Realms of Destiny: Shadows of Caligo

Tewisted in Chaos

The day seemed to be going well for Luke, everything unfolding in a mundane sort of way. Halfway through his routine, echoes of sobbing began to ring around him as if a friend was crying somewhere nearby. The sound was haunting, persistent, and strangely familiar.

"Hey, Seth, did you hear someone crying just now?" Luke quickly questioned the closest person he knew, his voice tinged with urgency.

"Uh, no, there's no one crying here, buddy," Seth responded, a bit off-put by the frantic look on Luke's face.

From then on, every so often, Luke could hear the voice wailing with tears in his head, even when he could visibly see no one crying. The experience was unsettling, making him question his sanity. He tried to focus on his school work and on conversations with friends, but the crying persisted, a haunting backdrop to his day.

The hours dragged on, and Luke began to watch the clock more frequently, counting down the minutes until he could meet Ren. She had always been a source of clarity and understanding in his life. If anyone could make sense of the inexplicable sobbing, it would be her.

Finally, as the last bell rang, Luke gathered his things and rushed out of the classroom, heading to the usual spot where he and Ren met after school. His heart raced with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. He needed answers, and he hoped Ren could provide them.

When he arrived at their meeting place of three bricks from the gate, it was empty. He frowned, checking his watch. She was usually here by now. He waited for several minutes, but Ren didn't show up. A sense of unease settled over him.

The sobbing grew louder and more insistent as if trying to tell him something. He closed his eyes, trying to focus on the sound. It felt as if it was pulling him somewhere, guiding him.

Without fully understanding why, Luke started walking blindly. He followed the invisible thread of sound, weaving through the streets until he found himself standing outside the old wear house at the edge of the city. The building had been abandoned for years, a crumbling relic from a time long past, its once grand facade now worn and decrepit.

Luke hesitated for a moment, then pushed open the creaky door and stepped inside. The air was thick with dust and decay. The sobbing was louder here, reverberating through the empty corridors. He followed it, winding his way through the maze of shelves and forgotten items, until he reached a secluded corner.

There, in the dim light, he saw a figure huddled on the floor, shrouded in shadows. As he approached, the figure looked up, and Luke's breath caught in his throat. It wasn't Ren. It was a girl he had never seen before, her face streaked with tears.

"Who are you?" Luke asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

The girl sniffled, wiping her eyes. "I'm... I'm Serena. I don't know how I got here."

"Why are you crying?" Luke knelt beside her, feeling an inexplicable connection to her pain.

"I don't know," Serena said, her voice trembling. "I just feel this overwhelming sadness, like I've lost something important. Someone important."

Luke's heart ached at her words. He realized that the sobbing he had been hearing all day wasn't just in his head. It was Serena's, somehow reaching out to him, calling for help.

"You're not alone," Luke said, his resolve strengthening. "We'll figure this out together. Maybe Ren can help us. When I find her." He shrugged in quivering worry for his friend.

Serena shook her head. "Ren? Who's Ren?" Her eyes widened like she knew the name, but still, it was a miss to her in some way.

Luke felt a pang of confusion. "She's my friend. She usually knows what to do in situations like this. If I am honest, she is the brave one out of the pair of us."