As the carriage rumbled along, the distant sound of chatter reached your ears. You glanced around, trying to make sense of where it was coming from, but the landscape remained eerily empty. It wasn't until they passed through a small town-its buildings more run-down than you remembered-that the voices grew louder. A group of citizens huddled together in the shadows, speaking in hushed tones.

You leaned closer to the edge of the carriage, your curiosity piqued. You caught a few words here and there-something about a secret concert.

"...only a select few are allowed in... a big performance tonight..."

"...they say she's amazing... the one who can bring hope..."

Your interest was immediately grabbed. A secret concert? Who could be performing in this broken world, and why keep it a secret? You leaned out further, trying to catch more of the conversation.

"...heard it's gonna be at the old theater, deep in the mountains..."

"The singer's a big deal-she's known for her voice, and there's rumors she might even be working with... someone dangerous."

You felt a sense of urgency rise within you. Could this mysterious singer be someone who could help? Or maybe they were connected to Nazo in some way? You glanced at Knuckles, who was still throwing trash out of the carriage and barely paying attention, and then at Sonic, who seemed equally distracted.

You leaned closer to Sonic. "Sonic, did you hear that? There's a concert tonight, and it sounds... important. We should check it out."

Sonic glanced over at you, his expression still uncertain but curious. "A concert? In this mess?" He chuckled nervously. "Well, maybe they're just putting on a show to entertain the few people who still have hope, huh?"

Knuckles snorted from the back of the carriage. "Yeah, if that's what you want to call it." He scoffed. "Probably just some distraction to keep everyone thinking there's a way out of this mess. Nothing more than a waste of time."

You ignored him, still thinking about the mention of "someone dangerous." There was a chance the singer could know something, or at the very least, she might be someone who could help them gather more information about Nazo's plans. If you could make it to this concert, it might give you a lead.

"Let's go check it out," You urged, determination in your voice. "I have a feeling it's more than just some show."

Knuckles gave a dismissive grunt. "Do what you want. Just don't expect me to be your personal bodyguard for some pointless concert."

Sonic, still uncertain, sighed. "I guess we have to follow something, right? Can't hurt to see what all the fuss is about."

You nodded, feeling a spark of hope. This could be the break you needed.

As the carriage made its way toward the city, you kept your eyes open for any signs that would lead them to the secret concert. The night had barely begun, and who knew what secrets it might hold?

As the carriage pulled to a stop near the outskirts of the town, Your curiosity about the secret concert grew stronger. You couldn't shake the feeling that this might be the opportunity you needed to learn more, and perhaps find someone who could help.

Without waiting for Knuckles or Sonic to offer any thoughts, You jumped down from the carriage and walked toward a few citizens standing near a crumbling building. They seemed nervous, whispering amongst themselves, their eyes darting around as if worried they might be overheard. You approached them, trying to seem calm despite the rush of thoughts flooding your mind.

"Excuse me," You called gently, catching the attention of one of the citizens, a man who looked to be in his late twenties. He glanced at you, clearly surprised by your sudden appearance but not entirely opposed to talking.

"I overheard you earlier," You continued, your voice steady. "You were talking about a concert... a secret one? I need to know where it is."

The man hesitated, looking over his shoulder nervously. He spoke quietly, as though afraid someone might hear. "It's... it's hidden, you know. In the mountains... past the old town ruins. Only those who are invited can find it. They say the singer is incredible, but no one really knows what she's about. Some say she works for someone dangerous... Nazo, maybe. But you didn't hear that from me."

Your heart skipped a beat at the mention of Nazo. Could this be connected to him? You pushed aside the worry for now, focusing on what you could learn. "The mountains... do you know the exact location? How do I get there?"

The man hesitated for a moment, glancing around before lowering his voice even further. "There's a hidden path... up near the northern cliffs. You'll need to find a narrow trail that leads to an old stone bridge. The concert is held in the caves behind the waterfall. No one who hasn't been invited will find it. Be careful if you go, though."

You nodded quickly, absorbing the information. You thanked the man before turning back to the carriage, where Sonic and Knuckles were still watching you. You walked back with purpose, your thoughts racing.

As you approached, Sonic looked up, raising an eyebrow. "Well? Did you get any good gossip?"

You didn't waste any time. "It's hidden in the mountains, past the old town ruins. There's a narrow trail up to the cliffs, and from there, you follow a path to an old stone bridge. Behind the waterfall, that's where the concert is."

Knuckles rolled his eyes and huffed. "Great. So, we're going to some hidden cave for a concert? Sounds like a waste of time."

You shot him a determined look. "I think it's more than that, Knuckles. We need to go. It might help us figure out how to stop Nazo."

Sonic, still uneasy but intrigued, urged the horses forward. "Alright, alright. I guess we're going to the mountains then... If this is the lead we've got, we can't waste it."

Knuckles grumbled under his breath, clearly not pleased with the idea. "Don't say I didn't warn you. You're all gonna get yourselves caught up in something you can't handle."

As the carriage began moving again, your heart raced. The mountains ahead seemed to promise answers, and you were determined to uncover whatever secrets the secret concert might hold.

What's gonna happen next? Find out on Chapter 9. Have a great day. Author out ❤️❤️❤️