CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE - THE UNKNOWN PATH

   What that was, exactly, she wasn't quite sure. As the sun climbed higher in the sky, casting a warm glow over the company picnic grounds, Nia arrived fashionably late with Helia and Barnaby in tow. The trio made their way through the throng of colleagues already engaged in various activities, drawing curious glances and a few raised eyebrows. Helia, ever the social butterfly, immediately began waving and calling out greetings to familiar faces. "Sorry we're late, everyone! Traffic was an absolute nightmare. But we're here now, ready to join in on all the fun!" Barnaby, more reserved but equally excited, nodded along with Helia's enthusiastic apologies. "We didn't miss anything important, did we?" he asked, scanning the crowd for any signs of ongoing events. Nia, however, felt a knot of anxiety forming in her stomach as she spotted Justin and Leon Allistair on opposite sides of the picnic area. She took a deep breath, plastering on a smile as she followed her friends into the fr