Eliot couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that had settled in since their visit to the cemetery.The conversation with Mrs. Jenkins earlier that day played over and over in their mind, especially the mention of Mark being seen near the old cemetery—the one everyone in Stillwater seemed to avoid.
As evening fell, Eliot found herself sitting at the kitchen table, staring out the window at the darkening sky. The town felt different lately, as if something unseen was lurking in the shadows. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the occasional creak of the house settling or the distant sound of a dog barking.
The doorbell rang, pulling Eliot from her thoughts. She opened the door to find Sam and Mara standing on the porch, both looking as uneasy as Eliot felt.
“We’ve been worried about you,” Sam said, his voice low. “You didn’t show up at the café today.”
Eliot stepped aside to let them in, closing the door behind them. “I needed some time to think,” she replied. “I’ve been trying to make sense of everything.”
Mara took a seat at the table, glancing at Eliot with concern. “You haven’t been the same since Mrs. Parker mentioned Mark. Do you really think something’s happened to him?”
Eliot sat down across from her, folding their hands on the table. “I don’t know, but something doesn’t feel right. Everyone I’ve talked to has mentioned strange things happening lately—disappearances, odd noises, that kind of thing. And then there’s the cemetery.”
“The cemetery?” Sam repeated, his brow furrowing. “What about it?”
Eliot hesitated before continuing. “Mrs. Jenkins mentioned that people have seen Mark around there. But it’s not just that. She said… she said he didn’t look like himself, like he was different somehow.”
A heavy silence fell over the room. Mara’s eyes were wide with fear, while Sam looked skeptical but concerned. “Do you think he’s in trouble?” Mara asked quietly.
“I don’t know,” Eliot admitted, their voice barely above a whisper. “But I think we need to find out. I’m planning to go back to the cemetery tomorrow.”
Mara shook her head, her voice trembling. “That place is dangerous, Eliot. You’ve heard the stories—about how people go there and never come back.”
“I have,” Eliot replied, meeting her gaze. “But I can’t just sit here and do nothing. Mark is our friend, and if there’s even a chance he’s in trouble, I have to do something.”
Sam finally spoke up, his voice steady but serious. “If you’re going, then we’re coming with you. No way you’re doing this alone.”
Eliot nodded, grateful for their friends’ support. “Thank you. We’ll meet here tomorrow morning and head out together.”
The three of them sat in silence for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts. The air was thick with tension, the weight of what they were about to do pressing down on them. But despite the fear and uncertainty, Eliot felt a sense of determination. They had to find Mark, no matter what it took.
As Sam and Mara left to go home for the night, Eliot remained at the table, staring out into the darkness. Tomorrow, they would return to the cemetery, and this time, they wouldn’t leave without answers.
YOU ARE READING
ECHOS OF UNSEEN
غموض / إثارةIn the quiet, secluded town of Stillwater, Eliot Sanderson finds solace working at the local library, a place where the world seems to slow down, allowing them to immerse themselves in books and introspection. However, the town's peaceful facade beg...
