CHAPTER 3 Far Off

Fall is here, and everywhere.

A midday visit to the garden was delightful treat for the eyes to see, the high autumn sun shines warmly overhead, casting golden ray of light that filtered through the canopy of every tree on its path, creating a majestic landscape to the once colorful garden. 

The Limelight Garden Park was one of few recreational spots located near 17th Street. It was built in honor of the first Prince of the House of Sheen, The Lord of Limelight City. Its garden was a beautiful retreat, carefully designed with winding paths surrounded by colourful flowers and tall trees.

Smooth concrete pathways stretched wide across the park, inviting visitors to stroll at their own pace. Benches placed at intervals offered restful pauses, and lanterns illuminated the paths, ensuring the park felt cozy and safe, even at dusk. The evenly spaced trees create a clear sightlines from end to end, enhanced visibility and safety throughout the park.

Amidst the lush crimson foliage, a little girl stood, her gaze fixed on one of the towering trees. The branches stretching high and wide, nearly touching the neighboring trees. As the wind stirred, fallen leaves from the tree showered the child, as if attempting to captivate her with its wonder.

As the child walked closer to the tree, the fallen leaves, in hues of amber, crunched softly under her feet, releasing a crisp noise that was pleasing for ear to hear, she glanced over her shoulder, trying to avoid any suspicious eyes.

Then, suddenly, she threw her arms around the tree and hugged it tightly. Her embrace was fierce and earnest, as if she wanted to crush the tree with all the might she could muster with her small arms.

Kimmi was that little girl.

Only moments earlier, she thought that leaving the house for a walk and heading to the park would alleviate a strong urge she felt bubbling within. She had hoped that the fresh air and change of scenery would satisfy and calm the restless urge.

But even after she stepped outside, the unease lingered, making her fidget and glance around nervously.

However, as she arrived at the park with her mother, something sifted. The overwhelming urge slowly began to fade. Now, it became nothing more than a minor suggestion in her mind, something she could now easily ignore, allowing her to finally relax and enjoy her surroundings.

Her mother, noticing the shift in Kimmi's behavior, let out a quiet sigh of relief. She found a nearby bench and settled down with her tool roll, the array of chisels and carving knives gleaming in the sunlight, their well-maintained edges a testament to the care of their owner.

She began to deftly sculpt a new piece, her hands moving with practiced precision, though her gaze occasionally flickered toward Kimmi. Worried about her daughter differences from other children, she often felt anxious when Kimmi was out of sight, even in calm place like this.

"Kimmi, you can go play, But! Stay where I can see you, alright?" Catherine called out, her voice gentle yet firm.

Kimmi nodded, feeling obliged to heed her mother words, though she had no particular destination in mind. She simply wanted to observe the world around her.

As time went on, she wandered further through the park, enjoying the vibrant autumn scenery.

All of a sudden, she stopped, her eyes catching something in particular—a tree. At first glance, it was unremarkable, blending seamlessly with the other trees surrounding the area. Yet, an inexplicable force pulled her toward it.

It felt oddly familiar, as if it held a secret only she could uncover.

Little did she know, just moment earlier, she had been drawn to this very spot, to this particular tree, without understanding why.

The Odd Tree

Now, standing before it, Kimmi began to circle the tree, trying to understand what made it significant compared to the others around her. As she surveyed her surrounding, it struck her that this tree was much further from the main pathway than she had realized.

Kimmi paused as a flicker of anxiety swept through her. She had wandered far enough to lose sight of her mother—something she wasn't suppose to do. But what troubled her more was the fact that she hadn't recall choosing to walk here.

Her thoughts were elsewhere, yet somehow her body had led her here unknowingly.

"Hmmm… This is interesting" Kimmi murmured, trying to remember how she ended up here. She only now aware that she had wandered aimlessly.

She vaguely remembered passing by certain places, stopping here and there, even crawling through a hole under a wall and balancing along a fence—movements far from ordinary, especially without any real awareness.

She didn't feel alarmed, as it always led her to the same familiar surroundings—a wide field with trees scattered about and only a few minor differences, like a different pose of statue or fountain.

Then, she realized she might have been passing through different segments of the park.

Limelight Park was divided into sections, each featuring a fountain or statue in a specific pose meant to convey a symbolic message to its viewers.

Kimmi looked around the park, trying to figure out how to return to her mother before she started to worry that her daughter was missing. She tried to retrace her steps, relying on her instinct and brief glimpse from her memory.

After a few second of observing her surrounding, she finally spotted a familiar wall in the distance. She notices it might be the one she had entered through to get here.

Just as she started to turn back toward the main path, something else caught her eye.

The amber—hued leaves scattered across the ground, while a familiar sight for autumn, yet beneath the layer of leaves, the ground was bare—no grass grew there. It was as if people frequently wandered here, leaving the soil worn and exposed.

Kimmi curiosity piqued, and she return her attention back to the tree, moving closer to inspect it. She began to studying its gnarled roots, the rough bark, and finally, her gaze settled on the branches above.

The branches seemed to whisper to her, tickling the edges of her mind. In that instant, she knew there was something extraordinary about them, something that demanded her attention. Was it the towering height, or perhaps a creature living at the top, like a bird's nest or the bird itself.

"Ah, this again, the undesirable thoughts. What do you want?" she muttered to herself while looking at the tree. "What is so special about this tree? What do you want me to do with it?" she continued.

Nothing. No response from the tree or even in her head. No memories. No nothing.

Kimmi knew full well what had happened here. She believe the urges had brought her here without her noticing it.

Kimmi let out a long sigh, feeling as if she might grow crazier the longer this went on. "Well, if nothing else," she muttered, casting a wary glance around the park.

Taking a deep breath, she walked towards it once more and wrapped her small arms around the rough bark and hugged it tightly. "Is this what you want? Are you satisfied now, or am I just a fool?" She whispers fiercely, her voice trembling with frustration as she pressed her cheek against the trunk.

Kimmi had just learned a few tricks to control and calm the urge as she strolled mindlessly through the park.

She realized that all it took was giving the urge a tiny bit of attention, just enough to satisfy its pull. By briefly touching on it or allowing herself a fleeting thought—enough to ignite her curiosity—the urge would then start to fade, slowly but surely, easing her discomfort without any lingering effects.

Suddenly, a calm cheerful voice interrupted her thoughts. "Hi there! What are you doing?" Startled, Kimmi glanced up to see a boy standing nearby, his wide grin and curious eyes fixed on her.

He looked about her age, with neatly styled brown hair in a bowl cut. He wore a loose, vibrant purple tunic that sharply contrasted with his green trousers. Around his neck hung a folded black linen in shape of square, tied with a string like an amulet or trinket. His pale skin stood out in the daylight, while the pungent, earthy scent of herbs clung to him, wafting through the air.

Kimmi face flushed with embarrassment. She quickly released the tree, turning to face the boy. "Well, what do you think I'm doing?" she retorted, then added with a touch of confidence, "Climbing, obviously." Though the lie felt awkward on her tongue, she hoped it would be enough to cover her discomfort.

The moment the boy caught sight of her face, his eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, I know you!" he blurts out, his voice fill with shock. "You're Kimmi!"

Kimmi blink, surprised that someone her age actually knew her. "Yes…, the one and only," she replied with a mix of suspicion and curiosity.

"You can talk!" the boy exclaimed, his eyes wide with amazement.

Kimmi frowned, puzzled by his reaction "Is it that surprising to hear me talk?" she asked, her uncertainty creeping into her voice. Then, realizing she hadn't asked the most crucial question, she added, "And who exactly are you?" Her eyes narrowed as she waited for his answer.

"I'm Ruben," the boy said quickly, flashing a friendly grin and giving a casual wave.

"Very well, Ruben…" Kimmi tone sharpened as she tilted her head slightly and then asked. "Should I know you?"

Ruben hesitated, caught off guard by the directness. "I… well, no, we've never actually spoken like this before," Ruben stammered, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. But then, with a sudden spark of excitement, he added, "But I definitely know who you are! Actually, your moth—" He started to say more but Kimmi cut him off.

"Yes, yes of course, you've already mentioned that once," Kimmi said impatiently, her frustration growing. "So, where did you learn about me, Ruben?"

Ruben looked a little embarrassed but smiled knowingly, his chest puffing out slightly as he shifted his body, trying to appear more confident. "Your mother told me about you," he admitted, his tone softening. "She asked me to keep an eye on you." He pointed a finger at Kimmi.

Kimmi's eyebrows shot up. "Really?" she said, her voice flat with disbelief, her gaze shifting between Ruben and his proud stance.

"And… Aunt Cane, she always says wonderful things about you too," Ruben added quickly, a hint of admiration in his voice. His eyes sparkled as if he'd just shared a great secret. "She even talks about how special you are, you know?" He paused, watching her reaction with a warm smile, but Kimmi wasn't entirely sure how to feel about it.

He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a small wooden bear, perfectly carved and fitting snugly in his palm. "And she even gifted me this!" he exclaimed, proudly displaying the intricate figurine as he dangled it in front of Kimmi.

Kimmi's eyes followed the wooden bear as it swung slightly in Ruben's hand, almost as if he were toying with her, though she didn't notice. "My mother made that? And gave it to you?" Kimmi asked, her curiosity piqued. She wondered why her mother would do that.

'Could my mother have a hobby of making toys for children?' she thought, trying to recall the house and the store below. She remembered glimpsing figurines on the shelves and a few more in the workshop. 'Could all that be a toys and not just mere decorations?' Kimmi wondered, her thoughts drifted to the moment her mother gave her the wooden knife she called Strife. 

"Yes, you have a very wonderful, kind, and loving mother, Kimmi..." Ruben nodded, his eyes shining with appreciation for the intricately carved bear. He glanced curiously at Kimmi, noticing the way her gaze lingered on the figurine.

"You don't seem to mind anymore…. That's strange," Ruben added, tilting his head, his curiosity growing.

Kimmi looks at Ruben, puzzled, not understanding what he was doing or saying. She then patted her pant pocket, feeling the reassuring shape of the wooden knife through the fabric—she, too, had something similar. To confirm it was still there, she briefly pulled it out to verify her assumption and then slipped it back into her pocket.

Ruben took notice of Kimmi slight movement and caught a glimpse of the object in her pocket.

"Well then," Kimmi said, as she brushed bits of bark from her shirt, "It's nice to meet you, Ruben." She gave him a polite nod before turning away. "But I really must be going."

"Wait! Was that made by Aunt Cane too?" Ruben asked excitedly "Is that a sword? Wou… would you like to trade it for my bear?" he stuttered.

'A sword?' Kimmi thought. The length of Strife wasn't long enough to be called a sword, it was more like a dagger than anything else. But, of course, with her small frame, it might as well have been.

Kimmi paused for a moment, considering the offer before dismissing it with a shrug. "Not interested," she said curtly, her gaze fixed ahead as she brushed off his question. Without another word, she turned on her heel and walked away.

Just as she picked up her pace, eager to distance herself from the boy Ruben, she suddenly collided with another boy directly in her path. The impact cause her to fall and be seated on the ground.

Surprise, she looked up to see a boy much larger and more robust than Ruben, standing smugly before her, his warm-toned skin catching the light as he cast a shadow over her. He had black, well-kept hair framed his face, and he wore a light blue shirt paired with loose, baggy gray trousers, cinched at the waist with a brass belt.

"Well, Well, Well, what do we have here, a rat?" the boy sneered arrogantly and continue. "Or maybe a beaver with those buck teeth of yours, planning to chew down some trees, are you?" he taunted, laughing cruelly.

Kimmi remained silent, feeling threatened by the boy standing in front of her. Her mind raced as she tried to process the situation. She never thought that Kimmi would have an enemy, but now she felt cornered by these two boys. Even though Ruben didn't seem to have any ill intent toward her, she still felt cautious. She suspected that Ruben might as well be a decoy, distracting her long enough for the other boy to catch her off guard.

The urge within her began to boil, flooding her with a strong wave of hatred and a faint but growing desire to hurt the boy in front of her. Despite this, Kimmi remained resolute, determined not to be swayed by her emotions. She clenched her teeth and fought to keep her expression calm.

As Kimmi stood up, she quickly pushed at the boy who was mocking her to create a distance between them.

Miss!

But she missed, her hand sliding through empty air and barely touching him, which almost caused her off balance and fall again.

She felt a surge of frustration and embarrassment wash over her, her cheeks flushing with a mix of anger and humiliation. Despite her initial failure, she tried to remained calm, but the urge kept pushing her to act. Little by little, Kimmi revolves began to crack, her eyelid twitching as she struggled to hold her anger.

The boy watching Kimmi with amusement, reaching his hand out to poke her forehead for fun.

The instant his finger touched her forehead, Kimmi snapped. She unleashed a flurry of punches at him, each strike meant to inflict pain. But as her fists flew, a disturbing realization crept over her.

Miss! Miss! Miss! Miss! Miss!

Each punches hit nothing but air, as if all her arm movement were directed by unknown force.

The boy, shocked and confuses by her sudden flurry of swings, did not even flinch or move, simply watching her with a bemused expression. "Look! She did it again, Ruben! She's Crazy!" the boy laughed, calling out to Ruben, who was standing behind Kimmi, watching her nonchalantly.

"Don't say that, Logan!" Ruben said worriedly. "You'll anger her. She might bite you. Remember last time when she bit your arm and it bled?" He looked at Kimmi with concern.

"Why you care so much all of a sudden?" Logan shot back, narrowing his eyes in suspicion at Ruben.

Ruben gaze flicked to the small wooden bear in his hand, and Logan eyes widened with realization. "I knew it! She got to you too! Traitor!" he yelled, his voice dripping with betrayal.

"What do you mean? She gave you a sword, didn't she?" Ruben snapped, his frustration bubbling over. "It's only fair I get something as well!"

"That was different!" Logan eyes glared at Ruben with anger. "Sir Edward gave it to me!"

"But the sword was made by Aunt Cane!" Ruben countered, crossing his arms defiantly.

"It's different!" Logan shouted, his voice rising.

"How so?" Ruben demanded, clearly exasperated.

"Sir Edward gave me the sword for practice!" Logan barked back. "Meanwhile you! YOU…" He pointed an accusatory finger at Ruben, trembling with rage. "…accepted Aunt Cane gift because of her." He jabbed his finger towards Kimmi, the accusation hanging in the air.

Kimmi, caught in the middle, shifted uneasily, unsure of the brewing tension. 

Ruben's face hardened, but he remained calm. "It's my job to watch her, and you know it, too," he explained.

Logan scoffed, throwing his hands up in mock frustration. "Yeah? Well, all you do is watch, creep!" He grinned, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Maybe you'd be better off marrying her, you two lunatics look great together."

Kimmi stood dumbfounded as the two boys continued shouting at each other, her eyes widening with realization. They clearly knew each other well. Logan seemed to harbor a strong dislike for her, though she couldn't fathom why, while Ruben appeared to be both a friend and a liar. He seemed to know more than just her name—he was aware of her past actions and had likely been watching her closely, though she didn't know the reason.

As their voice ringing around her, Kimmi glanced down at her trembling hand, overwhelmed with worry. She was at a standstill, her mind blank as she tried to process what had just happened. The anger she felt was quickly overshadowed by the weight of confusion. She had thrown a punch and missed, not once, not twice, but six times in a row. Each failed attempt replayed in her mind like a taunt, amplifying her sense of inadequacy.

Kimmi aimed her punches at Logan chest and stomach, as these were the most accessible and largest targets. Given that Logan was bigger, slightly taller and very close to her, she should have easily been able to land her punches.

Her mind swirled with wild possibilities. 'Was the urge somehow controlling her arm movements?' she thought. 'Could it have intentionally guided her to miss the boy, preventing any real harm? Or was it something deeper—an internal conflict she hadn't realized? Had she subconsciously held back?' Her thoughts lingered for a moment before she pushed them aside.

'No, that couldn't be right. She was certain the boy deserved a bit of thrashing. Both she and the urge were in agreement on that, or so she thought. So why had she missed?' Kimmi believed something different had caused her failure.

Kimmi anxiety grew, a chilling thought began to seep into her mind. 'What if divine intervention had cause her to miss her punches? What if it was a test from God, a measure of her worth, and now she was failing it?' Her thoughts raced, each one more frantic than the last, as she struggled to make sense of her failure.

Perhaps she had been overthinking it. Maybe it was all just a coincidence, or perhaps she wasn't physically capable of landing a punch, or simply didn't know how to throw one.

Kimmi stared down in a daze for a while until a small pebble hit and bounced off her wooden shoes.

Clonk!

Kimmi looked in the direction from which the projectiles had come and realized that Logan was throwing small pebbles at her from a distance, with Ruben right next to him. Logan then started calling her names and mocking her.

"Hey, bucktooth beaver! What you going to do now?" Logan jeered, his voice filled with laughter, continuing to throw pebbles at her feet.

"This doesn't feel right to me, Logan," Ruben muttered, shifting uncomfortably. His hesitation was clear as he watched his friend taunt her. "We were supposed to look after her, not—this. Not make fun of her."

Logan expression darkened, his playful demeanor fading. "Not anymore, Ruben…" he replied, his tone suddenly bitter. "She's a menace." His hands clenched into fists, trembling as if he was trying to contain his anger. 

Clonk!

He then threw another pebble, which bounced off Kimmi shoe and indirectly hit her jaw.

Ruben glanced at Kimmi to make sure she was alright, then back at Logan, his brows furrowing in confusion. "She just… sick. She needs help. You know that, don't you?"

"Sick?" Logan scoffed, his eyes narrowing with resentment. "She's not sick, she's crazy! She doesn't care about anyone but herself!"

"That's not true" Ruben protested, his voice rising. "You're just angry because—"

"Watch your mouth, Ruben!" Logan snapped, his eyes flashing with warning, Startling Ruben.

Kimmi stared at them in disbelief. Her worries vanished, only to be replaced by anger. Kimmi face flushed in red as she began to walk toward them, raising her arms to shield herself from anything they might throw at her.

"STOP IT!" she shouted. "I have no quarrel with you, Idiot!" she took a deep breath and continued, "I don't even know who you are, nor do I care what had happened in the past, whether it's to me or to you!" Kimmi glared at Ruben and Logan, her eyes filled with disdain.

Logan stopped throwing stone when he heard the shouted, his eyes widening in astonishment as he realized someone was shouting at him to stop. He glanced around, noticing that a few bystanders had also paused, their curious and concerned gazed pointed at him.

Bewildered, Logan searching for the source of the voice. 'Could it have been her?' he pondered, casting a wary look at Kimmi. 'Did she just raise her voice at me?' The thought unsettled him, as he had never before heard Kimmi utter a coherent word before.

It suddenly dawned on him that he might have been harassing the wrong person.

"Did she just… speak?" Logan whispered to Ruben, his voice trembling with a mix of confusion and fear. "Did we just mess with the wrong person?"

"There's no 'WE' in this, Logan, just you," Ruben clarified, stepping back with his hands raised, distancing himself from the situation as he had done nothing wrong. "I tried to warn you, but you didn't listen."

Logan face twisted in frustration, misunderstanding what Ruben trying to say. "You said she was Kimmi!" he shot back defensively, as if that somehow justified his actions.

"You're not wrong… she is indeed Kimmi," Ruben answered calmly, raising an eyebrow at Logan sudden need for clarification for something so obvious.

"No, she's not," Logan muttered, rubbing his forehead in frustration. "The Kimmi we know is dumb." His voice wavered slightly, as if trying to convince himself more than anyone else. "She doesn't speak—she could…" He faltered, his eyes darting around, searching for the right word before snapping his fingers as if an idea hit him "…grunt, but never talk like that."

"She is Kimmi," Ruben sighed, looking at Logan helplessly. "She may not be her usual wild self, but she's still bit an oddball…" Ruben explained, crossing his arms and offering a wry smile.

"Wait, what?" Logan voice wavered, disbelief creeping into his tone. "Are you seriously messing with me, Ruben?" His eyes darting around, searching for something, anything, to make sense of this.

As they argued, Kimmi stepped closer, her anger rising with every deliberate stride. Her footsteps echoed with growing intensity, causing the boys to tense up. Her presence seemed to swell with each advancing step, the air thick with tension.

Logan fumbled awkwardly, struggling to belief the girl before him was Kimmi. His face twisted into a strained, uncertain smile. "I—I'm really sorry," he stammered, the discomfort obvious in his voice. He glancing nervously at Ruben for support but finding none. "We thought you were someone else we knew." He gestured vaguely at Kimmi as if that would somehow sooth thing over.

Kimmi narrowed her eyes, unimpressed. Her feet remained planted as she stared at him, anger still simmering just below the surface. Logan smile faltered as he noticing how familiar she looked—too familiar. His eyes darted over her face, searching for something to confirm or deny what his gut was telling him.

Logan blinked in surprise. Curious, he asked, "Wait what's your name?" His voice was softer now, as if he wasn't entirely sure he wanted the answer.

Still fuming, but maintaining her composure, Kimmi responded firmly, "Kimmi!"

Logan confusion only deepened. He furrowed his brow and asked a similar but slightly different question, "What's your last name?" 

Kimmi lets out a disconsolate sigh, visibly frustrated with the multiple questions. Crossing her arms, she let out a long, exasperated breath, her gaze shifting toward the sky, as if hoping for answers to the confusion swirling inside her. "Gustmill…" she said slowly, her voice tinged with impatience but also uncertainty, as if the name didn't quite sit right with her.

Her gaze darted back to Logan, and a flicker of doubt passed through her. "…Kimberly Mae Gustmill," she finished, but there was a hollowness to her tone.

Kimmi extended her right hand to Logan for a handshake, her smile both menacing and bright—a mix of welcoming and unsetting.

Logan hesitated for a moment, eyeing her hand warily, but he eventually took it. "So… you're that crazed girl, huh?" he said, his voice tinged with curiosity.

Kimmi eyes flashed as she yanked Logan hand toward her, pulling him off balance. With a swift, unexpected move, she smiled, satisfied she had made contact and managed to throw him off balance.

Swung a punch at Logan, but her aim went astray. Her fist slid through the air, narrowly missing its target.

Miss!

Kimmi eyes widened with shock. Troubling thoughts began to swirl in her mind. 'Did I miss again?'

Logan stumbled back, eyes with shock. "Whoa! Hey!" he exclaimed, quickly pulling his hand away, his voice full of surprise.

Kimmi glanced at Ruben that was just right next to Logan and dashed toward him, her fist clenched and ready to strike. Seeing Kimmi charging at him, Ruben was startled and instinctively covered his face and eyes to protect himself.

Miss!

But then nothing happened. Slowly, he lowered his hands and looked on in wonder. He saw Kimmi, looking pale and distressed, and then turned to his friend Logan, who was staring back with his mouth agape in shock.

"She truly lost it…," Logan muttered, glancing at Ruben before continuing, "Didn't you see that? She was trying to hit you."

Ruben, visibly rattled and irritated, responded, "How could I see! I had my eyes closed!"

Just as Logan and Ruben readied themselves up for another heated argument, their attention was abruptly diverted to Kimmi. There she stood, lost in a disarray, her face a blank canvas of shock and despair.

Lost in thought, Kimmi stared blankly at Logan and Ruben, her mind still faint. Then her glance shifted to a nearby lamp post. A sudden flash of insight hit her as she walked toward the lamp post and touch it, then she slapped it and finally with a burst of fury, punched the pole with all her might, causing the lantern at top of the pole to shake. Blood oozed from her knuckles, the sting of injury bringing her back to reality.

Kimmi looked down at her bloodied fist, her expression a tumultuous mix of disbelief. She glanced back at Logan and Ruben, a sad, almost haunting smile forming on her face, her eyes reflecting the pain and confusion within.

Logan and Ruben instinctively stepped back as Kimmi advanced toward them. "Stay back, Kimmi!" Logan warned, his voice sharp with fear. He glanced at Ruben, his eyes wide with alarm, before continuing, "I bet she's about to rampage like before. No—She's already started!" He recalled how she had punched the lamp post, trying to break it.

"I don't know, Logan. We better find Aunt Cane fast! before she hurt herself even more," Ruben said worriedly, thinking about Kimmi well—being.

"Are you stupid? Everyone going to blame it all to us for her own injuries," Logan argued.

"You provoked her first, remember? And threw stones at her too!" Ruben shot back.

"I threw them at her feet! I never once hit her!" Logan angrily lashed out at Ruben.

As Logan and Ruben argument raged on, Kimmi spiraled into despair. Her thoughts plunged into darkness, overwhelmed by the thought of being punished by some unseen force that shielded Logan and Ruben.

Her eyes glazed over, lost in bewilderment, her skin growing pale as fear of the unknown crept in like a fleeting light lost in the shadow. Kimmi face shifted, her lips curling into haunting smile that seemed both unsettling and eerie. 

"I'm sorry..." Kimmi spoke softly. "I didn't mean to hurt you guys... I'll be better..." Her smile was wide, but her eyes told a different story—madness.

The air around her grew colder, and her once-confident stance faltered as her gaze flicked between Logan and Ruben. The smile lingered too long, sending a chill down their spines. Logan and Ruben exchanged a knowing glance. They had to do something.