Chapter 1142

When they returned to the clearing, the others were gathered again, this time in the shade of the larger tree by the river path. It looked casual at first: Rose lounging against the trunk, Layla combing her fingers through Scarlet's hair, Zoey whispering into Natalie's ear. But as Jude and Sophie approached, they saw it.

They were drawing something.

In the dirt.

A pattern.

Jude's pulse jumped.

Not watcherscript.

Something else.

Older. Cruder. But unmistakably deliberate.

Sophie gasped softly. "That's not a symbol. It's a map."

Zoey looked up and smiled, too wide.

"You're just in time," she said sweetly. "We were thinking of going for a walk. There's something we want to show you."

Rose stood, brushing her hands on her thighs. "It's a gift."

Jude met Sophie's eyes.

It wasn't over.

It was only beginning.