*Saoirse*

The rhythmic clacking of the train had lulled me into a daze. As it slowed, my heart quickened with the promise of freedom, although that was brief. When the announcement chimed through the air, I stood with purpose.

Egoren was still hours away, but the layover was a gift. It was a chance to feel the ground beneath my feet without the weight of Hunter’s Glen bearing down on me.

"Next stop, Layton's Hollow," the conductor's voice crackled over the ...