Jacob Sterling's Arc

Chapter 1 of 2

Jacob Sterling adjusted his glasses and scanned the crowded marketplace of Tongassia. His striped tail twitched as he searched for threats among the vendors and shoppers. Somewhere in this city, a forger wanted revenge, and Eva was the target. His sister didn't know the danger yet. Jacob had to keep it that way. He needed a safe place to hide her. The marketplace buzzed with activity, but Jacob's mind was elsewhere. A building on the city's edge caught his attention—sleek walls, reinforced doors, modern security features. It stood apart from the old stone structures around it. Perfect. He memorized the location and turned back toward the market square. Near the town center, Jacob spotted an old stone well. Ivy climbed its sides, creating shadows around the rim. People passed by without giving it a second glance. Jacob paused, studying the quiet space around it. This could work as a meeting spot. Somewhere to exchange information without drawing attention. His eyes shifted to the wooden message board mounted nearby. Faded notices flapped in the breeze—lost pets, market schedules, festival announcements. Jacob pulled a small notebook from his pocket and wrote quickly. He would post warnings here. The community needed to know about dangerous strangers in town. He tucked the notebook away and headed toward the secure building he'd spotted. Eva would be safe there. He would make certain of it.