Chapter 1830

Sol looked down at the wooden floor.

"Between the houses."

Jude frowned.

"Between which houses?"

"The first house and the one we built."

Before Jude could ask another question, a faint light appeared ahead.

A small yellow light.

Then another.

And another.

They were lanterns.

Twenty of them, hanging from wooden posts along a narrow path.

At the end of the path stood a house.

Jude recognised it immediately.

It was their shared house.

Not the transformed version with roots and strange chairs.

The real one.

Its wooden walls were familiar, the windows were in their proper places, and a little trail of smoke rose from the chimney.

The front door stood open.

Jude heard laughter from inside.

His wives.

He started towards it.

Sol pulled him back.

"Wait."

"What now?"

"Look at the windows."

Jude turned.

Through the nearest window, he could see the kitchen.

Natalie was stirring a pot.

Emma was arranging plates.

Rose was standing beside the table with a bundle of flowers.

Everything looked ordinary.

Then Jude noticed something.

There were thirteen people inside.

But none of them were moving.

They were all frozen in exactly the same positions, like figures in a painting.

A second later, Natalie turned her head.

Not towards Jude.

Towards the first Sol.

Her lips moved.

Jude couldn’t hear the words.

But Sol understood them.

His expression collapsed.

"What did she say?" Jude asked.

The boy shook his head.

"Sol."

"She said to leave."

"Why?"

"Because they can see me."

Jude looked through the window again.

Now every woman was facing them.

And every one of them had the same expression.

Not fear.

Not surprise.

Recognition.

The front door creaked wider.

A voice came from inside.

"Jude?"

It was Sophie.

"Come in. We have been waiting."

Jude didn’t move.

The voice continued.

"It’s getting cold outside."

Sol stepped behind him.

"That’s not Sophie."

A second voice spoke.

This time it was Serena.

"Jude, please. We need you."

Then Layla.

"Don’t leave us here again."

The front door began to close.

Jude took a step forward.

Sol caught his sleeve.

"Don’t go in."

"I know."

The door stopped.

A small wooden bird appeared on the doorstep.

It was identical to the one Sol had carried since arriving at the beach.

The boy stared at it.

"That’s mine."

Jude looked at him.

"Do you want it?"

Sol shook his head.

"I don’t want anything from this house."

The bird suddenly turned its head.

A tiny crack appeared across its wooden beak.

Then a voice came from inside it.

"Little one."

Sol went completely still.

"Come home."

Jude picked up the bird and threw it away from the path.

It struck the ground.

The lanterns went out one by one.

The house disappeared.

And in the darkness, Jude heard the sound of someone running towards them.

He reached for Sol.

A hand caught his shoulder.

"Don’t move."

Jude spun around.

A woman stood behind him.

Her clothes were dusty, and her hair was untidy. There was a small cut across her forehead, and she was holding a wooden lantern.

Jude recognised her.

"Sophie?"

She looked relieved.

"Thank goodness."

Jude stared at her.

"What are you doing here?"

"Trying to find you."

"Where are the others?"

"Back at the village."

"How did you get here?"

Sophie looked at the first Sol.

Her expression changed.

"Jude, you need to come with me."

"Where?"

"Back."

"Back where?"

"The village. Now."

Jude stepped towards her.

"Are the others safe?"

Sophie nodded.

"Mostly."

"Mostly?"

"It’s difficult to explain."

"Then explain it."

She looked over her shoulder.

"Not here."

Jude glanced at Sol.

The boy was staring at Sophie with an expression he had never shown towards any of the wives.

Distrust.

"Sol?"

The boy didn’t answer.

Sophie noticed.

"What?"

"Nothing," Jude said.

She held out her hand.

"Come on."

Jude didn’t take it.

"Tell me what happened."

Sophie sighed.

"After you disappeared, the village began changing."

"How?"

"The houses moved."

Jude frowned.

"Moved?"

"Not physically. The paths were different. The eastern river was flowing in the wrong direction. The northern path led to the orchard instead of the mountain."

She took a breath.

"And the shared house..."

"What about it?"

"We found another room."

Jude’s eyes narrowed.

"What room?"

"A room that wasn’t there yesterday."

Sol stepped closer.

"What was inside?"

Sophie looked at him.

For a moment, she seemed unable to speak.

Then she answered.

"A bed."

The boy’s face changed.

"A little wooden bed," she continued. "A small table. A window that looked out towards the sea."

Jude stared at her.

"Was there anything else?"

Sophie nodded.

"A name carved into the wall."

"What name?"

She looked directly at Sol.

"Not Sol."

The boy stepped backwards.

Jude moved in front of him.

"What name?"

Sophie shook her head.

"I couldn’t read all of it. The first letters were missing."

"Then why are you looking at him like that?"

"Because he was there."

Jude frowned.

"What?"

"In the room."

Sophie lifted the lantern.

"I saw him."

The first Sol shook his head.

"No."

Jude looked at him.

"What do you mean?"

"I wasn’t there."

Sophie stared at the boy.

"You were."

"No."

"You were standing beside the bed."

"No!"

His voice echoed across the dark path.

Sophie flinched.

Jude took his hand.

"Enough. We’re going back."

Sophie nodded and turned.

But before she could take a step, another voice came from the darkness.

"Don’t follow her."

Jude turned.

The second Sol stood beneath one of the wooden lantern posts.

He was holding the broken wooden bird.

Its beak had been repaired.

Sophie immediately raised her lantern.

"You."

The second Sol smiled.

"Hello, Sophie."

She moved in front of Jude.

"Stay away from him."

The boy looked amused.

"Which one?"

Sophie didn’t answer.

The second Sol glanced towards the first.

"She’s learned something."

The first Sol lowered his head.

"Don’t talk to her."

"Why? She’s been looking for you."

Sophie tightened her grip on the lantern.

"Jude, don’t listen to either of them."