"There is the grave."
The tombstone was modest, a simple grey stone with the name "Clara Robinson" and a single, faded carving of a wild rose. The earth around it was slightly overgrown, but a small, clear patch showed signs of recent tending – likely Elara's work on previous visits.
"Alright," Riku said softly, placing the shovel he'd acquired earlier onto the ground. "We'll dig here, beside her."
They began their grim task. The night was quiet, the only sounds the rhythmic scrape of the shovel against the earth and Elara's soft, intermittent sniffles. Lila worked beside Riku, her expression somber but determined, while Elara sat huddled nearby, watching them with tear-filled eyes.
As they dug deeper, an occasional, inexplicable chill would pass through the air, raising goosebumps on their arms despite the mild night. It wasn't a natural cold; it was more like a fleeting presence, a whisper of unseen eyes.
