A Glimpse Into the Past

Chapter 11

The safehouse the Council provided was far from what Evelyn expected—a derelict railway station hidden away on the outskirts of Grimvale. Its rusted iron doors, covered in protective glyphs, creaked as Seraphine led the way inside, brushing her fingers over the glowing symbols and murmuring ancient words. The wards hummed with power, keeping the outside world at bay.

Inside, the air was cool and dry, a stark contrast to the musty ruins above. The space had been transformed into a sanctuary—small rooms warded with enchantments lined the hall, offering temporary refuge. They entered a large common room, dimly lit by floating orbs of soft, magical light, casting gentle shadows on the worn-out furniture.

Marcus slumped onto a threadbare sofa, his head falling back as he exhaled deeply. "I don't know how much more of this I can take," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "Feels like we're jumping from one nightmare to the next."

Evelyn dropped into a chair beside him, giving him a tired smile, though she felt just as worn out. "We'll get through it, Marcus. We always do." Her voice was steady, but inside, doubt flickered. She wasn't sure who she was trying to convince—him, or herself.

Seraphine paced the length of the room, her sharp eyes distant as if seeing through the walls and into some other plane. "We're safe here for now, but we can't get comfortable." Her voice was quiet but firm. "The Council's scouts will be watching, but we need to remain vigilant. There's more at play here than we understand."

She stopped pacing and looked directly at Evelyn, her gaze intense. "Those shadows, those wraiths—they weren't just after you by coincidence. There's something about you, Evelyn. Something important."

Evelyn frowned, feeling a surge of frustration. "I don't remember anything that would make me important. I'm just a detective—I've never been involved in anything remotely like this."

Seraphine's expression softened, but she didn't waver. "There are parts of your past hidden, even from you. Whatever it is, it's drawn these dark forces to you. It's something they fear."

Across the room, Marcus straightened up, rubbing his temples. His eyes were unfocused, as if trying to chase down a thought just out of reach. "I've been having these strange feelings, like there's something I should remember but can't," he said quietly. "It's like trying to recall a dream—just when I think I've got it, it slips away."

Evelyn's pulse quickened. The foggy memories, the fragmented flashes—Marcus's experience mirrored her own. But every time she tried to focus, it was like trying to hold water in her hands. Her thoughts kept slipping through her fingers, leaving behind only a gnawing sense of loss.

Seraphine stepped closer, her gaze steady and reassuring. "Whatever it is that connects you both, it left a mark. A mark that's attracted powerful attention. But the more you push to remember, the more dangerous it could become. We need to be careful."

Evelyn clenched her fists, the frustration inside her boiling over. "I hate this," she whispered, her voice trembling with restrained emotion. "I hate not knowing why any of this is happening."

Seraphine placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, her voice low and calming. "You will know, Evelyn. We'll figure it out piece by piece. But right now, you need to rest. That's what the enemy is counting on—to catch you when you're weak, exhausted."

Marcus, still sitting on the sofa, nodded, his gaze meeting Evelyn's. "She's right, Ev. We'll get through this." His tone was gentle, but there was a warmth in it that she hadn't noticed before. It felt... familiar, like a thread that had always been there between them, even if they hadn't realized it.

Evelyn looked at him, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Yeah. Together." There was something comforting in saying it out loud, as if that promise gave her strength. "We'll rest tonight, but tomorrow, we start digging for answers. I'm done running."

Seraphine gave a nod of approval. "That's the right attitude. We'll head to the Council in the morning. They'll have more information. Whatever's lurking in Grimvale, we'll find it—and we'll stop it."

The room fell into a heavy, thoughtful silence. Despite the safety of the warded walls, the weight of their situation pressed down on them all. None of them were truly resting.

Evelyn and Marcus sat across from each other, wrapped in thin blankets as the floating orbs of light dimmed around them. The quiet stretched on until Evelyn let out a deep sigh, glancing at Marcus. "You know, with everything going on tonight, I realized I don't really know you," she said, her tone light but carrying a deeper curiosity.

Marcus gave a tired smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Yeah, I guess we skipped the formal introductions." He leaned back, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm Marcus, a security guard—or at least I was before all this. Grew up on the south side of Grimvale. It wasn't easy, but I managed to make something of myself. Now… well, now everything's changed."

Evelyn nodded thoughtfully. "I'm Evelyn. Detective, obviously." She chuckled softly. "I grew up here too. My parents weren't really around, so I spent most of my time figuring things out on my own. Asking too many questions. I guess that's why I ended up in this mess—I've never been able to leave well enough alone."

Marcus gave a low chuckle in return. "I get that. I've always had a thing for fixing stuff—machines, gadgets, anything that needed work. But lately, there's been this nagging feeling in the back of my mind, like a piece of my past doesn't fit."

Evelyn's smile faltered as her heart skipped a beat. "You too?" She hesitated, feeling a connection form between their words. "I've been having the same thing. Like we… like we knew each other before. But I can't put it together. It's just... gone."

Marcus leaned forward slightly, placing a hand on her shoulder. His touch was steady, reassuring. "We'll figure it out, Ev. Whatever it is, we'll get there. We just have to keep moving."

Evelyn looked at him, the warmth in his eyes giving her a flicker of hope. "Yeah. Together." She took a deep breath, feeling some of the tension in her body loosen just a little. "So, no sleep tonight, huh? Maybe we should keep talking—anything to keep our minds off… everything else."

Marcus leaned back again, a faint smile on his lips. "Sounds like a plan. How about we start with the least terrifying thing that happened today?"

Evelyn laughed, the sound cutting through the heaviness in the air. It was small, but for the first time in hours, she felt a glimmer of relief. They continued talking, their voices low and soft as the magical orbs dimmed around them, the fragile thread of hope winding itself through the darkness.