Chapter 10: Beneath The Surface

The rain had slowed to a drizzle by the time Eleanor and Grady reached the edge of the woods. The old man leaned heavily on her shoulder, his breathing labored but steady. The wound on his chest had stopped bleeding, but his face was pale, and his steps were slow. Eleanor's mind was a whirlwind of questions, but she forced herself to focus on getting him to safety.

"We need to get you to a doctor," she said, glancing at him worriedly.

Grady shook his head, wincing as he did. "No time. That thing… it's not the only one. There's more beneath the surface. And if we don't act soon, they'll wake up too."

Eleanor's stomach churned. "More? What do you mean, more?"

Grady didn't answer right away. Instead, he gestured toward a small, dilapidated cabin barely visible through the trees. "Take me there. I've got supplies. And answers."

The cabin was dark and musty, its interior cluttered with old books, jars of strange substances, and maps covered in markings Eleanor didn't recognize. Grady collapsed into a chair by the fireplace, groaning as he did. Eleanor quickly found a first aid kit and began tending to his wound, her hands trembling as she worked.

"Tell me everything," she said, her voice firm despite the fear gnawing at her. "What's really going on here? And where is Thomas?"

Grady took a deep breath, his eyes distant. "This land… it's not like other places. There's something beneath it—something ancient. My grandfather called it the Veil. It's a barrier between our world and… something else. Something darker."

Eleanor's hands paused as she processed his words. "You're saying there's another world underground?"

"Not underground," Grady corrected. "Parallel. The Veil keeps them out, but it's thin here. Always has been. That's why the symbols were carved—to strengthen it. But over time, people forgot. They stopped maintaining the wards, and now the Veil is weakening."

Eleanor's mind raced. "And the creature we saw—it came through the Veil?"

Grady nodded. "It's a scout. A harbinger. If it's awake, it means others will follow. And if they do…" He trailed off, his expression grim.

Eleanor finished bandaging his wound and sat back, her thoughts swirling. "What about Thomas? Is he… is he still alive?"

Grady's gaze softened. "I don't know. But if he is, he's not in our world anymore. The creature took him through the Veil."

Eleanor's heart sank. "Then how do I get him back?"

Grady hesitated, then pointed to a large, leather-bound book on the table. "That's my grandfather's journal. It has everything he knew about the Veil—how to cross it, how to survive on the other side. But it's dangerous, Eleanor. More dangerous than you can imagine."

Eleanor stood and picked up the journal, her hands trembling as she flipped through its pages. The writing was dense and cryptic, filled with diagrams and symbols she didn't understand. But one thing was clear: if she wanted to save Thomas, she would have to cross into the unknown.

"I don't have a choice," she said, her voice steady. "He's my brother. I can't leave him there."

Grady studied her for a long moment, then sighed. "Then you'll need help. You can't do this alone."

"Who can help me?" Eleanor asked.

Grady's expression darkened. "There's a woman in town. Her name is Miriam. She's… different. But she knows more about the Veil than anyone else. If anyone can guide you, it's her."

Eleanor nodded, determination hardening in her chest. "Then I'll find her. But first, I need to know everything you can tell me about what's on the other side."

Grady leaned back in his chair, his eyes closing as if summoning the strength to continue. "The other side… it's not a place for the living. Time doesn't work the same way. The air is thick with fear, and the things that live there… they feed on it. You'll see things—things that will try to break you. But if you can hold on to who you are, you might just make it through."

Eleanor swallowed hard, her grip tightening on the journal. "And Thomas? How will I find him?"

"Look for the light," Grady said softly. "In a place that dark, the light stands out. If he's still alive, he'll be drawn to it. And so will you."

The cabin fell silent, the only sound the soft crackling of the fire. Eleanor's mind was a storm of fear and resolve, but one thought rose above the rest: she would find her brother, no matter what it took.