The carriage creaked as it rolled slowly across the uneven path, its wheels groaning under the weight of both passengers and secrets. Inside, the air was heavy, tense, filled with the muffled breathing of those bound and silenced. The mother sat tied, her wrists raw from the rope, her eyes hollow. Beside her, the two cowards — Demure and Lars — shifted nervously, their faces pale, their bodies trembling.
Viremont sat upright, her posture commanding, her gaze sharp. Elaine was beside her, her hands folded, her eyes darting between the captives and Colden. Colden himself leaned back, his expression unreadable, though his mind churned with questions.
Two people were missing. Two threads had unraveled. Carmine and Francis had vanished in one direction, Marco in another. The road ahead was fractured, demanding choices.
Viremont broke the silence, her voice steady, cutting through the tension. "We cannot move as one. The paths are opposite, and time is against us. We split."
Elaine nodded, her jaw tight. "Then who goes where?"
Viremont's eyes flicked toward Colden, then back to the captives. "Elaine and I will move backward. We'll find Carmine and Francis. Colden, you take the carriage forward. Find Marco."
The words hung heavy, final.
Colden's gaze shifted to the captives. Their eyes widened, fear etched across their faces. Viremont leaned closer, her voice low, sharp enough to pierce their trembling hearts. "And if they start to act up," she said, her tone almost casual, "just throw them in as bait."
The captives froze, terror flooding their expressions. Demure stammered, his voice breaking. "B‑bait? You wouldn't…"
Viremont's smile was cold, fleeting. "Try me."
Silence swallowed the carriage. The captives sat rigid, their breaths shallow, their eyes darting nervously. Colden watched them, his mind torn between disgust and necessity.
Finally, he turned to Viremont, his voice quiet but firm. "What happened to you? Why did you cut your hair? And your dress… what happened?"
Viremont's eyes softened for a moment, her gaze drifting toward the window. The forest passed by, shadows flickering across her face. She inhaled, her voice steady but distant. "I will answer later. First, we need to search for them."
Elaine's eyes glistened, her voice trembling. "And Marco… what would his state be? Does he even know his mother is dead?"
The words struck like a blade. Silence fell again, heavier than before. Colden's chest tightened, his breath caught. Marco's face flashed in his mind — bruised, broken, desperate. Did he know? Did he carry the weight of that truth yet?
The carriage rattled on, but inside, no one spoke. The silence was a prayer, a lament, a moment of grief shared without words.
At last, the plan was set. Viremont and Elaine rose, their movements deliberate. They stepped out of the carriage, the cold air biting against their skin. The horse Viremont had arrived on stood waiting, its breath steaming in the chill. Elaine mounted swiftly, her cloak trailing, her eyes fixed on the road behind. Viremont followed, her posture unyielding, her gaze forward.
Colden remained in the carriage, his hands tightening on the reins. The captives shifted nervously, their eyes darting between him and the road ahead. He exhaled, steadying himself.
The teams had parted.
Elaine and Viremont rode backward, their horse cutting through the fog, their silhouettes fading into the distance. Colden turned the carriage forward, the wheels groaning, the captives trembling. The road stretched ahead, leading toward the fourth stop.
The split was complete.
The forest whispered as the carriage moved forward. Colden's mind churned, his thoughts heavy. Marco's face lingered, Jeremy's sacrifice echoed, Isabelle's schemes haunted. The captives sat silent, their fear palpable, their bodies rigid.
Behind them, Elaine and Viremont pressed onward, their horse swift, their resolve unbroken. Carmine and Francis awaited, somewhere in the shadows, somewhere in the fog.
The storm was near. The prophecy lingered. The roads had split, but destiny would converge again.
TO BE CONTINUED…
NEXT CHAPTER ON 16th MARCH 2026