Page 43 of Fated

I turned back toward the doors we had just exited. They were built directly into the solid rock of a cave wall, so my gaze followed the rugged stone upward, my breath catching to realize the true scale of the place. The cavern stretched impossibly high, the stone walls towering hundreds of feet above us, blending seamlessly into the roof of the cave. The sky—it wasn’t real.

It was some type of illusion, an enchantment masterfully crafted to deceive the senses.

We were still very much underground.

My eyes shifted back down to the floor. Directly ahead of us was a sign that read,Welcome to Cresinthia,and just beyond it, the beginning of a wide street—Main Street.

My gaze swept over the horizon, revealing an undergroundcity that seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see. Ash stood beside me, his eyes also wide with disbelief as he too seemed to struggle to take in the hidden city.

As we started walking down Main Street, the first building we passed was markedWelcome Center, though the closed sign in the window made it clear we wouldn’t be getting any formal introductions. Beyond the Welcome Center lay a mixture of shops, restaurants, and various buildings crowded together along the street.

Unlike the eerie abandoned train station, this city buzzed with life.

People sat at small tables outside a charming café ahead, laughing and chatting over food. A woman emerged from a shop a few doors down, balancing a large shopping bag in her arms.

The street in front of the shops was alive with men, women, and children traveling by bicycle.

Just like Mira, everyone here seemed to be wearing the same cheerful smiles as if this place were wholly untouched by any of the worries of the world above.

I hadn’t realized the beaming smile on my own face, until I noticed Ash watching me out of the corner of his eye.

His expression was far more guarded, his gaze scanning the streets with a quiet intensity.

“This place is—” I started, unable to find words adequate to capture this sensation.

“Incredible.” Ash finished, though his voice lacked the awe I felt.

Chapter 12

My body buzzed with excitement as we strolled down Main Street, barely able to hold myself back, resisting the urge to dash ahead of Ash and take in every new sight.

Each passerby greeted us with warm smiles, which I eagerly returned.

Ash had been right; there wasn’t a trace of evil in this place.

In fact, life here seemed so ordinary—a far cry from the monsters I’d imagined inhabited Gardonia. When I’d gone to bed last night, I could’ve never imagined that by morning, I would find myself somewhere so similar toThe Meadowback home.

A refreshing breeze swept through the streets, cool across my skin; I hadn’t realized how warm I’d gotten until the wind hit me. The temperature here really was much hotter than up above; it felt like the middle of summer. I wiped away the beads of sweat beginning to form on my brow, and kept moving, my eyes devouring every new sight.

To the left, we passed a gym, then a doctor’s office. On the right came a dance studio and a donut shop followed by a bicycle shop. Farther down the street was a bookstore and—thank God—a quaint little coffee shop.

We continued walking, passing a large grocery store and some more restaurants.

But then I stopped abruptly, my heart leaping in my throat as something caught my eye. I barely registered Ash tense besideme as my legs propelled me across the street, narrowly avoiding a cyclist as I sprinted toward the window of a small shop.

There, behind the glass, were the most adorable baby foxes. Their fur was a soft, creamy color, and their ears—oh—my—God—their ears were twice the size of their tiny faces.

My heart swelled, barely able to handle their cuteness as I pressed my hand against the glass, drawing the attention of one of the foxes. It pawed at the window, following my hand as I moved it over the surface, its tiny body bouncing with excitement.

My heart turned to mush, completely captivated by the little creature.

Suddenly, I remembered Ash and glanced back at him. He was only a few feet away now, walking toward me, his expression completely devoid of my brimming enthusiasm.

“Shit, Areya. I thought we were about to be attacked,” he muttered, clearly not amused.

“Aren’t they precious?” I cooed, ignoring his grumbling.

Just then, a slightly larger fox pounced on the one I’d been playing with, sending them tumbling in a flurry of fur and playful squeaks.

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