Arin and Kian moved cautiously through the thick underbrush, their eyes scanning for the source of the noise. When they saw the figure step out from behind a tree, relief and confusion washed over them simultaneously.

  “Lyra!” Arin called out, his voice a mix of concern and frustration.

  Lyra looked startled at first but quickly masked her emotions. She was breathing heavily, her face streaked with dirt and her hands trembling slightly. Her usually confident demeanor was replaced by a guarded stance.

  “You’ve got some explaining to do,” Arin said, walking toward her. “Why didn’t you come to the house? We waited for you.”

  Kian leaned against a tree, arms crossed, a smirk plastered across his face. “Yeah, and we were worried. You know, because Arin was pacing like a nervous parent while I was trying to enjoy my night.”

  Lyra shot him a glare. “I don’t need either of you babysitting me.”

  “No babysitting,” Kian said, holding up his hands. “Just good, old-fashioned curiosity. What’s so important that you had to ditch us?”

  Lyra didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she brushed past Arin and Kian, her eyes scanning the forest as if she were looking for something—or someone.

  “Lyra, talk to us,” Arin pressed. “We’re in this together. If something’s going on, we need to know.”

  For a moment, it seemed like Lyra might open up. Her lips parted as if to speak, but she quickly closed them again. “I’m here now. That’s all that matters.”

  The Cryptic Address

  Lyra pulled a small piece of paper from her pocket, scribbling on it with a pen she had tucked behind her ear. She handed it to Arin without meeting his eyes.

  “Here,” she said, her voice quiet but firm. “This is where you can find me after you wake up.”

  Arin looked at the paper, his brow furrowing as the words began to shimmer and fade. “Wait, it’s disappearing!” he exclaimed, his voice rising in panic.

  Lyra’s eyes widened, and she stepped closer, speaking quickly. “It’s near the east side of the city, close to—”

  Before she could finish, her body began to flicker, faint light particles floating off her skin.

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  “What’s happening to her?” Kian asked, his voice tinged with both awe and unease.

  “I think she’s waking up,” Arin said, watching helplessly as Lyra’s form started to fade.

  Lyra tried to say more, her lips moving, but no sound came out. Finally, she locked eyes with Arin and whispered, “Don’t forget. East side.”

  And then she was gone, her body dissolving into glowing fragments that vanished into the air.

  Unanswered Questions

  Arin and Kian stood in silence, staring at the spot where Lyra had been.

  “Well,” Kian said, breaking the silence, “that was weird. Even for this place.”

  “She was trying to tell us something important,” Arin said, frustration evident in his voice. “But now we don’t have the full address.”

  “Relax, Sherlock,” Kian said, clapping a hand on Arin’s shoulder. “She said east side of the city, right? That narrows it down. I know that area like the back of my hand. Trust me.”

  Arin gave him a skeptical look. “You’re sure about that?”

  “Absolutely,” Kian said with a grin. “I’ve got an impeccable sense of direction. It’s like a built-in GPS, but, you know, better because it’s me.”

  Arin sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I hope you’re right.”

  Kian stretched his arms and yawned. “Of course, I’m right. What could possibly go wrong?”

  The Search Begins

  They began walking deeper into the forest, the path illuminated by the faint glow of the game’s artificial moonlight. The air was thick and humid, the sounds of distant creatures adding an eerie backdrop to their journey.

  Kian glanced at Arin, breaking the silence. “So, what’s your theory? You think Lyra’s hiding something?”

  “She is,” Arin said without hesitation. “But I don’t know what yet. She’s keeping secrets, and if we’re going to survive this, we need to trust each other.”

  “Or,” Kian said, a mischievous grin spreading across his face, “she’s just trying to mess with us. Honestly, I’d respect her more if that were the case. It’s a bold move.”

  Arin didn’t reply, his mind already racing with thoughts of what Lyra’s cryptic instructions could mean.

  As they continued walking, the forest seemed to grow darker, the towering trees forming a canopy that blocked out even the faintest light. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the crunch of leaves beneath their feet.

  Suddenly, a faint sound reached their ears—a soft, distant voice.

  “You hear that?” Kian whispered, his tone uncharacteristically serious.

  Arin nodded, gripping his sword tightly. “Let’s go.”

  The Echoing Voice

  They moved quickly but cautiously, following the sound through the twisting paths of the forest. The voice grew louder, more distinct, and Arin’s heart raced as he recognized it.

  “It’s her,” he said, quickening his pace.

  “Or it’s a trap,” Kian muttered, though he didn’t slow down.

  The voice led them to a small clearing, the air unnervingly still. Arin and Kian stopped, scanning their surroundings.

  “Lyra?” Arin called out, his voice echoing.

  The response came almost immediately—a soft, breathy laugh that sent shivers down their spines.

  “Okay,” Kian said, his hand hovering over the hilt of his sword. “This just got a whole lot creepier.”

  Arin didn’t respond. His focus was on the shadows at the edge of the clearing, where the faint outline of a figure was beginning to take shape.

  “Lyra?” he called again, stepping forward.

  The figure moved closer, stepping into the moonlight.

  It was Lyra?

  To Be Continued...