The early morning light seeped softly through the curtains, casting a gentle, hazy glow across the kitchen. Outside, the faint hum of distant cars and the occasional chirping of birds drifted through the quiet.

  Ben stood at the stove, flipping pancakes, when his mom, Elena, came downstairs.

  “Good morning, Mom,” Ben said, offering a smile. “I made breakfast.”

  Elena’s eyes, usually bright, held a hint of weariness, but she managed a warm smile. “Thank you, honey. You didn’t have to.”

  They ate in comfortable silence, the clink of forks on plates the only sound. As they finished, Elena spoke. “How about I drive you to school today?”

  Ben’s brow furrowed. “Aren’t you going to be late for work?”

  “Not today,” she replied, her voice soft. “I start in the afternoon. Plenty of time.”

  As they got into the car, the familiar route to school somehow felt different. When they pulled up, Ben saw his father, James, leaning against his own car.

  “Hi, Elena,” James said, his tone polite but distant.

  Elena gave a brief nod. “Goodbye, Ben,” she said, before driving away, leaving him standing at the curb between them.

  As Ben walked toward the school entrance, his thoughts churned. He remembered when his parents had been so happy, so clearly in love—the easy laughter, the shared glances. Then came the divorce. When he’d asked his mom why, she had only said they didn’t get along anymore. But Ben knew that wasn’t the whole story. He’d seen the way they still looked at each other sometimes, a flicker of something that still felt a lot like love. It was a puzzle he couldn’t solve.

  After class, Ben and Alex sat together in their usual spot in the cafeteria. Alex leaned closer, whispering about going back to Sylvaria soon. Ben, fiddling with the amulet, muttered, “Maybe we shouldn’t get involved with them.”

  “What do you mean?” Alex asked. “It’ll be fun. Besides, this town is boring.”

  Mary approached, her brows furrowed in curiosity, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied their faces.

  “Hey, you two. What’s going on? You’ve been whispering all morning,” she said, her voice soft but insistent.

  Alex shot a quick glance at Ben, a knot tightening in his stomach. He remembered Ray’s warning that it was better to keep Sylvaria secret.

  Ben took a slow breath, trying to sound relaxed even as his heart thumped harder. “Oh, you know,” he said with a shrug. “We’ve been studying for the test next week.”

  The words felt thin, like a flimsy cover over the swirl of nerves underneath.

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  Mary tilted her head, unconvinced. “Really? You two are studying?” she said, a hint of suspicion in her tone.

  Before Ben could answer, Mary’s friend Jessica hurried over.

  “What’s going on?” Jessica asked.

  “Nothing’s wrong, Jess. Just trying to study for the test,” Ben said quickly, his voice a little too bright as he tried to brush it off.

  Mary stepped a bit closer to Ben, lowering her voice.

  “If you’re really studying, can you help me too? After school, at my house,” she whispered eagerly. “My parents won’t be home today.”

  Ben’s stomach twisted with a mix of excitement and nerves. He wanted to say yes immediately—to have more time with her, to finally be close.

  “Yes,” he blurted, almost before he realized he was speaking.

  Alex nudged him. “Didn’t we promise Ray we’d come back?” he whispered.

  “Come on,” Ben said softly, forcing a small smile. “I’ve been waiting for this for a while. They can wait a little longer.” He looked back at Mary, hope flickering in his eyes. “Yeah, I’d love to help you study.”

  Mary’s face lit up. “Thanks! Meet me after school?”

  She glanced at Jessica. “Come on, let’s get back to class.”

  The rest of the day blurred past. When the final bell rang, Ben met Mary outside.

  “Hi, Ben,” Mary said, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Thanks for coming.”

  They walked to her house together, Ben feeling that mix of excitement and nervous energy grow with each step.

  Mary’s living room was cozy, cluttered with books and scattered notebooks. They settled at the dining table.

  “All right, let’s get started,” Mary said, pulling out her notes.

  They worked through homework, talking over problems and laughing at small mistakes. It didn’t take long before the studying turned into jokes and easy conversation.

  “Do you want something to eat?” Mary asked softly.

  Ben nodded, smiling. “Yeah, sure. Thanks.”

  Mary went to the kitchen, but when she opened the fridge and pantry, her shoulders sagged. There were only a few eggs, some bread, and a half-empty jar of jam.

  “I’m so sorry,” Mary said, cheeks flushing. “We don’t really have much to cook. And I’m terrible at cooking anyway.”

  Ben chuckled, trying to ease her embarrassment. “It’s okay. How about I cook something?”

  Mary blinked. “Really?”

  Ben nodded, a spark of confidence warming his eyes. “Yeah. I’m pretty good at it. Just leave it to me.”

  He rolled up his sleeves and got to work, gathering what he could find. Mary watched quietly from the doorway as he moved around the kitchen with practiced ease. The soft sizzle of the pan, the smell of warm eggs and toast, and the low murmur of their voices filled the house with a gentle warmth.

  Soon, they sat together at the table, plates in front of them.

  “Wow,” Mary said, taking a bite. “This is amazing.”

  “Glad you like it,” Ben said. “I wanted to do something nice.”

  They shared stories and jokes, their laughter filling the small room. Time slipped by unnoticed, the outside world fading until it felt like it was just the two of them.

  Then Mary’s smile softened. Her hand reached out and rested lightly on his arm. She leaned closer, her eyes searching his.

  Ben felt his heartbeat slam against his ribs. His mind raced as she moved nearer, her face inches from his, her lips just a breath away.

  He was about to close the distance when—

  DING-DONG.

  The doorbell shattered the moment. They jumped apart.

  Mary’s parents stepped inside a few seconds later, smiling.

  “Hi! We’re back,” her mother called.

  “Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad,” Mary replied, her cheeks still pink.

  Her father noticed Ben. “Oh—hi, Ben. We didn’t know you were here. Would you like to stay for dinner?”

  Ben glanced at the clock, disappointment tugging at him. “Thank you, but I should get going,” he said softly.

  He gave Mary a small, grateful smile as he stepped out into the cool evening air. He drew a deep breath, letting it settle in his chest.

  The street was quiet. People had already gone home; the sidewalks were nearly empty. Ben walked alone, his thoughts drifting between the almost-kiss and the amulet hidden beneath his shirt.

  Then he felt it—a heavy presence.

  He looked up.

  A hulking shape stood at the end of the street, blocking the fading light.

  It was Grim.