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Chapter Twenty: The Cost of Remembering

Author: Yanny Starz
last update Last Updated: 2025-09-05 06:30:23

The door didn’t smash, it groaned and died slowly, like it was giving up. The heavy oak, which had stood for generations, was pushed aside bit by bit.

A pale smooth hand, like polished river stone, slipped through the crack. It didn’t claw wildly. It just pushed, calm and steady, breaking more wood to make the hole bigger. It was the most frightening thing Liora had ever seen.

“Back! Get back!” Ash yelled, his voice rough and broken. He pushed an old sack of rotten grain at the door. It was a weak wall against what was coming. The sack tore open, spilling dust and old seeds on the floor.

Kael was already moving, his own fear forgotten as he grabbed Eli and pulled him away from the hands reaching inside. Eli didn’t fight or make a sound.

His eyes stared blankly, reflecting the strange pink light outside. Liora’s mind, cold and sharp as a knife, quickly checked the room. There was no back door. No secret door. They were trapped like animals in a box. No way out.

The crowd of villagers p
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