Spiced Rivalry

They say there's magic in a well-cooked meal, but what if that magic actually stirred up more than the taste buds? Running my food truck, Spice & Charm, at the annual festival should've been my chance to make people fall in love with flavor, one carefully crafted dish at a time. But across the way, there's Ryder-the guy who somehow makes flipping ribs look like an Olympic sport and has a smugness that's practically an ingredient in his BBQ. Our playful rivalry was supposed to be just that, until a cook-off challenge threw us into a heat that went well beyond the grill. The crowd loved the banter, the food-maybe even the sparks. But then something strange happened, something that took the festival's magic from delightful to... complicated. A storm swept through, and suddenly, Ryder and I found ourselves dealing with something darker, more potent than the magic I've ever known. And now, between the pulse of the festival and the mysteries of this place, I have to decide: can I trust him, or are we about to bite off more than either of us can handle?