In the days following their journey into the forest, Lucas seemed more grounded and confident, as if he’d found a purpose that went beyond his young years. He carried an unspoken strength, a quiet knowledge he couldn’t fully explain, but that he felt deep within him. Clara watched with both pride and trepidation, knowing that his path was unfolding in ways she could neither predict nor control.
One evening, as Lucas was helping her gather firewood near the outskirts of Braxton, they heard a commotion from the village center. Shouts and hurried footsteps echoed through the quiet air, and Clara felt a prickle of dread rise in her chest. She grabbed Lucas’s hand and hurried toward the sound.
They arrived at the square to find a group of villagers gathered around a stranger—a young girl, no older than Lucas, with wild, tangled hair and clothes covered in mud and leaves. Her face was pale and gaunt, as though she’d been lost in the wilderness for days. The villagers murmured uneasily, exchanging worried glances.
Clara pushed through the crowd, her heart pounding as she reached the front. “What happened?” she asked one of the villagers, a man named Finn.
Finn shook his head, his expression grim. “She wandered into the village from the woods. No one knows who she is or where she came from. Says her name is Lila, but that’s all we’ve gotten out of her.”
Clara’s gaze softened as she knelt down beside the girl. “Hello, Lila. My name is Clara, and this is my son, Lucas. You’re safe here, I promise.”
The girl’s wide eyes darted between Clara and Lucas, her body tense. But when her gaze fell on Lucas, something shifted. She stared at him intently, her eyes narrowing as though trying to recall a distant memory.
Lucas stepped forward, his voice calm and reassuring. “You’ve been in the forest, haven’t you?”
Lila nodded, her voice a hoarse whisper. “I was looking for someone… for the doctor.”
At her words, a chill ran through Clara. She exchanged a glance with Lucas, who looked equally startled.
“The doctor?” Lucas asked, his tone careful. “Why were you looking for him?”
Lila glanced around, her expression wary, as though fearful of being overheard. She leaned in close, her voice barely more than a whisper. “They… they took my brother. Men from the village in black cloaks. I thought… I thought if I could find the doctor, he’d know how to help.”
The mention of black cloaks brought a flood of memories back to Clara and Lucas. Lord Belmore’s agents had worn similar cloaks, their intentions as dark as their attire. Clara’s heart clenched as she considered the implications—Belmore’s society was still active, still seeking out those with unusual abilities, just as they had sought Dr. Verin.
Clara placed a comforting hand on Lila’s shoulder. “You’ve come to the right place, Lila. We know about the doctor, too. He’s… helped us before.”
Lila’s face lit up with a glimmer of hope. “Then maybe he’ll come back and help me find my brother.”
The villagers, sensing the weight of the conversation, began to disperse, though Clara could tell they remained unsettled by the girl’s story. She led Lila and Lucas back to their cottage, where they could talk in private. Lila, exhausted from her ordeal, sat by the fire, clutching a warm blanket Clara had wrapped around her.
As they sat in silence, Lucas watched Lila with a determined expression. “If the men who took your brother are the same ones who came here before, then we need to be careful. They might come looking for you, too.”
Lila shivered, her eyes downcast. “They’re dangerous. They don’t care who they hurt… they only want the doctor’s secrets.”
Clara felt a surge of protectiveness for both children. “We’ll keep you safe, Lila,” she promised. “You’re safe here, and we’ll find a way to reach Dr. Verin.”
Lucas nodded, his voice steady. “I think he’ll know we need him. He always seems to come when he’s most needed.”
As night settled over Braxton, the three of them sat quietly, bound together by an unspoken understanding. Clara and Lucas took turns watching over Lila, ensuring that no harm would come to her under their roof.
The next morning, Lucas awoke to find Lila staring out the window, her gaze fixed on the forest. “I heard him,” she whispered, not looking away. “In my dream. The doctor… he told me to follow the light.”
Lucas’s heart quickened. “The light? What does that mean?”
Lila shrugged, her voice distant. “I don’t know, but it felt like he was there. Like he was watching.”
Clara overheard, and a sense of urgency surged within her. If Dr. Verin was reaching out to Lila through dreams, it meant he was aware of the danger—and perhaps he was preparing them for what lay ahead.
Lucas glanced at Clara, his expression resolute. “Mama, I think we have to follow the signs. If Dr. Verin is trying to lead us somewhere, it might be the only way to help Lila and her brother.”
Clara hesitated, worry flickering in her eyes. But she knew Lucas was right. They couldn’t ignore the signs. They would have to venture into the unknown once again, following the mysterious path Dr. Verin had laid before them.
With Lila in tow, Clara and Lucas prepared for their journey, packing provisions and warm clothing. And as they stepped toward the edge of the forest, Clara felt the weight of destiny press upon them. This was not just a quest to find Lila’s brother—it was a journey that would bring them closer to the secrets of the phantom doctor, to the shadows that lay waiting just beyond the trees.