Chapter 1831

Sophie tightened her grip on the lantern.

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

Jude looked at her.

"You just told me to follow you."

"I know."

"Now you’re telling me not to listen?"

"Because I thought you were alone."

The second Sol began walking towards them.

Sophie raised the lantern higher.

The light spread across the path, revealing something behind him.

A long wooden bridge.

It stretched over a deep valley filled with mist.

At the far end stood the village.

Jude could see the central firepit, the houses and the gardens.

But there were no people.

No smoke.

No movement.

The village was completely silent.

Sophie pointed towards it.

"That’s where we need to go."

The second Sol looked at the bridge.

"No."

Sophie turned towards him.

"Why?"

"Because that isn’t the village."

"Then what is it?"

"A memory."

The lantern flickered.

Jude looked across the valley.

He could see the shared house more clearly now.

Its front door was open.

Someone stood inside.

A woman with long dark hair.

Layla.

She was holding a silver key.

And behind her stood a second figure.

Jude couldn’t see the face.

But the figure was wearing his clothes.

"Who is that?" he whispered.

Sophie looked across the bridge.

Her face went pale.

"Jude..."

The figure in the doorway raised its head.

It was another Jude.

Not the older one beneath the silver-leaf roof.

Not a reflection.

A third version.

He looked exactly as Jude looked now.

Same clothes.

Same face.

Same age.

Same expression.

The other Jude stepped out onto the porch.

He looked directly across the valley.

Then he raised one hand.

He was holding something.

A small wooden bird.

The first Sol made a frightened sound.

The second Sol stopped smiling.

Sophie lowered the lantern.

"That’s impossible."

Jude stared at his duplicate.

"What is happening?"

The other Jude began walking towards the bridge.

Behind him, the village lights came on one by one.

The duplicate reached the first wooden post and stopped.

Then he spoke.

His voice travelled across the valley with impossible clarity.

"Jude, listen carefully."

The real Jude didn’t move.

The duplicate continued.

"You must not trust the boy holding your hand."

Jude looked down.

The first Sol was still holding him.

Then the duplicate raised the wooden bird.

"And you must not trust the boy standing behind you."

Jude turned.

The second Sol was gone.

Only the broken lantern post remained.

Sophie spun around.

"Where did he go?"

The first Sol’s grip tightened.

"Jude..."

The duplicate across the valley took another step.

"There’s only one way to save the village."

Jude looked towards him.

"What way?"

The other Jude smiled sadly.

"Bring the child to the first house."

The first Sol suddenly pulled Jude backwards.

"No!"

The bridge groaned.

The wooden boards began breaking apart from the far end.

Sophie grabbed Jude’s arm.

"Run!"

They raced towards the near end of the bridge as the valley beneath them filled with silver light.

Behind them, the duplicate Jude remained standing.

He didn’t follow.

He didn’t even move.

He simply watched.

The first Sol stumbled.

Jude caught him.

"Keep going!"

The bridge cracked again.

A wooden post fell into the mist.

Then another.

Sophie reached the opposite side first and turned, extending her hand.

"Jude!"

He pushed Sol towards her.

The boy reached for Sophie.

But she didn’t take his hand.

Instead, she stared at his wrist.

At the small silver crescent pendant.

Her expression changed completely.

"Jude..."

"What?"

She stepped backwards.

"Where did he get that?"

Jude looked down.

"It’s his."

Sophie shook her head.

"No."

The bridge trembled.

"What’s wrong with it?"

She pointed towards the pendant.

"That’s not a pendant."

Jude stared at the little silver crescent.

"What do you mean?"

Sophie swallowed.

"It’s a key."

The first Sol looked at her.

For the first time, he seemed genuinely surprised.

Sophie reached into her pocket and pulled out a small piece of paper.

It was folded several times and covered in dirt.

"I found this inside the new room," she said. "I didn’t understand it until now."

She unfolded it.

There was a drawing of a silver crescent.

Beneath it were three lines of writing.

THE CHILD CARRIES THE KEY.

THE KEEPER CARRIES THE DOOR.

THE FATHER CARRIES THE NAME.

Jude read the words twice.

Then he looked at Sophie.

"Who is the father?"

She didn’t answer.

The bridge gave a tremendous crack.

Jude pulled Sol towards the far side.

They jumped.

The boards collapsed behind them, disappearing into the mist.

For a moment, all three stood on solid ground, breathing heavily.

Then the lantern went out.

A familiar sound came from the forest.

A bell.

Not from the mountain.

Not from the village.

From somewhere beneath their feet.

Sophie turned towards Jude.

"We need to get to the others."

"Where are they?"

"Inside the shared house."

"Which one?"

She looked at him.

"The real one."

Jude frowned.

"How do we know which one is real?"

Sophie hesitated.

Then she pointed towards a narrow path between the trees.

"Because the real one is the only one that still has a shadow."

They followed the path.

The forest was different from the one Jude and Sol had crossed earlier. The trees were shorter, their trunks twisted into strange shapes, and their branches carried small wooden ornaments.

Some looked like birds.

Others resembled tiny houses.

One looked like a human hand.

Jude kept Sol close.

Sophie walked ahead, holding the dead lantern.

After several minutes, the trees began to thin.

They emerged into a clearing.

And there it was.

The shared house.

Their shared house.

It stood exactly where it belonged, surrounded by the familiar wooden walkways and smaller homes.

The central firepit was burning.

Smoke drifted into the evening sky.

Jude could hear voices.

He recognised them immediately.

"Jude!"

Natalie came running down the walkway.

Behind her were Rose, Serena, Zoey, Lucy, Stella, Emma, Grace, Sophie, Scarlet, Susan and Layla.

Jude counted them.

Twelve.

All twelve wives.