Chapter 7 : Secrets and Symbols

Nova sat cross-legged on her bedroom floor, the carved message from the basement still echoing in her head: "They wait."

She spread out everything she had collected so far — the note, the pendant, her own sketches of the spiral symbol, and now photos of the strange carvings from the basement wall.

The spiral symbol appeared again and again, each one subtly different — like variations of a code. And each seemed deliberately placed, not random graffiti.

She flipped open the old leather notebook Liam had left behind — her fingers brushing over his hastily scribbled notes:

> "They're watching. Patterns in the trees. The symbol means passage. DON'T GO ALONE."

The phrase "passage" struck her.

Passage to where?

Suddenly, her phone buzzed.

A message from Mia.

"Meet me by the woods. I found something."

Nova's pulse spiked. She shoved the pendant around her neck, stuffed the notebook into her backpack, and raced out.

As she reached the edge of the forest, she saw Mia waiting, holding something wrapped in cloth. She unwrapped it slowly — revealing a wooden box with the same spiral carved into its lid.

Inside, folded maps. Dozens of them. Hand-drawn paths, underground tunnels, and old town blueprints Nova had never seen before.

"This wasn't just about Liam," Mia said, voice low. "This has been happening for years."

Nova looked at the maps. They all led to one place.

Raven's Hollow.

Nova met Mia's eyes. "Then that's where we go next."