A heavy silence hung in the air.

  Daisy was still on her knees, hands planted in the dirt, breathing hard. The others stood in a loose circle around her, faces pale, wet clothes clinging to their skin, but no one moved.

  Because no one knew what to do.

  Daisy lifted her head. “What the hell does that mean?”

  The word sat there between them.

  Soulbound.

  Then, all at once—

  “She’s cursed?!” Sasha shrieked.

  Margo took a sharp step back, hands over her mouth, and Cleo, for once, wasn’t grinning.

  The boys weren’t much better.

  Jory rubbed the back of his neck, eyes darting toward the trees. “That can’t be right. That’s just a myth.”

  Cleo shot him a sharp look. “A myth? A ghost fisherman just gave us three riddles and soul-blasted Daisy into the dirt.”

  Benny, still sprawled on the ground, groaned weakly. “I hate to agree, but she’s got a point.”

  Daisy slowly stood, wobbling slightly. She felt different, but she wasn’t sure how. There was something inside her now—something cold.

  “Hazel, what is a Soulbound?”

  A pause.

  Hazel’s gaze flickered away. “I only know what I’ve heard from my grandmother.”

  The group went stiff.

  The entire town of Woolhope knew about Hazel’s grandmother.

  The woman who lived on the outskirts, where the trees grew too thick, and the ground was always damp. Some people swore she could speak to the dead. Some said she was a witch. Others whispered that she wasn’t human at all.

  Most kids were told not to go near her.

  Cleo folded her arms. “Figures. The freakiest girl in town is related to the freakiest old lady.”

  Hazel ignored her. “The Soulbound aren’t just a legend. They exist. My grandmother told me the stories.”

  Daisy’s stomach tightened. “What kind of stories?”

  Hazel exhaled, shaking the water from her hands. “A long time ago, two kingdoms were at war—one powerful, one desperate. The desperate kingdom had no army, no riches, no hope. So, their king made a deal with the spirits of the dead.”

  “He offered his own people as vessels. The strongest warriors were bound to spirits of vengeance, rage, and chaos. The war turned, and they won—but at a cost.” Hazel’s voice was steady, but something about the way she spoke felt older, heavier, like she wasn’t just reciting a story—she was remembering it.

  “Those warriors became something else. No longer fully human, no longer fully alive. Some spirits guided their hosts, others consumed them—turning them into monsters.”

  Daisy’s fists clenched.

  “And that’s what I am now?”

  Hazel shook her head. “No. The Soulbound didn’t choose their fates. You didn’t either. The ghost marked you, which means that the fisherman didn’t just want to scare us—he was looking for a vessel. And he found you.”

  A cold wind whispered through the trees.

  "So..." Jory tilted his head, arms crossed. "How do we get rid of it?"

  Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

  Hazel hesitated. “I’m not sure there is a way. But if there is, it would work the faster it’s done. The longer the spirit stays, the deeper the bond. If we don’t act fast… it’ll become permanent.”

  Daisy swallowed hard.

  Cleo grabbed Hazel’s arm. “Then we need to fix this. Now.”

  Jory nodded. “We should go to your grandmother’s. She’ll know what to do, right?”

  Hazel’s face darkened.

  “She’s dead.”

  Silence.

  Mimsy made a tiny choking sound. “Oh, great. That’s great.”

  Margo exhaled sharply. “Well… can we talk to her? Like a ghost-to-ghost situation?”

  Hazel’s expression didn’t change. “That’s not how it works.”

  Daisy’s breathing felt shallow. The thing inside her shifted.

  She didn’t know how much time she had.

  Cleo clicked her tongue. “Then we need someone else. There has to be a spirit-talker or a curse-breaker somewhere.”

  “Port Haven.”

  Everyone turned.

  It was Garrick who had spoken, arms crossed, scowling. “It's the closest big city to Woolhope. If anyone knows how to fix this, it’ll be someone there.”

  Jory scratched his jaw. “It’s a long trip.”

  “We don’t have a better plan.”

  For a moment, no one spoke. Then—

  “I’ll take her.”

  Daisy’s head snapped up.

  It was Cooper.

  Standing outside the group’s circle, hands shoved in his pockets, expression unreadable. Everyone stared.

  Sasha raised an eyebrow. “You will?”

  He shrugged. “Yeah. I was planning on leaving anyway. Now I’ve got a reason.”

  Hazel hesitated. “You don’t even know where you’re going.”

  “Forward,” Cooper smirked. “And right now, forward means Port Haven.”

  Daisy looked at him for a moment. He didn’t seem flustered—not like the others. He just looked ready.

  Slowly, she nodded.

  “Okay,” she said quietly. “I’ll go with you.”

  Jory cracked his neck. “Well, if you’re both going, I’m not just gonna stay behind.”

  Hazel stepped forward. “Then I’m coming too. You’ll need someone who knows how to deal with all the weird stuff out there.”

  Garrick scoffed. “Count me in. I’m not letting you idiots die without me.”

  Daisy tensed. “No. I don’t need a whole group tagging along.”

  “She’s right,” Cooper crossed his arms. “This isn’t just some trip. I had to think long and hard about leaving. I was lucky my aunt and uncle supported me. Not everyone else has that.”

  The words hung between them.

  “Doesn’t matter.” Cleo’s voice was firm. She stepped forward, arms crossed. “You’re our friend. And I’m not gonna let you do this alone.”

  Daisy stared at her. “Cleo…”

  Cleo rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah, I know. But if you think I’m letting you run off into some supernatural mess without me, you’re out of your damn mind.”

  Daisy sighed. “You’re all insane.”

  Jory grinned. “That’s why we work so well together.”

  And just like that, it was settled.

  Tomorrow morning, they would leave.

  The rest would cover for them, keeping their disappearance quiet. They would be back—once they fixed Daisy’s situation.

  At sunrise, they collected their belongings and crept across the dewy grass like shadows.

  When they reached Woolhope, the town looked the same: the same wooden fences, dirt roads, and familiar sounds of sheep in the fields.

  But everything felt different.

  The group split up to gather their travel supplies.

  Daisy stood outside her house, staring at the front door.

  She took a breath and pushed it open.

  Inside, her parents sat at the table, finishing breakfast.

  Her mother looked up first. “Oh, sweetheart, you’re back so soon.”

  “Yeah, but I’m heading somewhere,” Daisy laughed. “Gotta get some new clothes.”

  Her father glanced at her pack. “Going somewhere?”

  Daisy forced a smile. “Yeah… I was thinking of staying at Cleo’s for a little bit.”

  Her mother raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Everything alright?”

  “Yeah.” Daisy nodded too quickly. “Just… y’know. Thought it’d be fun.”

  Her father chuckled. “Well, I suppose we can spare you for a few days.”

  Her mother smiled and stood, brushing a hand over Daisy’s hair. “You always did love adventure. Just be careful, okay?”

  Daisy swallowed hard. They didn’t know.

  So she hugged them—tightly, maybe too tightly.

  Her mother laughed softly. “You act like you’re leaving for good.”

  Daisy didn’t trust herself to speak.

  She just let go, mumbled a quick “See you soon,” and walked out the door.

  The moment it closed behind her, her chest clenched.

  Tears blurred her vision, and she wiped them away quickly, but they kept coming.

  She didn’t stop walking.

  They stopped at the edge of town. This was it.

  Jory exhaled sharply, looking at the others. “Guess this is where we say goodbye.”

  He clapped Benny on the shoulder. “Try not to get haunted by a ghost while we’re gone, huh?”

  Benny scoffed. “Yeah, right. If anything, you'll be the one who gets haunted by a ghost.”

  Jory smirked. “You’re gonna miss me.”

  “You wish,” Benny muttered, but the way he kicked at the dirt said otherwise.

  Mimsy eyed them. “They’ll be alright. At least, Garrick. He’s just too angry to die.”

  Garrick grinned. “Damn right.”

  Jory rolled his eyes. “Great vote of confidence, thanks.”

  Mimsy smirked. “You’ll be fine. Probably.”

  Sasha pulled Daisy into a quick, tight hug. “Come back in one piece, okay?”

  Daisy smiled. “That’s the plan.”

  Margo huffed. “Still think this is the stupidest idea ever.”

  Cleo nudged her. “It’s reckless. There’s a difference.”

  Daisy raised an eyebrow. “That almost sounded supportive.”

  Cleo shrugged. “Oh, it is the stupidest idea ever. But since I’m coming with you, that makes it reckless.”

  Daisy sighed. “Wow. Thanks.”

  With that, the group split.

  Margo, Sasha, Benny, and Mimsy turned toward town.

  Cooper, Daisy, Jory, Hazel, Garrick, and Cleo stepped toward the road.

  One group going home.

  One group going forward.