Chapter 19

The map was a spiderweb of coordinates, each one marking a location tied to the Mariner's Circle. Towns, cities, even ports overseas—all connected by a network of corruption and crime.

"This isn't just a local problem," Jesse said, spreading the map on the motel table. "This is… massive."

Mara traced a line from Haven's Cove to a port in Boston. "They've been moving people. Not just here. Everywhere."

I stared at the map, my stomach churning. The ruby necklace felt heavy in my pocket, its weight a constant reminder of the secrets it held.

"We need to take this to the state police," I said. "They'll know what to do."

Jesse nodded. "I'll call my contact. He'll—"

The motel door burst open, cutting him off.

Sheriff Pike stood in the doorway, his face pale and his hands trembling. "You need to leave. Now."

"What are you talking about?" I asked, my heart pounding.

"They're coming," Pike said, his voice tight. "The Circle. They know you have the map."

"Who's coming?" Jesse demanded.

Pike didn't answer. He just turned and walked away, leaving the door hanging open.

Mara grabbed my arm. "Ellie, we need to go."

I nodded, stuffing the map and journal into a backpack. "Let's move."

We drove through the night, the headlights cutting through the fog. Jesse's contact, a state police detective named Ramirez, had agreed to meet us at a diner just outside Portland.

"You sure we can trust him?" Mara asked, her voice trembling.

"We don't have a choice," I said, clutching the backpack to my chest.

The diner was a small, greasy spoon with flickering neon lights. Ramirez sat in a corner booth, his face shadowed by a baseball cap.

"You Harper?" he asked as we slid into the booth.

I nodded, handing him the map. "This is everything. The Circle's network. Their operations. Their people."

Ramirez studied the map, his expression unreadable. "This is big. Bigger than I thought."

"Can you help us?" Jesse asked.

Ramirez looked up, his eyes hard. "I can try. But you need to understand—this goes deep. Higher than you can imagine."

"What does that mean?" Mara asked.

Ramirez leaned forward, lowering his voice. "The Circle's not just a small-town secret society. It's a global operation. And the people at the top… they're untouchable."

I felt a chill run down my spine. "So what do we do?"

Ramirez folded the map and slipped it into his jacket. "You let me handle this. Go home. Stay out of sight. And whatever you do, don't trust anyone."

We left the diner in silence, the weight of Ramirez's words hanging over us.

"What now?" Mara asked as we climbed into the car.

"We go back to Haven's Cove," I said. "We wait."

Jesse frowned. "Ellie, if the Circle's as powerful as Ramirez says—"

"I know," I said, cutting him off. "But we can't just sit around and do nothing."

The drive back was tense, the fog thicker than ever. As we neared Haven's Cove, I noticed something strange—a car following us.

"Jesse," I said, my voice low. "We've got company."

He glanced in the rearview mirror, his jaw tightening. "Hold on."

He hit the gas, the car lurching forward. The headlights behind us grew brighter, closer.

"Who is that?" Mara asked, her voice panicked.

"I don't know," Jesse said, his hands gripping the wheel. "But they're not friendly."

The car behind us swerved, trying to pull alongside. I caught a glimpse of the driver—a man in a wide-brimmed hat.

The Ferryman.

"Jesse, go faster!" I shouted.

He slammed the gas pedal to the floor, the engine roaring. The car behind us matched our speed, its headlights blinding.

"We're not going to outrun them," Jesse said, his voice tight.

"Then we fight," I said, pulling the ruby necklace from my pocket.

The car behind us rammed ours, sending us skidding off the road. We crashed into a ditch, the impact knocking the breath from my lungs.

"Ellie!" Jesse shouted, grabbing my arm. "Are you okay?"

I nodded, my head spinning. "We need to move."

We climbed out of the car, the fog swallowing us whole. The Ferryman's car screeched to a halt, its doors flying open.

"Run!" Jesse yelled, pulling me and Mara into the trees.

We ran blindly, the fog and darkness making it impossible to see. The Ferryman's footsteps echoed behind us, his breathing ragged.

"Ellie!" Mara screamed as she tripped, falling to the ground.

I turned back, but Jesse grabbed my arm. "We can't stop!"

"We can't leave her!" I shouted, pulling free.

I ran back to Mara, helping her to her feet. The Ferryman emerged from the fog, his face hidden beneath his hat.

"Give me the ruby," he said, his voice low and gravelly.

"No," I said, clutching the necklace.

He lunged, his hand closing around my wrist. I swung the ruby, hitting him in the face. He stumbled back, his hat falling to the ground.

For a moment, I saw his face—scarred, twisted, but familiar.

Sheriff Pike.

"You?" I whispered, my voice trembling.

Pike grinned, his teeth yellow in the moonlight. "The Circle's not done with you, Harper."

Jesse tackled him from behind, the two men crashing to the ground.

"Go!" Jesse shouted, pinning Pike down. "Get out of here!"

I hesitated, but Mara grabbed my arm. "Ellie, we need to go!"

We ran, the sound of Jesse and Pike fighting fading behind us.

We didn't stop until we reached the edge of town. The fog was thinner here, the streetlights casting long shadows.

"What do we do now?" Mara asked, her voice shaking.

I looked down at the ruby in my hand, its surface glinting in the light.

"We finish this," I said.