The Shifting Sands of Mirage Springs
The scorching desert sun beat down mercilessly as Nora Reeves stepped off the rickety bus into Mirage Springs. A wave of heat shimmered off the cracked pavement, distorting her view of the dusty town. She squinted, adjusting the strap of her heavy backpack while taking in the sun-bleached buildings and sparse vegetation. “Welcome to paradise,” drawled the bus driver sarcastically as he tossed her duffel bag onto the ground. Nora shot him an unamused look, but he had already slammed the doors shut and was pulling away in a cloud of exhaust. ...