DESCENT

SNEAK PEEK TO BOOK TWO!!!

"You are my sunshine

My only sunshine

You make me happy

When skies are gray..."

. . .

(December, year 1997)

"Sum, you ready?"

Summer Veil nodded and climbed back into her seat, buckling herself in while her husband started the car and drove on to the open highway.

One of his hands intertwined with her's.

"It's okay honey, don't worry," Warren says, his shiny blue eyes not leaving the road ahead even as he squeezes her hand, "We're almost there."

Summer nodded.

She remembered this particular highway... though it seemed like it had been ages since she had been here. The memories felt so far away, almost surreal.

It felt like it happened to a different woman.

A different person.

From the corner of her eyes, she sees Warren's hand (the one not holding her) clenching the wheel tightly, until his knuckles turned white. Summer instinctively placed her other hand over his in an assuring manner, "I think you're the one who should stop worrying, dear."

He offered her a tight-lipped smile before turning his gaze back towards the road again, "I just still think this isn't a good idea."

"She's still my sister, Ren..."

"I know," Warren smoothly maneuvered the car off of the highway and then onto a smooth road. Thank God they were the only ones here.

Not surprising, actually.

There's a reason for that, of course.

Summer placed her palm on the foggy window, watching the scenery pass them by into a blur of white thanks to the still-falling snow.

She felt a sudden rush of nostalgia when she spotted a familiar black and white sign just by the entrance, gathering flurries of powdery white snow. Never in her life did Summer thought she'll see the words Welcome to the Veiled Valley again. Not after how adamant she–they–had been to leave.

Not after everything...

The skies are always dark in this place.

It always felt like the heavens are in a perpetual state of mourning... that, or because the valley is usually covered in a fine mist.

Hence, the reason why it had been called as the 'veiled' valley.

More than five years had passed since Summer had last stepped foot here, years since Summer (and her younger sister) ran away from home after their mother died. She had sworn to never come back. She had promised she'll never have to.

But for her sister...

She has to.

As the car glided on the road, they passed neighborhoods, the houses dark and made of rubble stone. Everything was either black or white here thanks to the snow. It looks so cold, so unwelcoming. Why on earth would her sister want to come back here? Why was she even here?

A tear fell from her eye. Summer immediately leaned her head on the window and bit back down a sudden sob lest her husband hears.

She closed her eyes.

...The answer's simple.

She didn't have a choice.

"Honey...? Are you okay?"