[EVE]

    The cold in Germany was bone-chilling, seeping through layers of clothing and biting into my skin.

    Yet despite the frigid air outside, the heat between Cole and me had been undeniable just moments ago, the car''s fogged-up windows a testament to our earlier . . . mysteries.

    But all of that warmth dissipated the moment we arrived at our destination. My initial excitement, the flicker of hope that had carried me through the long drive, shattered like fragile glass as I took in the sight before me.@@@@

    What once might have been a vibrant place was now a field of devastation—nothing but ruins and rubble scattered across the snowy landscape. No walls remained standing, no roofs to offer shelter. Only fragments of stone, charred wood, and the skeletal remains of dead trees stood as a grim reminder of what had once been.

    It was haunting. Silent. As if the very air held its breath in mourning.

    I wrapped my arms around myself, not just for warmth, but for comfort. The emptiness of the place gnawed at something deep inside me. If there had been gravestones dotting the area, it would have looked like a forgotten graveyard blanketed in white.

    I was grateful Cole was with me in this moment. Without his warmth and comforting presence, I might have been overwhelmed by the weight of despair and helplessness.

    "The fire left this place barren for years," the guide said quietly, her voice low as though afraid to disturb the lingering ghosts. "It''s been abandoned ever since. They say children''s souls wander here . . . the ones who couldn''t escape the flames."

    His words wrapped around me like a protective shield, offering comfort I hadn''t realized I needed. My lips curved into a small, grateful smile, even though the ache in my chest hadn''t fully subsided. "Thank you, Cole. I don''t know what I would do without you . . . I''m just glad you''re here with me."

    His expression softened, but the familiar mischievous glint still flickered in his eyes as he smirked. "Wherever you go, I''ll always be there with you." He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a whisper. "That''s a promise, Eve. You''re not getting rid of me, even if you try."

    I couldn''t help but laugh quietly, the sound lightening the tension that hung between us. Cole''s presence wasn''t just reassuring—it was grounding. It was as though he became my anchor in this storm of uncertainty, refusing to let me drift too far into the darkness.

    For a brief moment, it didn''t matter how lost I felt or how daunting the search ahead seemed. With him by my side, I knew I could face whatever lay ahead.

    The ride back to the hotel was quiet, a soothing lull as the weariness of the day caught up with me. I drifted off to sleep almost instantly, cradled in the safety of Cole''s arms.

    Wrapped in his warmth, it felt as though no harm in the world could reach me. There was no place safer—no comfort greater—than by his side.

    When we finally arrived, dusk had painted the sky in shades of purple and orange. The cold air nipped at my skin, pulling me from my hazy thoughts. I absentmindedly mulled over my next steps, the weight of disappointment settling heavily on my shoulders.

    Deep down, I had known that nothing substantial would be left at the ruins. The reports from the investigators I hired had been clear.

    Still, I had needed to see it with my own eyes, to confront the lingering hope that had stubbornly clung to me. Only now did I realize how much I had been holding on to something already lost.