Detective Mercer returned to his office, Collins’ words echoing in his mind. Something about Collins’ reaction didn’t sit right with him. While Collins claimed to have been helping Emily, his involvement seemed more complicated than he was letting on. Mercer decided it was time to delve deeper into Collins’ background.
Mercer accessed the town’s records, focusing on anything related to Collins. What he found was unsettling: Collins had a history of dabbling in occult studies, dating back to his college years. There were rumors of his involvement in a secretive group that practiced dark rituals, though nothing had ever been proven. These details painted a picture of someone more invested in the occult than Collins had admitted.
As Mercer dug further, he found that several unexplained incidents in the town’s past had ties to Collins. Strange symbols had been found on various buildings, and local legends spoke of rituals being performed in the woods near the town. Collins had always denied any involvement, but his name came up repeatedly in old police reports.
With this new information, Mercer decided to take a different approach. He returned to Blackwood’s book, Rituals of the Forgotten, to see if there were any rituals that might explain Emily’s fear. One ritual, in particular, stood out: a binding ceremony that was said to grant control over another person’s will but came with dire consequences if performed incorrectly. The symbols associated with this ritual matched those found on Emily’s body.
Mercer’s mind raced. Had Emily tried to perform this ritual, or had someone else forced her into it? Collins’ involvement in similar rituals in the past made him a prime suspect. Mercer’s next move would be to confront Collins again, this time with the evidence he’d uncovered, and see if he could break through the man’s defenses.
But before he could do that, Mercer needed to ensure he had all the facts. He decided to visit the woods where the old rituals were rumored to have taken place. Perhaps there, in the shadows of the past, he would find the missing piece to solve Emily’s murder.
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Shadows Through The Halls
Mistério / SuspenseIn the shadowy corners of a small town, Detective Mercer is thrust into a chilling investigation after the mysterious death of Emily Brooks. As he delves deeper, he uncovers a tangled web of deceit tied to occult practices and academic ambition. Len...
