The forest spat them out like a bad dream.
Branches snapped behind them as Julian, Oliver, Lake, and Noah stumbled out of the dark treeline and onto an old cobblestone road. The moon hung low and crooked, lighting the strange village ahead. Tall towers, stone bridges, and lanterns floating in the air like sleepy fireflies. The place looked like someone had mashed together a medieval town and a school for wizards.
Before, back in the forest, Julian had pulled the trigger of a Barret 50 cal and blasted Emilie out of the sky. The shot didn't finish her, but it clipped and shattered her winged armor and sent her spiraling into the trees. Wherever she landed, she wasn't chasing the group anymore.
For now.....
Lake strutted ahead of everyone like he owned the night. Gone was the ridiculous gimp suit Naomi had forced him into last season. Instead, he had somehow found a tailor shop on the outskirts of the village. Now he wore a bright pink pimp suit, complete with a feathered hat and polished shoes.
He spun his cane dramatically.
"Gentlemen," Lake said, adjusting his collar. "We have entered civilization."
Oliver looked… less fortunate. During the escape, he'd had to grab clothes off a dead homeless guy near the road. The oversized coat and mismatched pants hung off him awkwardly.
Noah glanced at him. "Man… we're burning those later."
Oliver sighed, "Deal." They walked deeper into the village. The streets were empty. No voices, no guards, no townspeople. Nothing except the quiet hum of magic. Eventually, they found a single building still lit up: a tavern with golden light pouring out of the windows.
A crooked wooden sign swung above the door.
THE SILVER OWL
Julian pushed the door open. The bar inside was empty.
Except for one person.
Behind the counter stood Zoe, a blonde with sharp eyes and a confident smirk. She wore a black-and-white maid outfit that looked more like something from a fantasy costume shop than an actual uniform. She leaned on the counter, twirling a glass.
"Well, well," she said. "Look who crawled out of Naomi's forest."
Lake tipped his hat.
"Evening, miss."
Noah whispered under his breath. "How does everyone know who we are?"
Zoe slid four glasses across the bar.
"Because Naomi talks," she said. "And when Naomi talks… people listen."
That name sucked the warmth out of the room. Julian felt it immediately.
Zoe lowered her voice.
"She's already looking for you, Lake."
Lake shrugged, still playing cool.
"She can get in line."
The tavern door suddenly slammed open. Wind rushed inside. Purple light flashed across the room. And standing in the doorway was Naomi. Her long coat fluttered like smoke. In her hand was the same glowing wand she had used before.
Her eyes locked directly onto Lake.
"There you are," she said calmly.
Lake tried to bolt, but the wand flicked. A streak of violet energy wrapped around him like chains. His pink suit vanished instantly, replaced again by the cursed gimp suit Naomi had forced onto him before.
Lake yelled.
"ARE YOU SERIOUS— AGAIN?!"
Naomi smiled as she had just corrected a minor inconvenience.
"With me," she said.
The wand lifted him straight off the floor. Julian, Oliver, and Noah rushed forward, but Naomi was already rising into the air. Lake floated beside her, struggling.
"Guys don't just stand there—!"
A burst of magic exploded against the ceiling. The roof shattered open. And Naomi flew into the night sky, dragging Lake with her. The last thing y'all saw was Lake disappearing into the clouds, shouting something about his pink suit.
Zoe calmly wiped the counter.
"She's taking him to the caves," she said.
Oliver turned.
"What caves?"
Zoe gazed toward the mountains beyond the village.
Dark cliffs loomed in the distance.
"The ones where Naomi keeps the things she doesn't want the world to see."
Noah cracked his knuckles.
"Well," he said, "guess we're going cave diving."
Outside, thunder rolled over the mountains. And somewhere far above them, Naomi carried Lake deeper into the night.