Gray's Amulet

Chapter 2: Crossroad!?

"Ivy, honey, you're not skipping breakfast. Come and eat something before you go."

Her father echoed from the dining table, "It's Sunday, dear. Five more minutes won't make you late."

Reluctantly, Ivy nodded and set her bag down, the weight of the morning's urgency momentarily lifted by the familiar domestic scene. As she joined her parents at the table, there was a warmth and laughter that filled the room, the kind that makes ordinary moments feel imbued with something more.

She smiled, picking at her food, but a strange sensation tugged at her heart. As she looked at her parents—their faces bright with the morning light, talking about mundane things like the weather and the neighbors—Ivy felt a sudden, inexplicable sadness. It washed over her in a quiet wave, leaving her with a haunting feeling that this simple family breakfast could somehow be the last.

With a deep breath, she pushed the thought away, focusing on the warmth of the moment. But as she laughed and chatted, that small part of her couldn't help but memorize every detail, just in case.

Ivy slipped behind the wheel of her car, her heart still heavy with unspoken goodbyes.

As she pulled out of the driveway, the streets seemed unusually busy, the traffic dense with the hum of engines and the blur of passing vehicles. She glanced at the clock on the dashboard, her fingers tightening around the steering wheel. Late, she thought, even though she had left on time.

Was it just her anxiety playing tricks on her, making the world seem more chaotic than it actually was? Or had the universe conspired to make every light turn red, every slow driver pull ahead of her this morning? Ivy shook her head, trying to clear the fog of her thoughts and focus on the road.

But as she drove, the odd sense of dissonance grew stronger. The familiar route to the university, which she could navigate almost absentmindedly, now demanded all her attention. Every stoplight and intersection felt like a barrier, every minute ticking by increased her urgency.

Still, she pressed on, the weight of the ancient stone in her bag a constant reminder of why she couldn't afford to be late. Its presence was both a comfort and a curse, grounding her in the reality of her mission yet magnifying the surreal feeling of the morning.

As the university gates came into view, Ivy exhaled a sigh of relief mixed with apprehension. She parked her car with a final glance at the congested road behind her. Was it all in her head? Perhaps, but it didn't matter now. She grabbed her bag, the stone secure inside, and hurried toward the building where new truths awaited.

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Rushing through the university's bustling corridors, Ivy's mind raced with the implications of her impending meeting. Clutching the amulet's stone tightly in her hand, she navigated the sea of students with single-minded focus, her steps quick and determined.

Suddenly, without warning, she collided with a broad-shouldered figure stepping around a corner. The impact was jarring, sending a shockwave through her arm. The stone in her hand pulsed fiercely, as if reacting to the contact, and emitted a blinding light that enveloped everything.