The hair on Ryan's arms stood up.
"Behind… me?"
Ryan turned around slowly.
Behind him was…
No one. There wasn't anyone there.
He frowned and turned back. "Elly, there's no one—"
She was gone too.
The space where she'd been standing—which had once been bright and filled with life… was now—rain.
"Elly?" Ryan looked around. He even checked if she was hiding behind Eleanor. "Where'd you go?"
He glanced down at his wrist.
The bracelet's engravings had dimmed. The yellow writing that had glowed so brightly before was now barely visible—faint lines etched into black iron, lifeless.
"What's wrong?" Eleanor stepped closer, concern crossing her face. "What happened?"
"Elly's gone," Ryan said. "She just… vanished."
"Let me check." Eleanor's fingers wrapped around the bracelet.
Several seconds passed.
"I don't see her either," Eleanor said quietly. She let go. "The bracelet—it's not working anymore?"
