The Path of Vengeance

Chapter 2: Unveiling the Deceit

Ethan spent the next few days visiting every person who had been at the market that day. Most were hesitant to speak, but the few who did seemed confused, unsure of what they had seen. It was as if a fog had descended over their memories, making the truth slippery and elusive.

His first visit was to Mrs. Harper, an elderly woman who often sold her homemade jams and preserves at the market. She had a reputation for being observant, so Ethan hoped she might have noticed something others hadn't.

"Mrs. Harper," Ethan began, his tone respectful, "I'm trying to clear my sister's name. Do you remember anything unusual about the day Sarah was accused?"

The old woman looked at him thoughtfully, her wrinkled hands twisting a handkerchief. "I remember Sarah was there, yes. She bought a jar of strawberry jam from me. But... now that you mention it, there was something odd. A man, dressed in dark clothes, standing by the apple cart. He seemed out of place."

Ethan pressed for more details, but Mrs. Harper's memory was hazy. It was a small lead, but it was something. He thanked her and moved on.

His next stop was the blacksmith, Mr. Hughes. A burly man with a booming voice, Mr. Hughes had a clear view of the market from his forge.

"Ethan, I've told the authorities everything I know," Mr. Hughes grumbled, wiping sweat from his brow.

"I understand, Mr. Hughes, but anything you can remember might help. Did you see anyone acting suspiciously that day?"

The blacksmith pondered for a moment. "Now that you mention it, there was a commotion near the fabric stall. A group of men arguing with the vendor. I thought it was just a dispute over prices, but maybe there's more to it."

With each interview, Ethan gathered small pieces of information. A pattern began to emerge: unfamiliar faces in the crowd, strange behaviors, and moments of confusion. It was clear that someone had orchestrated the entire scenario, but who?

One evening, as Ethan was poring over his notes, a knock at the door startled him. He opened it to find a young boy holding a folded piece of paper.

"This is for you," the boy said before disappearing into the night.

Ethan unfolded the note, his heart pounding. The message was simple but chilling: "Look closer to home. Trust no one."

He couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching him, manipulating events from the shadows. The thought that Alex might be involved gnawed at him, but he pushed it aside. Alex was his best friend. He wouldn't betray him—would he?

Determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, Ethan decided to confront Alex. He needed to know if his friend was involved or if he was being paranoid. The thought of betrayal by someone so close was unbearable, but he had to find the truth.

thank you ❤