"No more!" Ellie fell to her knees as Charles crumpled beside her.

Karn paused in his step and looked back at his friends. They looked as haggard as he felt. Gripping a nearby tree as support, Karn concentrated and steadied his laboured breathing. He was also struggling with the pace. Although it wasn’t like they had any choice. They all knew they needed to get as far away as possible from the Reapers as possible.

His friends had placed their trust in him to guide them through the dense forest, given Karn's familiarity with the area. Yet, the reality of their navigation was far stranger than any of them realized.

Truth be told, it was Uncle Theo’s rock laying silently in his hand that truly directed them.

“Follow the stone,” Theo had said.

He looked down and examined the seemingly lifeless rock, waiting for an answer. After a few moments of nothing, the stone flinched forwards, in the same direction they’d been travelling. They were on the right track.

Karn's gaze shifted from the stone to the vast expanse around him. Trees towered overhead, and a blanket of moss cushioned their steps below.

Ellie, catching her breath, remarked, "This place feels... odd. Don't you think? The trees, the moss — it's all so strange."

Karn and Charles exchanged a look. Charles gave a slight nod. "I don't remember it ever being this green," Karn observed, eyes lingering on the dew-kissed moss, even under the afternoon sun, while the canopy of trees provided a remarkable amount of refreshing shade. "Usually, it's just trees, mud and rocks in these parts. I’m not sure where all this moss has come from."

Charles added, "Is this part of the national park? Everything feels so... alive."

As Karn shook his head, a gust of wind rustled the treetops, briefly unveiling the waning sunlight. "The national park is to the east, near a small mountain and we’re heading west," Karn explained.

“Ah okay, I’m glad you know where you’re going then,” Charles replied looking a bit more assured.

“Hey, I never doubted him,” Ellie said.

Karn’s eyebrows shot up. “Never?”

Ellie smirked adding, “well maybe a few times.”

Karn smirked back then inhaled deeply, feeling the pain from his earlier sprint start to ebb away. The scent of nature flowed through them, allowing the tension that had been to recede. His muscles ached, so he stretched his sore limbs and allowed them a moment to rest.

Ellie released a deep sigh. "I just hope we're not being followed," she voiced her concern, glancing toward Charles.

Charles met her gaze, his face dirty but his eyes sparkling. "We've made it this far, haven't we?" he replied with a reassuring smile, one that he seemed to save just for her.

Karn, sensing the private moment, averted his eyes and shuffled his feet, trying to focus on the surroundings.

Drawn by the warmth in Charles' eyes, Ellie leaned in, planting a gentle kiss on his lips.

"I think we're safe for now," Charles murmured, drawing Ellie closer and holding her hand. "But we need shelter for the night. We have to be close to the house by now."

Karn cleared his throat, trying to dispel the awkwardness.

"We can't be too far now," Karn said with a hint of optimism. "I've been craving a shower for ages."

Ellie playfully wrinkled her nose. "You're telling me! Both of you reek!"

Karn chuckled. "Yeah?"

She poked her tongue out at him while Charles sniffed his underarm. “Well, she isn’t wrong.”

It dawned on him just how long it had been since any of them had truly felt clean.

He dabbed away the sweat accumulating on his brow and carefully slid the bag off his shoulders. Reaching inside, he pulled out a neatly folded map. As he spread it out, the paper made a crisp, crinkling sound. Scribbled across the map were notes, unmistakably in Uncle Theo's distinctive handwriting.

Follow the stone. Find the book.

He was uncertain about the meaning of 'find the book', but he speculated that it might contain a list of passcodes and guidelines for accessing the safe house. Perhaps Theo had concealed a bunker or a similar refuge beneath the property. Karn shifted his attention from the note to the map of the area, where thin blue lines traced the terrain. An 'X' marked a spot up a noticeable incline, indicating the location of the old family home nestled deep in the forest.

The idle stone in his hand glowed faint over the map. It flinched and urged towards the same direction as before. Turning the map, Karn understood.

“That way,” he said, pointing towards a ravine. “We’ve got to get through there, then up that hill.”

Charles looked up with excitement. “We’re close?”

Karn nodded. “We might even make it by sundown.”

Months ago, they’d set out with his uncle. With the plan of reaching the old manor home nestled deep within the dense forest; a secluded haven built by Theo's own hands decades ago. Originally intended as a remote holiday retreat for the family, it now served as a perfect safe house amidst the chaos that had befallen the world.

Uncle Theo, a seasoned survivor, writer, and skilled craftsman, had poured his heart and soul into constructing the manor. Every beam, every brick, and every intricate detail had been meticulously crafted to provide a haven of tranquillity and fortitude. It was a testament to his unwavering commitment to the safety of his family.

“Is your uncle’s stone helping?” Ellie asked.

Karn looked sombre, then nodded. “In more ways than one.”

The others had dismissed it as a quirky toy—a rock with an LED light embedded in it. Although it was the last gift from his uncle, Karn had kept it mainly for its sentimental value. What he hadn't shared with them was that this seemingly ordinary object was directing their path. Even he struggled to grasp its true purpose.

Ellie stood up from Charles and wrapped her arms around Karn. “We all miss him,” she said softly.

“Thanks.” he smiled back.

They had all lost so much to the violence and chaos. Almost everything, except for each other. They were a family and Karn was like a brother to both Charles and Ellie.

Charles walked beside the two and place a hand on each of their shoulders. “You remember what I said? The day we finished school?"

"Yeah, you mean the time you got me into that massive fight?" Karn chuckled, reminiscing about one of the numerous times Charles had stepped in to defend him.

In school, Karn had often been singled out for being different that the other kids. Unlike Charles, Karn had been an easy target for bullies due to his smaller build. However, those bullies never expected Charles to rush in and throw the first punch, nor did they anticipate Karn fighting back.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

“Hey, I was defending you,” Charles said, looking offended.

Ellie jabbed a playful elbow into Charles’s rib. “And you’re the one who started the whole thing. And Karn here got you out of it.”

“Thanks Charlie boy,” Karn smirked. “At least you had my back.”

Charles chuckled. "Yeah, yeah. No matter what, I've always got you."

“Cheers,” Karn said while folding the map.

Charles grinned. "Best friends still?"

Karn grinned. "Maybe."

Ellie sighed and rolled her eyes. “Idiots.”

Charles chuckled and the three friends shared a quick hug.

Karn looked at the two and felt an all too familiar sense of belonging. He couldn't even begin to imagine the possibility that there would be any form of existence where the three of them wouldn't be together.

Karn's eyes widened as his arm shot up involuntarily. His hand wrenched open, and the stone fell from his grip. Their smiles faded.

All their attention was on the stone. It pulsed with blue light on the ground.

“What?” Charles mumbled. “Does that thing have batteries or something?”

“I thought it was just a rock,” Ellie replied.

The stone moved. Charles swore.

“So, I think my rock has some sort of GPS.” Karn said unsure how convincing his words were.

The stone continued to move by itself in small jumps.

“Does it work on magnets or something?” asked Charles.

Karn shrugged unsure how to answer.

“I think It wants us to hurry,” Ellie said.

“Why would a rock want anything?” Charles said, shaking his head.

Karn strode to follow the stone then said, “I don’t know. I’m just following Uncle Theo’s instructions.”

The stone jerked forward again this time much further.

“It’s got to be magnets,” Charles murmured.

Karn ignored him and ran to scoop up the stone.

“This way.”

It took the three of them just over an hour to reach the family home. By that time, the way was almost completely covered in darkness. However, the stone continued to direct them, providing a guiding light.

The two-story manor lay deserted and covered with many years of untamed growth. Karn felt the stone shift towards one side. "This way.”

Ahead lay a thick knot of vines that obscured an old wooden door.

“Here.”

Charles moved forward and ripped the vines aside, revealing the entrance. He tested the handle. “Locked. Know where Theo would have left a key?”

“No idea. But I bet Uncle Theo would have left something just in case.”

“Was he here recently?” Ellie asked.

Karn nodded. “Kinda. Just a few years ago to check up on the place.”

“A few years?” asked Charles, eyeing the vines.

“And he never gave you a key?” Ellies asked.

Karn grimaced. “He did say there was a way inside. I guess we just have to find it.”

“Well, he was always a fan of puzzles,” Charles said with a sigh.

Theo was always schooling Karn and his friends on the importance of lateral thinking, in fact it was the main driving force of the novels he wrote. Mind over matter was his mantra. So, it was a daily occurrence when they travelled together for Theo to lay out a complex puzzle for them to solve. Ellie who had read all of his books, came to love these games, and she excelled at them every time. Charles however loathed them and took any available chance to complain about them.

Karn examined the old door. Rust coated the hinges, and the handle was ancient.

“I’ve got this.” Charles puffed up and stood back from the door, readying himself for a shoulder charge.

“Don’t be an idiot,” Ellie chastised.

“What? It’s super old! I’m going to bash it in.”

"The door opens outwards," Karn said. “And that old door is a few inches thick.”

“Oh, well. Got any better ideas?” Charles asked.

The three of them stared at the door in silence.

Suddenly Ellie squealed in delight. “I got it.” She moved forward and placed a hand on a unique panel on the door. She then pushed it inwards and tested it, feeling for a mechanism. After a few motions, she slid it smoothly sideways, revealing it to be a false panel. As it moved to the side, it revealed a small groove that had been carved into the door, and nestled within was a key. Grinning with pride, Ellie plucked the key from the door and handed it to Karn.

“There you go!” she smiled sweetly. “Remember number two of five virtues in the Land of the eight courts?”

Karn nodded. It was one of the recurring lessons within the first of Theos books, “Know when to be calm?”

“Exactly.” She grinned.

“Our little genius.” Charles chuckled.

Karn inserted the key and turned. The hinges groaned as rust fell from the joints. The door swung open.

"Thanks," Ellie said, patting Karn on the back.

“Theo.” Charles tutted. “Always with those dang puzzles.”

"Yeah, I miss him too." Ellie sighed as she followed the others inside.

The familiar glow of blue light from Karn's stone filled the room. The interior looked as neglected as the vegetation outside. Yet there was still furniture inside.

Ellie coughed.

A fine layer of dust covered everything.

“Damn, this place is so going to mess with my allergies,” Ellie said. "Do you think that this place is truly safe?" She asked as she tore a sheet from a nearby table.

Charles craned his neck as he examined their new home. “Theo said this place is like fort Knox but looks like it’s falling apart.”

Karn wasn’t quite sure what to say. The place was so different compared to the memories he had of the place when he was a small child.

Ellie walked a step to the side and flinched as a swaying string hit her in the face.

“Ah. What?” She pulled it.

A soft hum rumbled from below.

"Oh, nice it works. Wait a second," Karn said as a memory flashed in his mind.

He watched Ellie and Charles's puzzled looks. Before the two could ask him anything, the room flickered into dull light.

"Ah-ha, the generator works. This place is old. It was built when they replanted the forest. Fortunately, when they built it, the town was too far to run cables, so they used the local waterfall for power."

Charles chuckled. "Was there enough electricity for gaming?"

Karn tilted his head thoughtfully. "Not often, and we didn't have internet back then. To pass the time, Uncle Theo taught me to shoot, fence, and ride."

Charles' eyes sparkled with interest. "Shooting, huh? Do you think any of your uncle's gear might still be here?"

Karn furrowed his brows, thinking. "There's a possibility. He used to have this old weapon cabinet. I think it was somewhere around..."

Charles interjected, "We're running low on bullets."

Karn sighed. "How many rounds are left?"

"Just seven," Charles admitted.

Karn raised an eyebrow, "Shit. Weren't we only down to nine?"

Charles grimaced, "I lost two. They ah, slipped out of my pocket."

Karn sighed again, patting Charles on the back. "It’s all good. If we're lucky, we might find more here."

Ellie glanced around, "Any idea where we should start looking?"

Karn pointed to a nearby door. "Let's check the basement first. I wonder if there’s a hidden space down there."

"Okay sure," Charles said, disappearing into the next room.

“I’ll find the showers,” Ellie added, then followed.

Karn felt the stone twitch in his hand. It seemed to move vertically.

"Well, I guess I’m going upstairs,” Karn said to himself. As he walked through the manor, he navigated his childhood memories and quickly found himself in the central hallway.

"There’s swords on the walls." Ellie voice called out. A clatter of metal echoed down the hall as Ellie squealed. “I found the shower!”

"Great. try to see if you can get the water running." Charles' voice echoed from down the hall. He grunted, sounding like he was straining to move something heavy.

Karn moved down the hall, struggling to remember where he thought the stairs ought to be. A particular memory came to mind. He could still recall a time when he was playing with cars, rolling them down the side rails. He looked up and down the hallway and paused in surprise. The staircase had vanished.

“Um, Okay?”

He looked up to see the second floor. Marks of the old structure remained, but the steps were gone.

"What?"

Charles appeared by his side. "Did you find any stairs? I can’t find a way up or down."

Karn pointed above.

"What the?" Charles swore.

"The rest of the house was left untouched, so why are the stairs the only thing that's missing?" Karn asked, glaring at the second floor.

"I can't see any way up," admitted Charles.

The stone in Karn’s hand shifted upwards once more. "I think I need to get up there.”

“Fine,” Charles said, sighing. “I'll give you a leg up.”

Karn nodded. "Cheers."

Charles cradled his fingers together and widened his footing as Karn lifted his leg and with a grunt Charles hauled him upwards. Karn’s fingers stretched out and grabbed the rough wooden railing of the second floor.

"Got it," Karn spat through clenched teeth as he hauled himself up.

"Give us a yell if you need help to get down.”

“Yeah, will do. Thanks.”

Karn took a step forward. The wooden floor seemed solid enough. Looking around, he quickly found a light switch. As he hit it, the old lightbulbs cast the upper floor into a surreal glow.

The entire second floor was covered in a dense layer of dust. Karn carefully moved down the hall, creating a fresh trail of footprints. The first and second rooms were completely empty. The third contained a cupboard with its shelves left behind shattered and sprawled across the floor.

Why’s the lower floor full and upstairs empty? And why does the rock want me up here?

He continued his search, but each vacant room reinforced his confusion. When Karn reached the last room, he sighed.

Nothing again.

Disappointed, he returned to the hall, trying to work out what was wrong.

The rock twitched in his hand again.

What have I missed?

The stone burst into light, casting the hall in a bright shade of blue, then vibrated, twitching once more, towards a doorway he’d somehow overlooked.

I just passed that wall and there was no door there a second ago.

Karn sifted through his memories, then it came to him. This was where Uncle Theo’s study was.

Approaching with caution, Karn opened the door and walked inside. There, in the middle of the otherwise empty room, sat an ornate table, upon which a pedestal held a shrouded object.

Karn leaned forward and pulled away the black velvet. Golden embroidery reflected the soft blue light from his stone.

Karn gasped.

Before him nestled a large leather-bound book. The cover was a deep red so dark you could mistake it for black. Atop lay a folded envelope. Written in a refined hand was one word. A name:

Karn.

He didn’t recognise the handwriting. Kneeling close he turned the envelope over. A wax seal had been imprinted with a coat of arms.