Chapter 1: Echoes of the past

It was twilight on the small town of Gracetown Georgia, the golden rays of the sun reflecting off the houses, as the sun seemed to set for the day. While the families were still out in the park, enjoying the last bit of summer, the scent of pine surrounded the place, along with voices of laughter. Yet, there was something eerily unsettled about the atmosphere that seemed to hover above the tranquility.

Outside the church, there was a Sheriff Cassidy Grayson who parked her cruiser near the white-wooden building that was one of the first things one could see in the town. The evening sun illuminated the Reverend Solomon Hayes, who stood on the porch with a resigned expression. Reverend Solomon Hayes had become a beacon of hope for many Gracetown residents but Cass didn't think Reverend Solomon was calm and sunny outside like the rest of the people did.

She stepped out of her car and noticed a local paper with a headline on a twig pinned on the infobust "Young Girl Missing- Gracetown is in shock". With a ladle, Cass approached the reverend and the fuss accumulated in her waist.

"Sheriff Grayson," he said in a depth which almost cracked. "What do I owe the pleasure of your presence tonight?"

"Reverend Hayes," said Cassidy, looking straight into his face, her face stern, "I have come to discuss Ms. Sarah Parker. There are few questions I have for you."

The expression of Solomon changed, the warmth in his features now nowhere to be found. "Sarah? She is but a girl. What has happened?"

"They told us she is missing since this morning. That is the last time anyone has seen her," Cassidy stated, keeping an eye on his reaction. "We are trying to figure out her likely whereabouts."

Missing? Solomon echoed, hissing the words out as if the others would not hear him. "She was here last Sunday, young and brimming with energy. This is sickening."

Cassidy nodded. This allowed him to calm a little. "Believe me, I know how hard this is for you but any small detail you give,may be of a lot of assistance."

He thought about it before reaching for his head which was slowly losing its hair. That was a sign of panic,but he was clearly trying to conceal it. "I don't have any particularly striking recollections to share. The youngsters around these parts, the kids in this town – they go anywhere and do anything they want. The real world is a drastic difference."

She panted, relaxing her hands on her cruiser, crossed her arms. "Then how is it that we're here today? Did Sarah ever speak of anything she wanted to try or any friends she made or any new places she wanted to visit?"

Solomon sighed, directing his face away, It is evident that he needs to think before speaking to put his thoughts together.

"Well, a few in the assembly were speaking quite low about some new kids around the area who might be contentious in nature, as some have suggested," he said. "Well, these kids have spent quite some time near the park."

"What sort of trouble makers?" Cassidy asked now more interested, "Would you happen to recognize any of them?"

"I only know the rumors," he said, the shadow of worry settling on his face. "It's all only speculation. One can only imagine how gossip becomes the rule of the day in such a small place."

"Which I do," Cassidy noted as she became slightly more insistent, "There is however a child's life at stake. If you hear of anything, you should notify me."

Solomon conceded as the significance of yourself pressed between them, 'Yes, There are some who believe dangers exist in our midst. Yes, I shall pray for her safe return.''

"Thank you Reverend," Cassidy said while turning around with the intention of leaving. She turned her head back again momentarily. "One more thing, this is important – do not let your past win this battle. You have the power to change the story that is present here."

As she got into her cruiser, Cassidy had this queer feeling that the people of this town were all staring and watching her closely. For she was the first woman to become the sheriff in Gracetown and that title brings with itself skepticism and hope. Even as the sun started to set, streaming long shadows down the streets, she couldn't quite shake the sensation that there was something ominous waiting in the hushed cracks of her line of sight.

As she navigated the hilly roads on her way to Gracetown, Cassidy pondered on the inhabitants of the town. Words about what Solomon did in the past still rang in her head. This was a brutal gang leader . He's now a beloved character, though there are those in the town who are still not easily convinced as they have a long memory to forget him.

A gentle buzz cut into her busy thoughts. It was an intimate message from deputy Mark Taylor. 'Cassidy, look, we've got a problem at the old mill, on the outskirts of town. I suggest you come here.'

"I'm on my way," she said with utmost confidence while her heart thumped. She used sirens on her vehicle and hurried towards the mill, all the memories of the landmarks she was used to, passing her by in the blink of an eye.

When she got there, a bunch of people had formed around the entrance to the broken structure. People were pushing Cassidy but she pushed them back since she recognized the faces as townspeople that were scared of what happened yet excited to see something. Mark was stationed at the entrance and looked sickly at her.

"What have you found?" Cassidy asked in a calm voice, though her heart was beating rapidly because of that urgency.

"Just inside," he pointed out and took a step back. "And I hope you're ready for this."

With a calm breath, Cassidy moved deeper into the mill's obscuring embrace. The aroma of decaying timber and rust occupied her nose. A delicate sweep of the flashlight beam over the walls pointed towards ancient equipment and artifacts long abandoned.

Then she noticed it. A lifeless figure in the corner rolled up in a ball and decorated in a dusty peach dress. Cassidy moistened her lips and gasped.

"Sarah," she mumbled as she crouched down beside corpse of the little girl. Although she struggled to check her sobs but she was overwhelmed by such an emotion. "What happened to you, my dear?"

Mark came closer, moving his jaw only so slightly. "This is why we have to cut off the perimeter and request for more units to join us here."

"Right," Cassidy spoke and the sound of her voice wavered with sorrow but she also seemed confident. "Get the coroner and ask questions. Somebody knows something."

Standing up, she noticed the a slight movement. A shadowy figure at the far edge of the mill stepped into the notifying darkness of the woods. She became alerted!

"Mark, stay here!" she yelled and dashed after the figure. The metal trees caused a cold burn in her chest while she teamed through the bushes, she had a high level of adrenaline in her blood.

"Stop!" Cassidy yelled, however, the figure was already disappearing from sight.

She ran after him, her heart racing, but when she reached the line of trees, the figure was gone without a trace, leaving only silence behind them. Trembling, Cassidy came to a standstill, her breath slightly harsh, her mind clouded with so many questions. Who was that person?how is the person connected to the murder of sarah parker?what do the person know? Her mind was almost blowing up.

As Gracetown was covered with darkness, Cassidy went back towards her cruiser, exhausted after all that had happened. She believed that this was only the prologue to more horrifying events in the town. There were things that existed in the dark and the history was definitely not passive.

As she skimmed the thin cover of the night as the dim stars twinkled overhead, she proceeded to drive to the station with her mind fixed on one thing, to reveal the truth. Justice for Sarah Parker is what she is after. No matter where it took her. What she didn't know was,the journey – in an emotional and psychological way – was going to be much tougher than what she had expected.