The scene, viewed from the outside, would have felt almost dreamlike, if not outright surreal. A mismatched gathering of people in jeans, hoodies, and worn sneakers sat shoulder to shoulder with others clad in leather armor and steel. They occupied a room filled with mounted mythological beasts and medieval weaponry, sharing food, space, and cautious conversation as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

Inside, Phillip stood slightly apart from the others, his attention fixed upward. His eyes traced along the wall with focused curiosity, head tilted as though trying to solve a puzzle only he could see. “Hey,” he called casually, though he didn’t look away, “has anyone seen a ladder?”

A few people glanced over.

Phillip pointed upward. “There’s a couple of bows mounted up there. If they’re functional, they might actually be useful. I’m a pretty solid shot.”

David lifted his head from where he sat, interest piqued. “I’ve done a fair bit of bow hunting,” he said, pushing himself upright. “If they’re usable, I’d definitely take one.” He paused, glancing around. “Haven’t seen a ladder though.”

“I think I did,” Casey chimed in, already halfway to standing. “Out by the shed.” She hesitated just long enough to glance toward Nikolaus.

He looked up from his plate, considering for only a moment before giving a small nod. The tension in the room had eased just enough for decisions like that to feel… acceptable.

“Alright,” Casey said, already moving. “I’ll grab it.” She slipped out the back before anyone could object.

The tavern settled again into a low murmur of voices and quiet movement. The faint glow of early morning light had begun to creep through the windows, softening the shadows. It wasn’t quite safe, but it was no longer the suffocating darkness of the night.

A couple of minutes passed. Then a voice broke through from outside. “Come, come! Bells!” The accent was thick, the tone urgent and excited. One of the soldiers, unmistakably.

Alicia immediately stiffened, exchanging a look with Amanda. Neither of them moved.

“Nope,” Amanda muttered under her breath.

Kyrie, however, was already pushing to her feet, curiosity overriding hesitation. David followed, and after a brief pause, Nikolaus rose as well.

They had barely taken a few steps toward the back when the sound reached them. Ring… ring… Kyrie froze mid-step. David’s head snapped up. “The phone!” they both said at the same time.

They didn’t wait. Both broke into a run toward the shed, boots thudding against the wood floor as they pushed through the back door. Nikolaus followed at a steadier pace, his expression sharpening with interest. By the time they reached the shed, the ringing had stopped.

Casey stood inside, gripping the receiver tightly, her expression twisted with frustration. She slammed it down. The phone rang again immediately. “Jesus! What is this thing?” she snapped, snatching it back up, irritation bleeding into her voice.

Kyrie stepped closer, holding out her hand. “Let me.”

Casey hesitated, then passed it over.

Kyrie pressed the receiver to her ear, turning slightly and covering her other ear to block out the ambient noise. Static crackled harshly against the line, thick and distorted. Then, faintly, a voice. Not live. Recorded. “Keep going… there is a way… out… we are… trying to help… from here…” The message warbled, fragments dissolving into static before cutting out entirely.

Kyrie slowly lowered the receiver, her brow furrowed. The phone rang again. The same message. Her expression tightened. Without a word, she lifted the receiver off the hook and set it aside. The ringing stopped.

David stepped forward, picking it up next, listening for himself. His jaw set slightly as he heard the same broken message.

Nikolaus remained just outside the shed, watching them carefully. “What is it?” he asked.

Kyrie turned toward him, still processing. “A message,” she said. “Someone knows we’re here.” A beat. “They told us to keep going.”

That hung in the air. David exhaled slowly, glancing toward Casey. Casey met his look, then shifted her gaze to Kyrie. For a moment, no one spoke. Then, quietly, they all nodded.

It wasn’t much. It wasn’t clear. It wasn’t even reliable. But it was something. Hope, however fragile, had just found its way back to them.

Together, they turned and headed back toward the tavern to share what they’d heard, Casey grabbing the ladder along the way.