Page 47 of Obscurity

The same coral color Chloe was wearing in the promotional video.

Olive carefully freed it, her hands trembling. The fabric was high-quality silk, exactly the kind of thing a wealthy young woman like Chloe would wear.

“This could be proof that she was here, just like Connor mentioned.” Olive’s fingers closed around the material. “She may have gone inside the mine.”

“The question is whether she made it back out.”

Before Olive could respond, the sound of voices echoed from deep within the tunnel—male voices, speaking in low tones.

Olive and Jason froze, every instinct screaming at them to run. But the voices were their first real lead.

If Chloe was down there, if she was still alive, this might be their only chance to find her.

Jason’s hand found Olive’s in the darkness, squeezing gently. When she looked at him, his expression was resolute but worried.

They stepped closer to the entrance, closer toward whatever secrets Grayfall was hiding in its depths.

Olive and Jason were about to step into the mine entrance when the distant rumble of an engine made them both freeze.

Headlights from a small vehicle—an ATV—swept across the town, growing brighter as they approached the festival grounds.

“Someone’s coming,” Jason whispered.

The sound was getting closer—definitely headed their way.

If they were caught at the mine entrance, there would be no explaining what they were doing there in the middle of the night.

“We have to go.” Olive pocketed the piece of fabric. “Now.”

They melted back into the shadows just as an ATV rounded the corner, its headlights cutting through the darkness wherethey’d been standing moments before. Two figures were visible on the vehicle—one driving, one riding behind.

Olive couldn’t make out their faces in the glare.

She and Jason crouched in the bushes.

As the ATV paused nearby, she heard a man say, “Make sure no one gets in here. We can’t take that risk.”

“Got it.”

Olive was fairly certain it was one of the guides/guards. Maybe even Max.

The ATV moved farther down the trail.

“Security patrol,” Jason breathed.

“We can’t go back there tonight.” Olive didn’t bother to hide the frustration in her voice. “They’ll be watching now. We got here a few minutes too late.”

They waited until the ATV’s engine faded before starting back to their tent. But as they moved through the shadows, something caught Olive’s attention.

A warm glow emanated from beyond a cluster of pine trees behind the town.

“Look.” She nodded toward the light.

Through the trees, they could see a large house. No, not just large. It was practically a mansion. Three stories with floor-to-ceiling windows that blazed with warm light.

It was around a bend in the mountain, which made it out of sight for anyone in town.

If she had to guess, this was one of the original houses in Grayfall—maybe where the owner of the mine had lived. Someone had restored it.