Initial Investigation

The dawn on Haven's Peak approached with a tenacious tenacity, the fog clinging to the mountains like a wet cloak. Liam O'Connell, after a fitful night of sleep, found himself looking at the gray sky, the events of the previous evening repeating in his head. That quick sight of a pallid person in the fog, was frightening. He was a policeman, not some believer in fairy tales.

 He poured a pot of strong coffee, the scent filling the little hut, a slight consolation in the bleak morning. He wanted to go to the station, start getting a feel for the area, and maybe find out more about "Elara Vance" and her habit of talking to trees. 

 He drove down the twisting slope, the town slowly coming into view through the decreasing fog. The police station was precisely as he'd left it, tiny and inconspicuous. Sheriff Brody was already there, drinking coffee and reading the newspaper. 

 "Morning, O'Connell," Brody murmured, tossing aside the paper. "Sleep well?" 

 "As well as can be expected," Liam responded, taking a seat. "Any calls overnight?" 

 "Quiet as a tomb," Brody remarked. "Like I said, not much occurs here. So, you ready to get started?" 

 "Yeah," Liam answered. "I'd like to get caught up on any recent incidents, anything unusual." 

 Brody shrugged. "Like I said, not much. But there was one thing, yesterday. Elara Vance came in, claiming someone attempted to take one of her plants." 

 Liam lifted an eyebrow. "Tried to steal a plant?" 

 "Yeah, some rare orchid she's obsessed with," Brody added. "Said someone messed up the dirt and broke some roots. I urged her to keep an eye out, but honestly, I believe she's simply seeing things." 

 "Where does she live?" Liam questioned. 

 "Up in the peaks," Brody said. "Real secluded. You'd have to trek up there. Why? You believe it's something?" 

 "I don't know," Liam responded. "But I'd like to talk to her." 

 "Suit yourself," Brody responded. "But I wouldn't spend too much time on it. Probably just some animal fooling around." 

 Liam departed the station, the picture of the pale person in the fog staying in his memory. He needed to see this flower, to chat with Elara Vance. Maybe she was simply odd, but something about this seemed strange. 

 He drove to the outside of town, where a rough track went into the forest. He parked the cruiser and began trekking, the moist dirt squelching under his boots. The fog was still dense, making it impossible to see more than a few feet ahead. 

 The route wound its way up the slope, steep and hazardous. He was accustomed to trekking, but the fog made it confusing. He kept his eyes vigilant for any evidence of recent action, any disturbed dirt, or any broken limbs. 

 After an hour of trekking, he arrived at a clearing, a little home set amid the woods. Smoke curled from the chimney, a symbol of life. He approached slowly, his hand resting on the handle of his flashlight. 

 He pounded on the door, the sound reverberating in the quiet. A minute later, the door opened, showing a lady with eyes as gray as the fog. Elara Vance. 

 "Detective O'Connell," he said, offering a hand. "Sheriff Brody sent me. I wanted to chat to you about the event yesterday." 

 Elara paused, her eyes apprehensive. "Come in," she murmured, standing aside. 

 The cottage was tiny and comfortable, filled with the fragrance of woodsmoke and dried herbs. Liam observed the shelves loaded with botanical publications and preserved specimens. 

 "Sheriff Brody said someone tried to steal your orchid," Liam replied, taking a seat at the wooden table. 

 "They did," Elara answered, her voice hushed. "They broke the roots, disturbed the ground." 

 "Did you see anyone?" Liam said. 

 "No," Elara responded. "But I found something else." 

 She grabbed a little wooden trinket from her pocket, its beautiful carvings catching the light. "This," she responded, giving it to him. 

 Liam inspected the charm, his face wrinkled. "What is it?" 

 "It's a symbol," Elara stated. "A symbol of the Silent Path." 

 "The Silent Path?" Liam inquired. 

 "A secretive group," Elara stated. "They're believed to operate in these highlands. My sister… she vanished years ago. This emblem was discovered near where she disappeared." 

 Liam's eyes narrowed. "And you think they're connected?" 

 "I don't know," Elara responded. "But it's too much of a coincidence." 

 Liam gazed at the charm, then back to Elara. He could see the terror in her eyes, the desperation. He was a detective, a skeptic, yet he couldn't reject her fears. 

 "Can you show me where the orchid is?" he said. 

 Elara nodded, and they left the cottage, traveling further into the mountains. The fog was still thick, but Elara proceeded with a surefootedness that indicated she knew every inch of the ground. 

 They approached a secret alcove, a natural amphitheater of rock and greenery. The earth under the orchid was disturbed, precisely as Elara had indicated. The orchid itself was gone. 

 Liam observed the broken roots and the disturbed dirt. He could see the scratches where someone had attempted to rip the blossom out. He also noted a faint, metallic aroma, something he couldn't quite place. 

 "Did you find anything else?" he inquired. 

 "No," Elara responded. "Just the charm." 

 Liam gazed around the alcove, his eyes scouring the surrounding landscape. He saw nothing, just the fog, the trees, the rocks. But he couldn't get the sensation that they were being observed. 

 He turned to Elara. "We need to go back," he remarked. "I want to take a closer look at the charm, and I want you to tell me everything you know about the Silent Path." 

 Elara nodded, her eyes locked on the fog-shrouded trees. They turned and started back down the mountain, the quiet broken only by the sound of their footsteps and the whisper of the wind through the trees. Liam felt an increasing feeling of disquiet. This wasn't simply a simple theft.