Evie didn't know what to make of the situation when she found Ren standing alone at the entrance of Lone Valley.
The valley stretched before them like a frozen painting—quiet, vast, and untouched. Snow-covered slopes dipped gently toward the center, where a crystal-clear lake reflected the dim sky. Tall, leafless trees surrounded the area like silent sentinels.
The place looked peaceful, but the stillness felt heavy, almost watchful.
Ren stood there as if he had been waiting for hours.
Evie slowed her steps as she approached him, her unease growing with every second. Where were the others?
"What happened to everyone?" she asked, her voice calm but guarded.
Ren glanced at her briefly before looking back toward the valley. He shrugged.
"I don't know."
Evie frowned slightly beneath her mask. "What do you mean, you don't know?" she pressed. "Didn't you say they were coming?"
