The White Man

Chapter 4: Research

June 17, 2024

Two days had passed since Emily had promised to delve into her network of online contacts and research the connection between the Tall Man and other urban legends. As I sat at my desk, anticipation gnawed at me, wondering what insights she might have uncovered.

The creak of the door signaled Emily's arrival. She breezed into the room, a stack of papers in hand and a triumphant smile on her face.

"I come bearing knowledge," she announced, depositing the papers on my desk.

I eagerly grabbed the top sheet and scanned the contents. It was a printout of a forum thread, filled with comments and speculation about a figure known as the "Forest Watcher." The description matched the Tall Man almost perfectly, down to the unsettling presence and the whispered warnings to stay away from the woods.

"Whoa," I said, my excitement growing. "This sounds just like the stories in the journal."

Emily nodded, flipping through the rest of the papers. "And it's not just this one. I found several other accounts of similar figures from different parts of the country. They go by different names—Shadow Man, Hat Man, the Pale Man—but the descriptions are eerily similar. Tall, featureless, and always associated with forests or wooded areas."

I leaned in closer, absorbing every detail. "Do you think these could all be connected somehow? Like different interpretations of the same legend?"

Emily shrugged. "It's possible. Urban legends tend to spread and mutate over time, evolving to fit different cultural contexts. But there's something about these stories that feels... deeper. Like they're tapping into something primal and universal."

I nodded, feeling a chill run down my spine. "So, what's our next move?"

Emily tapped her chin, thinking. "We need to keep digging. There might be more clues out there, hidden in old newspapers, folklore books, or even local archives. We also need to visit the forest again, see if we can find any physical evidence that might tie these stories to real events."

I glanced at the clock on my desk. "It's getting late, but we could go first thing tomorrow morning. I'll let Tom know."

Emily smiled, a glint of determination in her eyes. "Sounds like a plan. We're getting closer, Max. I can feel it."

As she left the room, I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. With Emily's research and our determination, maybe we could finally unravel the mystery of the Tall Man and his connection to the modern legends that haunted our town.