The forest’s maw yawned as native trees—silver bells, red ciders, magnolias, and maples—pushed away the sky. Its teeth, the ruined walls of a great estate, sprang from the low-lying foliage and delineated the summer sunlight into harsh shadows and warm pools. “It must have been a beautiful house once.” Zoe, the group’s intrepid spearhead and ...

Only when the strain in my cheeks became unbearable did I realize I was smiling. Regardless, lines of salted emotions stained my face. The memories of Gran brought on a mental fog, yet my body felt light. Muscles relaxed from oils and incense, remnants of when she occupied the small bedroom. Much of her was ...