Nightfall Mysteries

Monsters are real

**One day, Clara found Ben outside his house, cleaning up his tools.**

“Ben, can I ask you something?” Clara inquired, her voice hesitant.

“Of course,” Ben replied, looking up with a smile.

“Why did you really come to Silverbrook?” Clara's curiosity finally got the better of her.

Ben paused, his expression growing serious. He seemed to weigh his words carefully before speaking. “Silverbrook is a place where people come to start over, Clara. Some come to escape their past, others to find answers they couldn’t find anywhere else.”

Clara realized then that Ben was a normal guy with a troubled past. He didn’t just dislike his family—he hated them. Despite this, they continued to meet at the wood carving class, growing closer with each passing day.

**Meanwhile, in Silverbrook, strange and unnatural events began to occur.**

Healers in the town started dying, one after another, all on the same day, at the same time, and in the same place. The deaths were ruled natural, so no investigation was opened. But the pattern was too eerie to ignore.

Months went by, and Clara and Ben grew closer. They started dating, and Clara spent most of her time with him. They were happy—happier than they’d ever been. Clara even moved in with Ben to support him fully.

One evening, as they were settling in for the night, Clara asked a question that had been on her mind for a while. “Ben, you never told me why you left your family.”

Ben sighed, his eyes darkening with old memories. “They wanted me to do something I didn’t want to do. I can’t say more—it’s a family matter.”

“So, you don’t think I’m your family?” Clara asked, her voice tinged with hurt.

“No, no! You’re my only family now,” Ben said earnestly. “I really want to build a life with you. I’m serious about us. My family...they were obsessed with things that didn’t matter. But you, Clara, you’re different.”

“Don’t talk like that. You’re important to me,” ben whispered.

Clara smiled softly, “Okay, okay, don’t get so emotional. I didn’t mean it that way. I know you love me.”

**A year later, Ben proposed to Clara, and they got married.**

They were ecstatic, living the life they always dreamed of—running their own wood shop, going on hiking trips, and simply enjoying each other's company.

**But the darkness in Silverbrook hadn't vanished.**

Steve, the town sheriff, was still investigating the mysterious deaths of the healers. Another three had died on the same day as the previous year. Confused and desperate for answers, Steve decided to visit Hosa Ogima, the head of the healer community.

“Mr. Ogima, I need to talk to you about these deaths,” Steve said, urgency in his voice.

“Hello, Sheriff. What about them?” Hosa responded calmly.

“I think these deaths are connected to the ones from last year—same place, same date, and all of them were healers. What do you make of it?”

Hosa remained unfazed. “Their time was up, so they died. Simple as that.”

Steve wasn’t convinced. “Ogima, I think your family might be involved.”

Hosa’s eyes narrowed. “Why would you think that?”

“I saw your people performing rituals on those days,” Steve said, his suspicion growing.

“Those rituals were for their protection, against the monster,” Hosa explained.

“What monster? Do you really believe in those stories?”

“They’re real, Sheriff. And someone else here knows that, too. But we don’t know who. My family uses our gift for good, to help others. But someone is twisting that power for evil, and they’re killing our people. I think I need your help to stop them.”

“What?” Steve was taken aback.

“At first, I thought you weren’t right for this job, but now I think you can help us. It’s in your family’s best interest too.”

“How can I help? And I don’t believe in monsters.”

Hosa leaned forward. “Before you came here, who did you meet?”

“What? Why does that matter?”

“Please, Sheriff, just answer the question.”

“My daughter. Why?”

“You can go now.”

“Wait, why did you ask?”

“It’s nothing. I’ll give you more information about the deaths tomorrow. See you then,” Hosa said dismissively.

**Steve left, but his mind was racing.**

He decided to follow one of Hosa’s men, who was heading toward Clara and Ben’s house. As Steve approached, a loud noise echoed from the house, making his heart race. He rushed inside, only to find Ben and Clara held at knifepoint by Hosa’s men.

Without hesitation, Steve shot the man holding Clara. But in the chaos, the other man slit Ben’s throat. Steve shot him too, but the damage was done. Ben was dead.

Clara collapsed in tears, overcome with grief and rage. She cried all day, while Steve took care of the funeral arrangements. Hosa attended the funeral, and as Steve watched him, a sense of dread filled the air.

“Leave,” Steve ordered, his voice cold.

**After the funeral, Clara was left alone in the house.**

She cried herself to sleep, and that night, she dreamed of Ben.

“If you stay here, they will kill you and our boy,” Ben said in the dream. “You have to leave. Go somewhere safe, where no one can find you.”

Clara had the same dream for several nights. Then, she discovered she was pregnant. The realization struck her like lightning—Ben’s warnings were real. She packed her things and left Silverbrook, disappearing without a trace.

Steve searched for Clara everywhere but couldn’t find her. Then, one day, Ben’s body was stolen from his grave. A day later, three more healers were found dead.

**Desperate for answers, Steve confronted Hosa again.**

“They took Ben’s body, didn’t they?” Steve accused.

“What? His body was stolen?” Hosa was genuinely shocked.

“Don’t play games with me. You did it to use his body for some dark ritual.”

“No, Sheriff. I think they’re planning to bind a shadow monster to his body. If that happens, we’re all in grave danger,” Hosa explained.

“What is this monster nonsense?” Steve demanded, frustrated.

Hosa sighed and stood up. He began chanting in an ancient language, and suddenly, a shadowy figure emerged from his body.

“This is the human me,” Hosa said, pointing to himself, “and this is my shadow. I can control it.”

Steve recoiled in fear.

“They’re killing my people, Sheriff. We need to stop them. Where is your daughter?”

“I don’t know. I’m searching for her too.”

“She’s the monster we feared. There’s dark energy surrounding her.”

“So that’s why you killed Ben and stole his body,” Steve accused.

“No, Sheriff. I didn’t do that. But if they’re putting a shadow monster into Ben’s body, it will bring destruction to us all.”

“Why do you care about these monsters?” Steve asked.

“It’s our duty to control these monsters and pass that knowledge to our children so they can help others with their powers. But someone is using them for evil.”

“Okay, I get it. But how do we stop them?”