Into the Unknown

The first rays of dawn stretched across the sky, painting it in hues of gold and lavender. Evelyn stood beside Lucien at the edge of the city, where the cobblestone streets faded into a dense forest shrouded in mist. The air was crisp, laced with the scent of damp earth and something else—something ancient and waiting.

Lucien adjusted the strap of the satchel slung across his shoulder. "The Shadow Broker's domain exists between moments, in the spaces where time forgets to flow." He turned to Evelyn, his expression solemn. "Once we enter, there's no turning back until they allow it."

Evelyn inhaled deeply and nodded. "Then let's go."

Without another word, Lucien took her hand and led her into the forest. The moment they stepped past the first line of trees, the world around them shifted. The chirping of birds faded, the rustling of leaves silenced. The light of dawn dimmed until the sky above was an endless stretch of twilight, frozen between day and night.

Evelyn shivered. "This place… it feels like a dream."

Lucien's grip on her hand tightened. "That's because it isn't entirely real. We've already crossed into the Broker's domain."

The path before them twisted in impossible ways, looping in on itself like a serpent coiling through the mist. With every step, the ground felt less like solid earth and more like the surface of a memory, shifting beneath their weight. Shadows slithered between the trees, not quite human, not quite alive.

Then, a voice echoed around them. Low, velvety, and laced with amusement. "You return to me, Lucien Drake. How unexpected."

Evelyn turned sharply, but she couldn't see the speaker. Lucien, however, remained composed. "We need your help."

The laughter that followed sent chills down Evelyn's spine. "Of course you do. That's the only reason anyone ever seeks me out." The mist ahead thickened, and a figure stepped forward—a tall, cloaked being with a face obscured by shadow. "And who is this?"

Lucien hesitated for only a fraction of a second. "Evelyn. She was erased from time by the council."

The Shadow Broker tilted their head, a ripple of something unreadable passing through the darkness where their face should be. "Ah. A ghost of history." They reached out, and though their hand never touched Evelyn, she felt the brush of something cold against her skin. "Fascinating."

Evelyn forced herself to hold their gaze. "Lucien said you can help us."

"I can." The Broker's voice curled around her like smoke. "But the question is… what will you offer in return?"

Lucien stepped forward protectively. "You already have my debt. You will take no more from me."

The Broker chuckled. "I wasn't speaking to you."

Evelyn's breath hitched as she realized what they meant. The price… it would be hers to pay.

"What do you want from me?" she asked, her voice steady despite the fear coiling in her stomach.

The Shadow Broker leaned in slightly, their presence pressing against her like an unseen weight. "Something only you can give." Their voice dropped to a whisper. "A memory."

Evelyn frowned. "A memory?"

"Yes." The Broker's tone was almost gentle now, coaxing. "One of your most precious. Give it to me, and I will tell you how to defy those who seek to erase you."

Evelyn glanced at Lucien, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. But she knew they had no other choice. If she wanted to reclaim her past, she had to be willing to lose a part of it.

Taking a deep breath, she met the Broker's gaze. "Tell me what I need to do."