"Memories never really leave you. They just hide in dark corners of the mind, and wait for the right moment to step back into the light."

The words hang in my mind as we walk, their weight matching the quiet tension in the air. The park's entrance is up ahead, framed by the low hanging branches of nearby trees. It's early afternoon and a soothing breeze flows through, rustling the leaves. Still, there's a lingering sense of foreboding in the air, which I wager is due to him, the Shadow Thing.

We step inside. Sunlight filters through the canopy above, casting shadows on the ground. It creates patterns that seem to dance as we walk. The familiar sounds of chirping birds and the distant laughter of children playing seem muted, like they're coming from somewhere far away.

Elara walks ahead, quiet. I can see her shoulders tense, and my heart races, wondering what thoughts are swirling in her mind. Aric and the others follow, whispering to each other, their expressions a mixture of concern and confusion, but it's my own turmoil that grips me the tightest.

"Hey, Heliar," Aric nudges me. "You good? You've been awfully quiet."

I take a deep breath, trying to find the words. "Yeah, I'm good. Just trying to be calm."

Elara glances back, her soft eyes finding mine. "It's okay Heliar, don't worry. I'm back, and soon Stella will be too."

"Stella? Who's that now?" Aric asks, curious.

"Yeah, we gotta talk. Let's settle down over there," I say, motioning towards the benches up ahead.

As we move closer, the breeze carries the faint scent of damp earth and blooming flowers, a mix of sweetness and decay that wraps around us. I take it in, allowing the sensations to ground me. A bee zips past and Kate, the one who almost collided with our bikes, shrieks, trying to brush it off.

"Get it away! Get it away!" she squeals, ducking behind Elara, who's laughing.

"Calm down! It's just a bee!" she teases laughingly, brightening the mood for a moment.

I can't help but chuckle, relieved at the change in the atmosphere. I lead the group to the benches, a small cluster of wooden slats nestled beneath a large oak.

I glance around the park, as we settle down. The sun hangs high in the sky, illuminating the vibrant greens of the grass and the blossoms scattered about, but it feels hollow against the backdrop of our reality. Elara sits beside me.

"Okay," I say, drawing everyone's attention. "All that I'm about to tell you all might seem crazy, so bear with me." Elara nods approvingly.

I take a look at Aric, and begin. "It all started after I met Stella, here in this park. We planned to meet again and she didn't show up the next day. I had a vision of her... and she looked terrified. Then there's this recurring dream I keep having about a valley, and this bird. It's always the same—this incredible creature that seems to glow, almost like a phoenix."

As I recount everything, their expressions shift, a mix of concern and skepticism across their faces. "I know it sounds insane," I add, sighing.

"What about Elara?" Aric prompts, glancing at her.

I continue, telling them about how I met Elara and how I saw that same bird near my house. "And then... Elara got taken by the Shadow Thing too," I finish.

Their silence hangs in the air. "And well, as for what happened today, you guys all saw it firsthand," I say.

"Heliar, you know, we won't have believed a single word of what you said if not for us seeing it ourselves," Aric adds, looking at me. Jade, Maya and Rose nod in agreement.

Elara nods, her brow furrowed in concern. "That's understandable. Still, there's something big going on here. We need to figure out what it is."

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Aric leans forward. "Okay, so what do we do? Do we try to find Stella? Or confront this Shadow Thing?"

I feel their gazes on me, expecting answers that I don't have. "I think we have to find Stella first," I reply. "We can't leave her with whatever this thing is."

Jade, who's been quiet until now, chimes in. "But how do we even start? We don't know where Stella is or what this thing wants."

"Well," I say, glancing at Elara. "Maybe Elara knows something. She did come back from the Shadow Thing after all."

Everyone fixes their gaze at her, and I almost feel bad for putting her on the spot. But, she breaths calmly and says, "Honestly, I don't have much to say. My memories from after I got taken away are hazy. But I was in a dark room, and it was oddly 'dreamy'. It seemed to be constantly shifting, the walls swirling with what seemed like waves of shadows. Somewhat fitting imagery for the Shadow Thing, I guess. I could hear Stella, or at least she seemed to be Stella. She was in a nearby room I think, asking to be let out. I tried to speak with her, but I'm unsure if she heard me."

The atmosphere grows heavy. "That sounds terrifying," Maya says, shivering slightly.

Elara continues. "And as for how I came back, I think this was sort of a trap. He might have wanted you, Heliar. So using me as a bait is not far-fetched. Still, you took me back and made him retreat, so I think there might be a way for us to do something."

I nod, agreeing. "That's definitely true."

Aric leans forward, excitement gleaming in his eyes. "So, what's the plan? How should we proceed?"

I glance at him, feeling a flicker of gratitude. I knew my best friend would help me through this.

"Honestly, we need more clues. We barely know anything right now. And as for where Elara was held, it might as well have not been a real place. Something magical or the sort."

Elara interjects. "What if we try to retrace my steps? Maybe I can remember something that will help us. We need to tap into those memories, even if they're hazy."

"Good idea." I say, feeling a sense of purpose blooming among us. "But how can we do that? We can't just walk into a dream."

Rose points towards the hat on my head. "Well, what about that? Doesn't that belong to him."

Ah. The hat. How could I have forgotten about it.

I take it off, and show it to the group.

"Well, I had lost my memories of Stella and Elara after I woke up today. And yesterday evening, after Elara got taken away, I had put on this hat. That is when I saw the vision of Stella being taken away too. I think this hat definitely can help us."

Elara leans closer, her eyes locked on the hat. "It's worth a shot. If it's connected to him, it might lead us back to whatever realm he's in."

"So like, how do we use it? Do we just wear it or what?" Aric asks, contemplating.

"It all is connected with my dreams. If I go to sleep wearing this hat and have a dream, maybe that could help us."

Elara looks at me. "Heliar, you certainly are smart. Excellent idea."

I feel a rush of warmth at the praise. "Thanks, but I can't take all the credit. We're in this together, right?" I smile, glancing around at everyone.

"It's decided then," Jade says, her voice steady. "Heliar, you'll wear the hat and try to sleep. And if you see anything, that'll be what guides us further."

Everyone nods. "Well, let's head home for today then. And tomorrow, we meet here again."

Aric smiles, "It's a deal then."

Everyone gets up and we move towards the exist.

"Oh, I have another idea," Maya adds. "We should all exchange contacts."

"Good one, Maya," Rose says.

We exchange contacts and leave the park. Just before heading to our bikes, I say to Elara, "Be careful. We can't have you taken away again."

She smiles. "You too, Heliar." We bump fists as I head towards my bike. Aric waits for me.

"Let's go, man."

I hop onto my bike, the familiar weight of it feeling reassuring beneath me. As we ride, the sun begins to dip below the horizon, casting a golden hue over the streets. The wind whips past us, a mix of exhilaration and nervousness bubbling up inside me. I glance over at Aric, who seems lost in thought.

"Hey, you okay?" I ask, slowing down.

"Yeah, just thinking," he replies, pushing his hair back. "It's kind of crazy, you know? We are diving headfirst into something so... mysterious. Honestly it scares me a bit. But then again, we are in this together so I bet it will be alright."

I smile at him, happy to have someone like him at my side. "You don't say. If there's anyone I can fully trust to have my back, it's you, Aric."

"Thanks, Heliar. That means a lot," he says, grinning back at me. "We've been together since forever. Whatever this is, we'll tackle it like we always do."

As we navigate the streets, the surroundings—laughter from nearby houses, the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze—remind me that life continues, even as we're caught in this whirlwind of chaos.

"You remember that time we got lost during the camping trip?" I chuckle, recalling the adventure that turned into a hilarious disaster.

He laughs, shaking his head. "How could I ever forget that. We had to sleep in a stable because we couldn't find the way back to our tents."

"And we had to eat those beans and potatoes for dinner."

"Still the worst meal I've ever had," he agrees, sighing dramatically. "But hey at least we made some cool memories, and that's all that matters, right?"

"Certainly!" I reply with a grin.

As we reach my house, I park my bike and hop off, glancing back at Aric. "See you tomorrow Aric," I wave, smiling.

"Yeah, see you tomorrow Heliar," he replies as he rides off in the distance.

As I near the doorway, I notice our car parked nearby. So mom and dad have returned home.