Chapter 7: The Tides of Truth

The wind howled like a wounded animal through the trees, a cruel reminder of the storm that had begun the night before. Haven's Cove wasn't known for clear skies or calm seas, but tonight felt different. The air was thick with secrets, as if the very ground we stood on was drowning in a tide of dark truths that had been hidden for far too long.

I walked with Mac down the narrow path leading away from the lighthouse, each step dragging like a weight on my heart. The pain in my arm was sharp, a reminder that the Ferryman wasn't done with me yet. But I couldn't focus on that. Something much bigger was at play, something I had never seen coming.

I glanced over at Mac, who walked with a determined pace despite his age. His face was drawn, eyes darker than I remembered. The truth had settled heavy between us, thick and suffocating. His earlier words about my mother and the legacy I was bound to kept echoing in my mind, like a record stuck on repeat.

"Your mother was part of the Circle," he had said. "She helped start it. And so are you."

How could I even begin to process that? I had spent my life trying to escape my family's dark shadow, only to find out I was right in its center. My mother had known about the Circle—about the lies and bloodshed—and had chosen to protect it. She had kept everything hidden from me, all to shield me from a history buried long before I was born.

"How could she, Mac?" I whispered, struggling to comprehend. "How could she be part of that?"

He didn't answer immediately but led me further down the path, the fog wrapping around us like a ghostly shroud. It felt as if we were walking through the pages of a tale, inching closer to a truth that could change everything.

"We don't always get to choose, Ellie," Mac finally said, his voice raspy. "Your mother was born into this. She didn't have much of a choice. But when she found out the truth—when she realized how far the Circle would go to protect itself—she tried to escape. She tried to keep you safe."

I halted, my heart racing. "Protect me? From what? From them?"

Mac was silent for a moment, and I could feel the weight of that silence. It was the kind that exists when two people know they're standing on the edge of something they can't change.

"You were always meant to be a part of it, Ellie," he continued. "Whether you wanted it or not. The Circle has been in your blood for generations. Your mother was one of them. She thought she could escape it, but it's in her, and it's in you."

I shook my head, breath catching in my throat. "No. I'm not like them. I can't be. I'm—"

"You're not like them. But they'll make you believe you are."

His words struck me hard, and I could only stare at him for a moment, mind racing. How could this be true? My own mother had been part of something so evil? How could she have kept that from me all these years?

"Ellie," Mac said softly, stepping closer, "your mom didn't want you to know. She didn't want you to get trapped in it. But she also didn't want you to fall into the same traps she did."

I took a shaky breath, trying to steady myself. "Then why didn't she tell me? Why didn't she stop it? If she knew... why didn't she—"

Mac raised a hand to stop me. "It's not that simple. The Circle is bigger than any one person. It has controlled this town for generations. Your mother fought against it. But they got to her before she could do anything."

I felt my chest tighten with fear. "Then why are we still here? Why didn't you stop them? Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

The old man sighed, looking at me with a blend of regret and worry. "I should have. I should have told you everything the moment you returned. But I wanted you to live free from this mess. And now… now I see there's no avoiding it. You're already a part of it, Ellie. The Ferryman, the secrets—they're all tied to you."

A chill ran down my spine at his words. The Ferryman was always lurking, always watching. I thought I was the investigator, but now I realized the whole town was a game board, with me as a pawn.

"We need to go to the cannery," Mac suddenly said, pulling me from my thoughts. "That's where the next piece of this puzzle is. That's where we'll find the ruby."

"The ruby?" I repeated, my stomach plummeting. "But it's… it's gone. It was lost in the shipwreck."

Mac shook his head. "No, it wasn't lost. It's hidden, Ellie. It's the key to everything. If we find it, we can expose the Circle for good."

I studied his face, unsure if I could trust him. There was doubt in his eyes that made me wonder if he was hiding something. But I had no choice. The truth was still out there, and uncovering it required us to move forward.

"Let's go," I said, my voice steady with resolve.

The cannery had been abandoned for years. Its buildings stood in disrepair, windows boarded up, rusted machinery cluttering the grounds like forgotten relics of the past. The air smelled of stale saltwater and decaying fish, mingled with the damp scent of the fog that clung to everything like a ghost.

We slipped through a gap in the rotting fence, the crunch of broken glass underfoot the only sound as we approached the main building. I felt foreboding; the place felt too quiet and still, as though it was watching, waiting for something—or someone—to make a move.

Mac led the way, his steps sure as he navigated the darkened hallways. I followed close behind, the knife still in my grip. My senses were on high alert; the Ferryman could be lurking anywhere.

We reached a large room at the back of the cannery. The walls were lined with shelves, some stacked with crates, others draped with old tarps. Mac didn't hesitate; he moved to the far corner and removed the rotting wood panels covering the floor.

"What are you doing?" I asked, my voice tight with anxiety.

Mac didn't reply. He just continued pulling at the boards until he revealed a small hatch in the ground. A chill ran through me as I watched him kneel down and pry it open. The creaking sound echoed in the stillness, and I thought I heard something—a faint whisper or the shuffle of feet.

"Help me with this," Mac grunted, straining to lift the hatch.

I didn't hesitate. I rushed to his side, and together we pulled it open. A rush of cold air hit me as soon as it gave way, and I peered down into the dark. The hatch led to a narrow tunnel that descended into the earth beneath the cannery.

"This is it," Mac said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "This is where they kept the ruby. It's buried down there."

I swallowed hard, heart racing. I wasn't sure what awaited me below, but I knew I had to go. I nodded and followed him into the darkness, each step filled with uncertainty.

The air grew heavier as we moved deeper into the tunnel. The walls were damp, and the dirt underfoot felt soft and sticky. My mind raced, and the only light came from Mac's flashlight, illuminating our path. I could hear my own breath quickening, matching the beat of my anxious heart.

Then, ahead of us, I saw it.

A small wooden chest, half-buried in the earth, its surface etched with strange symbols. My pulse quickened. This was it. This was what we had come for.

Mac reached for the chest, his hands trembling as he carefully lifted it from the ground. He turned it over, muttering softly to himself.

"It's here," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's all here."

I couldn't wait any longer. I snatched the chest from him, relishing its weight in my hands. My fingers brushed against the cool wood, and the symbols felt oddly familiar. I didn't know what was inside, but I knew one thing for sure.

It was the key to everything.

Taking a deep breath, I opened the chest.

Inside was the ruby. And beneath it, the truth.