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Chapter 1: The Incident

The late autumn air was chilly as Dr. Sarah Linden drove through the dense fog enveloping the small town of Willow's End. The winding road, flanked by towering pines, seemed to stretch into the unknown, each turn revealing little more than the next. As she approached the designated location, her headlights caught the flicker of police tape through the mist—a stark, unwelcome beacon.

Arriving at the scene, the secluded cabin looked like something straight out of a forgotten ghost story. Its weathered wooden siding and dark, dusty windows gave it a forlorn appearance, as if it were reluctantly holding on to the secrets it housed. The police had cordoned off the area, and Detective James Marrow, a man with a rugged face and eyes that seemed too tired for his age, met her as she stepped out of her car.

"Dr. Linden, thanks for coming on such short notice," Marrow greeted her, his voice betraying a hint of relief. "It's a peculiar case, and we're out of our depth here."

Sarah nodded, her professional curiosity piqued. "What's the situation?" she asked as they walked towards the cabin.

"We found a university student, Kyle Merton, inside," Marrow explained as they stepped over the threshold. "He was in a catatonic state, unresponsive, surrounded by... well, you'll see."

The interior of the cabin was dimly lit by the fading evening light filtering through the dirty windows. As her eyes adjusted, Sarah's gaze was drawn to the walls, which were covered in cryptic drawings and symbols that seemed to pulse with an eerie life of their own. In the center of the room, Kyle sat slumped against the wall, his eyes open but unseeing, his face and clothes smeared with what looked disturbingly like blood.

Sarah approached him cautiously. "Kyle?" she called gently, but there was no response. His stare was fixed on something only he could see, lost in a world far removed from the one Sarah and the detective inhabited.

Detective Marrow watched as Sarah examined the scene, her expression a mixture of concern and determination. "We've seen our share of oddities in this town, but nothing like this," he admitted, his voice low. "The symbols, the state we found him in... It's as if he's been pulled into something we can't quite grasp."

Sarah took in the chilling array of symbols, recognizing some from her studies in psychology and mythology as related to ancient rituals and protective wards. It was clear that Kyle had been involved in something beyond typical academic curiosity.

"I need to speak with his friends, his professors, anyone who can tell me what he was working on," Sarah decided, her mind already forming a plan of action. "Something led him to this state, and whatever it is might still be a danger to him—or to others."

As they left the cabin, the weight of the task ahead settled on Sarah's shoulders. This was more than a medical mystery; it was a puzzle that straddled the line between the known and the unknown, between science and the supernatural. And Sarah knew that solving it would require all her skills, and perhaps, demand new ones she would have to learn in the shadows of Willow's End.

 

Chapter 2: Initial Investigation

 The morning after her unsettling visit to the cabin, Dr. Sarah Linden set out under the weak sun that barely pierced the dense overcast sky of Willow’s End. The town, usually quiet and unassuming, seemed to buzz with an undercurrent of whispers and sideways glances as Sarah made her way to the local diner, a popular gathering spot that promised not just a warm cup of coffee but also a pulse on the town's grapevine.

Inside, the diner was a cozy throwback to a simpler time, with checkered tablecloths and vintage memorabilia lining the walls. Sarah chose a booth near the back, hoping to blend in and observe. However, it wasn’t long before the waitress, a middle-aged woman with a kind smile named Linda, recognized her not as a local but as someone who might be involved in the recent disturbances.

"You're here about Kyle, aren’t you?" Linda asked as she poured coffee into a thick white mug. Her voice was low, mixing concern with curiosity.

"Yes, I am. Dr. Sarah Linden," she introduced herself, extending a hand. "I’m trying to understand what happened to him. Did you know Kyle?"

Linda nodded, refilling Sarah’s coffee without being asked. "Nice boy, quiet. He used to come in here with his friends

Impressum

Verlag: BookRix GmbH & Co. KG

Texte: David Moore
Tag der Veröffentlichung: 23.08.2024
ISBN: 978-3-7554-7997-0

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