Chapter 5: The Town’s Shadows

The next morning, Elena and Daniel walked through the town, the sketchbook tucked under her arm. The rain had stopped, but the streets were still slick, reflecting the gray sky above. The town felt different now, as if the buildings themselves were watching her, their windows like eyes peering into her soul.

They stopped at the town hall, a crumbling brick building that stood at the center of the square. Inside, the air was thick with the smell of old paper and dust. Daniel led her to a small room at the back, where shelves lined the walls, filled with leather-bound books and yellowed documents.

"This is where they keep the old records," he said, running a finger along the spines of the books. "The town's history. Or at least, the version they want people to believe."

Elena frowned. "What are you saying? That there's another version?"

Daniel didn't answer right away. He pulled a book from the shelf and opened it, revealing pages filled with handwritten notes and faded illustrations. The symbols from Mara's sketchbook were there, scattered among the text.

"This town wasn't always what it seems," he said finally. "A long time ago, something happened here. Something… unnatural. The people who lived here tried to bury it, to forget. But it never really went away."

Elena's skin prickled. "What happened?"

Daniel hesitated, then pointed to one of the illustrations. It showed a group of figures standing in a circle, their hands joined, their faces turned upward. Above them, the sky was dark, filled with swirling clouds and strange, glowing shapes.

"They called it the Gathering," he said. "A ritual, meant to summon something. No one knows exactly what, but whatever it was, it didn't go as planned. People disappeared. Others went mad. And the ones who survived… they swore never to speak of it again."

Elena's mind raced. "And you think Mara found out about this? That's why she left?"

Daniel nodded. "I think she stumbled onto something she wasn't supposed to see. And whatever it was, it scared her enough to run."

Elena looked down at the sketchbook in her hands, the weight of it suddenly unbearable. "Then we need to find out what she saw," she said. "No matter what it takes."

Daniel's expression softened, but there was a sadness in his eyes. "Be careful, Elena," he said. "Some secrets… they're better left buried."

But Elena was already turning toward the door, her resolve hardening. She didn't care about the risks. She had to know the truth—for Mara, and for herself.

---