Rekindle Moment

ia for months now, yet this path - this overgrown, ivy-choked la

ripping the door handle as Kennedy drove faster t

r leaving the winding road. "If you're not meant to find

ou're talking about your

he sleeps beneath

e muttered, trying to keep her vo

nnedy said softly. "Especi

n gate, weathered and blanketed in crawling moss. It had no sign, no welcome, no p

ding aloud. "Memoria Serva

ngine and stepped ou

followed him. The gate creaked open with a

wel

gua

sil

d by vines, fountains dry and broken, and crooked stone paths overtaken by wi

This is where th

. "And where s

- like the space itself was watching. The chamber was circular, hollow, and echoing. Every inch of the stone walls was carved wi

... that's the same sym

un toward

day before: Lila's latest sketch - the same mirrored tree, the root

tightening. "She's more

Joanne asked, her v

he slab and placed his palm over the glowing t

nt, nothin

r chest, her bones. It was like the moment before a storm breaks. The chamber d

ld not ha

ed back. "Did

ed grimly. "

... is no

"You mean Lila? What d

ered glass - fragments of memory. A woman's face, wise and weary. A fire roaring out of co

as suddenly, it

's trying to show us something

oke. "I've seen him. At Lila's

darkened. "Then they'

here," the voic

e in the

ht. "What does that

They believe memory is dangerous. They erase it. Mold it. Twist it. The

d back. "Why

Kennedy said. "She dreams things before they're re

the voice said again, w

immed and vanished. The te

nnedy said, grabbing Joanne'

alling in delicate cascades. Outside, the once-quiet garden was unraveling - statues

ening?" Joan

edy said. "To protect th

nto gear and reversed down the path. Behind them, the gat

ne buzz

at it, then

it?" Joan

he phone. A mes

a p

her preschool, clutch

, in clean,

to forge

an cold. "They k

hands tremblin

f time," he said.

e steadying. "Then let them. Bu

- a look of fear and

one with memories wo

d the road behind them. But something else was

was c