Chapter 6: Ethan’s Secret

Ethan closed the door behind her and locked it, the sound of the bolt sliding into place echoing in the stillness. The guesthouse was small but surprisingly cozy, with shelves lined with books and a few more of his paintings propped against the walls. Most were of stormy seas and shadowy figures, all steeped in the same haunting energy.

He motioned for Sophia to sit at the small kitchen table, but she remained standing, arms crossed. Her heart was pounding, and the silence between them felt suffocating.

"Start talking," she said, her voice firmer than she felt.

Ethan leaned against the counter, his jaw tight. For a long moment, he just stared at her, as if deciding how much to reveal. Finally, he spoke.

"Havenwood isn't just a town. It's... a doorway," he said, his voice low.

"A doorway?" she repeated, frowning.

"To something else. Something dark."

Sophia's stomach knotted. "You're joking."

Ethan shook his head. "I wish I were. The cliffs, the forest—they're not just scenery. They're part of it. Havenwood draws people in, but it doesn't always let them go."

Her pulse quickened. "Like the man in the woods tonight?"

Ethan's expression darkened. "Yes. He's one of them."

"One of who?"

He hesitated, then said, "The Marked. They're people who've been... touched by the shadows. They're drawn to the energy here, consumed by it. And once the darkness takes hold, there's no coming back."

Sophia stared at him, struggling to process his words. "You expect me to believe that? That there's some kind of—of evil force out there, turning people into monsters?"

"You saw him, Sophia," Ethan said, his voice hard. "You saw the Mark. You know I'm not lying."

She opened her mouth to argue but stopped. She had seen the Mark, etched into the man's skin like a warning. And the way he moved, the way he spoke—it wasn't normal.

"Why does it happen?" she asked, her voice quieter now.

Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "No one knows for sure. Some say it's a curse. Others think it's tied to the land itself. But once you're Marked, it's only a matter of time before you're lost completely."

Sophia's mind raced. The Shadow Mark. The disappearances. The strange energy she'd felt ever since arriving. It all fit together in a way that terrified her.

"Why are you still here?" she asked. "If you know how dangerous it is, why haven't you left?"

Ethan's gaze dropped, his expression shadowed. "Because I can't. I've spent my whole life trying to protect this place, to keep the darkness from spreading."

Sophia stared at him, realization dawning. "You're connected to it, aren't you?"

He didn't answer, but the look in his eyes was enough.

"Ethan..." Her voice trembled. "Do you have the Mark?"

For a moment, she thought he wouldn't respond. But then he slowly rolled up the sleeve of his sweater, revealing his forearm.

Sophia's breath hitched. The Mark was there, faint but unmistakable, etched into his skin like a scar.

"How?" she whispered, stepping back.

Ethan's jaw tightened. "It happened years ago. I was a kid, and I didn't know what I was getting into. I wandered too far into the woods and... it found me. I've been fighting it ever since."

"Fighting it?"

"The Mark isn't just a symbol," he said. "It's... alive. It tries to take over. But I've learned to keep it at bay—for now."

Sophia's knees felt weak, and she sank into one of the chairs. "Why didn't you tell me this sooner?"

"Because the less you know, the safer you are," Ethan said, his voice sharp. "But you're stubborn. You keep digging, and now you're in the middle of something you don't understand."

She looked up at him, her fear giving way to anger. "You don't get to decide what I can or can't handle, Ethan. If I'm in danger, I deserve to know the truth."

His lips pressed into a thin line. "The truth is, you should leave. Havenwood isn't safe for you. And if you stay, the shadows will find you too."

Sophia stood, her hands clenched into fists. "I'm not leaving. Not until I figure out what's really going on—and how to stop it."

Ethan's eyes met hers, a flicker of something like admiration crossing his face. "You're braver than you should be."

"I don't have a choice," she said.

"Then neither do I," Ethan muttered. He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "If you're staying, you need to promise me something."

"What?"

"Stay out of the woods. Stay away from the cliffs. And if you see the Mark again—run."