Whispers Through Time

was, sipping cheap wine from a hotel coffee mug and staring at a mes

ered, wiping her nose with the

t... insulting. After everything-her patience, her

rolled through her playlist before tapping one called "Get Over It, Girl." A few empowering anthems late

d help. Or

"reset" her mind after the breakup and the burnout from work. Zara worked in fashion buying: constantly

and her multi-tool keychain-into her small crossbody bag. As a city girl,

he kind of quiet that

as the wind danced through them. Her steps were soft against the damp soil, the oc

when the si

ard the sky, the flashlight swingin

ble stirr

r-but now a thick fog was rolling in fast, curlin

No birds. No wind. Just that

o," she whispere

nd her...wasn't t

nic clawing its way up her th

pulsed

ac

f her. The forest twisted. She felt her body jerk violentl

, she wa

a hard thud that knocked

scent of something wild a

nto her side. The air was

de. The trees were gone. In their place stood rolling

the he

slowly, h

attery low but working. Flashlight, gra

f grass and dirt. There was no

un

Ho

riders galloping toward her across the hill. Long cloaks fl

"Whoa-wait! I don't know what's go

!" one of

No, ho

. One dismounted, grabbing her arm while

That's

d muttered, turning her phone over in

er said, pulling at her col

t ma

thmark on her shoulder blade. She'd had

ith something like

e leader ordered. "Lord Dari

o the hel

ers and pulled her onto a horse. She gripped the saddle

-

f a fantasy movie. Massive stone walls. Tall towers.

den gates, past guards who looked at

orches lined the halls. And e

n deep red, the floor polished like

k armor. Sharpened eyes. A scar trailing just beneath his jaw. He looked like a ge

you?" h

belong here, and I don't know w

like ice. "You carry forbidden tools. And you

t him, her h

as just hiking. I fell. T

ed. "Perhaps. Bu

loser, tower

r," he said, "or a curse we