Chapter 1216

Zoey was the first to approach the spirals, her bare feet pressing into the cool morning sand as the tide crept forward and kissed the edges of the glyphs. They didn't wash away. The water passed through them like mist over stone - untouched, untouched by nature itself. That alone chilled her. Behind her, Jude followed slowly, Susan's hand still in his. He kept her close, always, now that he knew how easily she could be taken. Sophie, Lucy, and Zoey moved in a careful triangle, forming an instinctual shield around one another. They hadn't discussed it, but it happened naturally.

Twelve spirals.

One for each of them.

Zoey knelt beside the nearest one, her hand hovering just above the sand. "They're drawn in watcherscript," she whispered. "But something's different. It's not memory glyphs… these are names."

Sophie crouched beside her, eyes narrowing. "Whose?"

Zoey's lips parted. She traced one slowly. "Mine."

Jude turned quickly. "What?"