Chapter 14 - The Blank Canvas
Noah opened his eyes to the smell of rain and wet asphalt.
He was sitting in his patrol truck, parked on the shoulder of Route 9 under a clear morning sky.
The sun was just beginning to peak over the horizon, casting warm golden light through the pine trees.
He checked his dashboard clock.
7:42 a.m.
He reached for his phone on the passenger seat.
The screen showed full signal, three missed calls from dispatch, and a calendar reading October 14th.
There was no ink on the windows, no newspapers on the seat, and no recorder in his lap.
His hands were smooth, free of the deep scars he remembered from the cave.
He started the engine and drove toward the town of Black Pine, his heart pounding with cautious relief.
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As he entered the town square, he saw people walking their dogs, opening shops, and living normal lives under the autumn morning light.
He pulled up outside the local library and walked straight into the archive section.
