Jane Cross's Arc

Chapter 2 of 5

The fort ruins rose ahead, walls crumbled to waist height in places, standing defiant in others. Jane moved along the outer edge, scanning for signs of entry. No fresh tracks marked the ground, but the snow here was old and crusted over. Someone could have crossed days ago and left no trace. She found the cottage in the center courtyard, nearly hidden by fallen stone. The wooden structure looked old but intact, its door hanging loose on rusted hinges. Bloodied bandages lay scattered outside, frozen stiff in the mud. Jane counted at least a dozen, all soaked through. Whoever had been here was badly hurt. Inside, a figure slumped against the far wall, wrapped in a torn cloak. Jane's hand went to her belt before remembering the dagger she'd left at the border. The stranger stirred, head lifting. Fever-bright eyes fixed on her, unfocused. The stranger's hand fumbled at their chest, pulling out a pocket watch with elaborate engravings. The chain caught on their fingers. "Lucaino," the stranger muttered, voice hoarse. "Tell Lucaino... the shipment was a trap." The watch slipped from their grip and hit the floor. Jane froze. Lucaino was the only name on the scrap of paper she'd carried for three years, the one lead that might connect to her parent. She picked up the watch, her chest tight. The stranger's eyes closed again, their breathing shallow. Jane had crossed the border to find one person and stumbled into a second trail she'd thought was behind her. Now both paths twisted together in this ruined place, and she couldn't walk away from either one.