Chapter 3: The Town's Shadows

The sky had turned gray by the time Sophia left the café. The breeze carried a sharp chill, but it was the weight of James's words that truly unsettled her. Ethan Blackwood isn't like the rest of us. What had he meant?

Her footsteps echoed against the cobblestones as she walked toward the local library, hoping to find records or stories that might explain the town's strange undercurrent.

The library was tucked away on the edge of the main square, its stone facade worn and ivy-covered. Inside, the scent of aged paper and varnished wood enveloped her. An older man with round glasses looked up from the desk, giving her a polite nod.

"Good afternoon," he said, his voice raspy. "How can I help you?"

"I'm looking for information on the town," Sophia replied, trying to sound casual. "Old records, maybe some local history."

His gaze sharpened, as if he were trying to determine her true intentions. After a pause, he gestured toward the back. "Historical archives are in the last two aisles. Feel free to browse."

"Thank you."

Sophia made her way down the narrow aisle, her fingers trailing along the spines of dusty tomes. Most were typical records—maps, census data, and collections of old newspaper clippings. But one book caught her eye. Its leather cover was faded, the title embossed in gold: Legends and Mysteries of Havenwood.

She pulled it off the shelf and flipped through the brittle pages. The book chronicled strange occurrences in the town—ghost sightings, unexplained fires, and, more recently, disappearances.

One chapter was marked with a folded piece of paper. Sophia unfolded it and froze.

It was a sketch of a strange symbol: a circle with jagged lines radiating outward like a sunburst, but broken at its edges. The same symbol Ethan had painted on one of his canvases.

Her heart raced as she read the accompanying text:

The Shadow Mark. A sign of the forgotten. Those who bear it are doomed to be lost, consumed by the darkness beneath Havenwood.

Sophia slammed the book shut, her breathing uneven. She wasn't sure what unsettled her more—the symbol itself or the fact that Ethan seemed connected to it.

"Find what you were looking for?"

She jumped, clutching the book to her chest. The librarian stood at the end of the aisle, his expression unreadable.

"Just browsing," she said quickly, placing the book back on the shelf.

His gaze lingered, but he nodded and retreated to the front desk. Sophia exhaled shakily and left the library, the image of the Shadow Mark burned into her mind.

---

The wind had picked up by the time she returned to the house. She was about to head inside when she noticed Ethan standing near the edge of the cliff, staring out at the sea.

Something about his posture was unnerving—rigid, as if he were bracing himself against an unseen force.

"Ethan!" she called, stepping closer.

He didn't turn, his voice low and distant. "Do you ever wonder what it's like to just... disappear?"

Sophia frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Ethan finally turned to her, his eyes shadowed with something she couldn't quite name. "Nothing. Just thinking out loud."

She wanted to press him, to ask about the Shadow Mark and what it meant, but the words caught in her throat. Instead, she said, "You were right about Havenwood. There's something off about this place."

A faint smile tugged at his lips. "You don't know the half of it."

Before she could respond, a distant scream pierced the air, cutting through the sound of the waves.

Sophia's blood ran cold. "What was that?"

Ethan's expression darkened. "Stay here."

Without another word, he sprinted toward the forest, leaving Sophia rooted to the spot, her heart pounding in her chest.