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Elena's POV
The morning sunlight crept through the frost-lined windows, bathing the room in a pale glow. But the warmth it promised felt distant. Elena sat at the table, her fingers absently tracing the edges of the book Caleb and James had found the night before. Its cover was rough and ancient, the embossed symbols almost seeming to hum with a latent energy she couldn't explain.
She barely noticed Caleb entering the room until his hand rested lightly on her shoulder. His touch grounded her, a steady reminder that she wasn't facing this alone.
"Couldn't sleep?" he asked, his voice low.
She shook her head, still staring at the book. "Not with all this running through my mind. What if Victor's right? What if I really am… connected to all this?"
Caleb pulled out a chair and sat beside her. His golden eyes searched hers. "Victor has a way of twisting truths to suit his agenda. Whatever connection you have to Blackwood Hollow doesn't change who you are, Elena."
"But it changes everything else," she whispered. "It changes why the rogues are after me, why I keep getting pulled into this world."
"And we'll deal with it," Caleb said firmly. "Together."
Her gaze softened. Despite everything, Caleb's unwavering resolve gave her a strange sense of comfort. But deep down, she knew she couldn't just sit back and wait for answers to come to her. She needed to take action.
---
A New Lead
An hour later, James stormed into the room, his expression grim. "We've got a problem."
Elena and Caleb rose to their feet, their attention snapping to him.
"The rogues left a message," James continued, tossing a crumpled piece of paper onto the table. The words scrawled in jagged handwriting sent a shiver down Elena's spine.
The truth lies beneath the hollow. Come alone, or more will die.
"They want me to come to them," she said, her voice steady despite the unease bubbling within her.
"Absolutely not," Caleb growled. "This is clearly a trap."
"I know," Elena said, meeting his gaze. "But they're trying to tell me something. What if it's about the obelisk? Or the book?"
James crossed his arms, his jaw tight. "Even if they do have answers, walking into their territory alone is suicide."
Elena looked at the book on the table, its symbols almost taunting her with their mystery. "What if we don't have to walk into their trap? What if we can get answers another way?"
Caleb raised an eyebrow. "I'm listening."
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The Old Library
The town's library was a relic of a bygone era, its creaky wooden floors and musty shelves housing centuries of forgotten knowledge. Elena, Caleb, and James arrived just as the morning fog began to lift, casting a spectral light through the windows.
"This place always creeped me out," James muttered as they stepped inside.
Elena ignored him, her focus on the task at hand. She approached the desk where an elderly woman sat, her glasses perched on the tip of her nose.
"Excuse me," Elena began, offering a polite smile. "We're looking for any historical records or maps of Blackwood Hollow. Specifically, anything about its original settlers or landmarks."
The woman peered at her curiously. "Not many folks come asking about the old history. You might find what you're looking for in the archives downstairs."
"Thank you," Elena said, leading the way.
The basement was cold and dimly lit, the faint smell of mildew hanging in the air. Rows of dusty shelves stretched endlessly, each filled with yellowed papers and leather-bound tomes.
"Start looking for anything related to the obelisk or the settlers," Caleb instructed.
Hours passed as they sifted through the archives. Elena's fingers ached from turning brittle pages, but her determination didn't waver. Finally, she stumbled upon a worn map with strange markings etched along its edges.
"Guys, I think I found something," she called out.
Caleb and James hurried over as she spread the map on the table. The obelisk was marked clearly in the center, surrounded by cryptic symbols that matched the ones on the book.
"There's something beneath it," Elena realized, tracing the lines with her finger. "A passage or a chamber."
Caleb frowned. "If that's true, it could explain why Victor is so desperate to get to it."
"But why would the settlers bury something so important?" James asked.
Elena's brow furrowed as she studied the map. "Maybe they weren't trying to protect it. Maybe they were trying to hide it."
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A Dangerous Decision
Back at the cabin, the group convened around the map, the weight of their discovery sinking in.
"If there's something under the obelisk, we need to find it before Victor does," Caleb said.
"But if it's connected to me, shouldn't I be the one to go?" Elena asked.
"No," Caleb said sharply. "It's too dangerous. We don't know what's down there, and I'm not risking your life."
Elena folded her arms, her resolve hardening. "Caleb, I appreciate that you want to protect me, but this is my fight too. I'm not going to sit on the sidelines while you put yourself in danger."
James sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "She's got a point. If the obelisk is tied to her, she might be the only one who can figure out what's down there."
Caleb shot him a glare but said nothing.
Elena stepped closer to him, her voice softening. "I know you're scared for me, but I'm scared too. If we don't stop Victor, more people will get hurt. I can't live with that."
After a long pause, Caleb nodded reluctantly. "Fine. But we do this together."
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The Journey Begins
That night, they prepared for the journey to the obelisk. Elena packed a small bag with essentials, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and anticipation.
As she stepped outside, the crisp night air filled her lungs. Caleb was waiting by the edge of the woods, his wolf form illuminated by the moonlight.
"Ready?" he asked after shifting back.
She nodded, gripping the strap of her bag. "Let's find out what's been hidden all these years."
The forest loomed ahead, its shadows stretching like fingers toward the unknown. Elena took a deep breath and stepped forward, Caleb and James flanking her protectively.
Whatever lay beneath the obelisk, she knew it would change everything.
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