The afternoon air was heavy with tension. The sun had set halfway across the horizon, casting long golden shadows through Ivy’s room. She sat at her desk, pretending to study while her mind replayed the words from earlier, the conversation between the brothers and their mother, the hints about their father, and the quiet panic in Sophia’s eyes.

Everything’s unravelling, she thought, closing her notebook. All it needs is one more push.

Checking the time, she realize th trail would start ...