, we’re walking right into their hands.”


    Evelyn stood, adjusting her pack. “If we want the key, we don’t have a choice.”


    Caleb sighed, his frustration mounting. “You’re really enjoying dragging me into this mess, aren’t you?”


    Evelyn didn’t respond. She turned and started walking again, her flashlight cutting a narrow path through the darkness.


    Caleb hesitated for a moment, then followed her.