chapter 11: Defected shadows

Just before midnight, Cassidy's heart was on the edge as she approached 457 Willow Lane. The house written in the address seemed like it had been abandoned a while back. It's wall stained by ages and wear, and weeds pushed their way through cracks in the stone path leading to the front door; the windows had been shattered. It was a deserted place, a perfect place for executing an ambush!

She clenched her flashlight, scanning all around her as she moved slowly forward. The wind hissed in melody as it blared through the broken glass and the tortuous branches, making her teeth crackle. Ready for anything, she held her firearm close.

Suddenly, a dim light came from inside of the house,enough to see a figure by the window. Her heart raced, her instincts and all her fear screaming at her to back off, but duty and curiosity won out. The hinges protested as she opened the front door.

From the shadows, someone called out her name with mockery, "Sheriff Greyson." It was a male voice, but not quite familiar, and it had a trace of a Southern drawl. "We've been expecting you."

"Reveal your face."She ordered, trying to speak normally, and to sound steady.

The figure stepped to area which had light. He was tall, in his late forties, had broad shoulders, a gentle expression, almost serene. Cassidy felt really disturbed by the strange gleam in his eyes. It seemed like there was something unhinged about him,something so dark.

"Who are you? And which place is this?" Cassie asked in a demanding voice.

The man smiled, an unsettling smile forming on his lips,he then tilted his gaze towards Cassidy. "Names won't mean much in this meeting, Sheriff." I'm just a servant of truth, and truth is not even close to what you think it is in Gracetown."

Cassidy shivered. I do not have time for a mystifying conversation. Why did you bring me here?"

His gaze pierced and he laughed softly. "You believe you are raveling out he secrets of Gracetown, but that is just but a scratch on the surface. That's not the end game,the girls, the Langstons and Principal Wheeler those are just the tiny bits, they are not even the most important part of the game."

Cassidy's mind raced. "Tell me now what's really going on."

The weak light seeping through the cracked window illuminated his face as he took a step closer. Cassie could see a faint scar which ran down his left cheek. "Gracetown has actually been a test site for years."Would you believe me when i tell you that people here are being experimented on? And that those who've disappeared weren't just victims, but sacrifices?

Cassidy was really struggling to take in the weight of his words. "An experiment? Who is doing the experiment?"

He only smiled and shook his head. "Sheriff, that's for you to figure out." You're closer than anyone else has ever been."

He then vanished into the darkness without another word, he disappeared just as quickly as he'd appeared. Her mind whirled in questions,her heart was raced. Deeper in the house she heard the door creaking open. While tightly holding her breath and swallowing hard, she shined her flashlight into the darkness, trailing the noise.

The room she walked into had several newspaper clippings, images, and a blue thin string tying one picture to the next. She recognized a couple of faces, the missing girls, Aaron Langston, Principal Wheeler, and others who hadn't even been suspects. Her picture was pinned like a target in the center of it all.

Her heart dropped. She thought she was steps ahead,and was the hunter, but she was the one being hunted, caught on someone's radar, someone who was a step ahead of her.

Their was a rattling sound behind her suddenly. She thrashed around, but it was too late. She was dragged backwards by a hand in gloves,clamped over her mouth. She tried fighting back,but the hands were too strong.

"Now, now, Sheriff. A voice whispered in her ear, "No need to struggle." She immediately recognized the smooth cultured tone.

"Principal wheeler!"

She turned and faced Wheeler. Wheeler released her, just enough for her to breath. She was ragged and her mind was humming with fear and fury.

"What are you doing here?" She asked,curiosity and anxiety clearly showing in her expression.

He straightened his jacket,stood straight and calmly as if they were meeting under the usual curcumstances.

"Sheriff, I told you that this town is not what you think it is. You should have listened."

Cassidy could hear the pulse in her ears heightening. "So what huh? are you the one in charge of this 'experiment'?"

He responded coldly. "Let's just say that I'm a significant part of it," he said. "Secrets, Gracetown is basically built on top of secrets." And the ones who don't follow the rules always end disappearring mysteriously."

She couldn't tell if she was more scared or pissed. "What did you do to those girls?"

The grin on his face evaporated and was replaced with a colder expression.

"What is your shot here,Sheriff? It's not what you're thinking." Sometimes the greater good must be prioritized over our own best interest," she said.

"You're sick."

"No, Sheriff," he said, softly. "I'm utopian."

Cassidy had a clear picture of him now, past his perfectly displayed facade, she could see his everted ego. He was detrimental not because of what he'd done, but because he believed whatever he was doing was justified.

Before Cassie answered him,a sound echoed from deeper part of the house, there was footsteps coming closer . Cassidy's instincts erupted. Wheeler grabbed her arm, his grip tightened, as she desperately tried to dart towards the door.

"Leaving so soon,Sheriff?" He scorned her,his upper lips forming a curl.

As she was trying to free herself from the grip, another voice cut through.

"That's enough."

Aaron Langston stood in the doorway, a gun in his hand, turned to see Cassidy. Wheeler watched as his face set, eyes dark with fury, and he pointed the gun at him.

Wheeler's expression shifted from confidence to discomposure. "Aaron? What are you doing here?"

His voice was as hard as stone, "Putting an end to this." You've really gone too far, Wheeler."

Cassidy's mind raced. This, this is not what she ecpected: Aaron, the one who'd been suspect number one, suddenly becoming her ally!

"Aaron, put the gun down.' "You don't understand." Wheeler's voice was tight.

Aaron's voice dripped with bitterness, "Oh, I perfectly understand. You think you get to control everything and everyone around here. It's high time someone stop you from the damage you are causing."

At that moment Cassidy noticed the power dynamics change. She didn't know if Aaron was on her side or working against Wheeler. But she saw her chance.

Cassidy lurched at Wheeler and knocked him off balance. Aaron moved in to secure Wheeler's arms as Cassidy curfed him. He struggled to free himself,but they held firm.

"I told you, Wheeler.' "I knew this was always going to come back to you." Aaron said, giving him a pityful look.

Wheeler was led out of the house, into the patrol car and locked him in the backseat. She then turned, and looked at Aaron as if she was searching for answers

"So,what's your angle, Aaron?" She asked with a wary voice,but cautious enough.

His expression vague, he looked away.

"Rewriting the wrongs, cleaning up my family's mess."

Cassidy wasn't sure if he was lying, but for now, She knew she could use an 'ally'. She pondered if she'd found a trustworthy ally, or if she'd found yet another player towards the end of the game in Gracetown.

But one thing she was sure about,she was done playing by anyone's rules.