Moonlit Secrets

Chapter 3: Shadows of Doubt

The afternoon light was fading by the time the police arrived at Emily’s grandmother’s house. The cozy, sun-dappled kitchen now felt dim and heavy, the cheerful warmth drained by the grim events of the day. Emily sat at the kitchen table, her hands wrapped around a cup of tea her grandmother had made, though she hadn’t taken a sip. Her fingers were cold, trembling slightly, but her mind was sharper now, the initial panic replaced by a gnawing unease.

Her grandmother sat across from her, her expression drawn with concern, though she hadn’t asked too many questions yet. The gentle ticking of the old wall clock was the only sound that filled the room until the low rumble of a car pulling into the driveway broke the silence.

“They’re here,” her grandmother said softly, placing a hand over Emily’s. “It’s going to be alright, sweetheart.”

Emily wasn’t so sure. The unease that had followed her out of the woods lingered like a shadow, and no amount of reassurance seemed to be able to shake it. Still, she nodded and took a deep breath as the front door creaked open.

Two officers stepped into the house, their presence filling the small entryway. The taller of the two, a man in his mid-forties with thinning hair and a heavyset build, introduced himself first.

“I’m Officer Davis,” he said in a steady but neutral tone, giving a brief nod to Emily and her grandmother. “And this is Officer Reed.” He gestured to the younger woman beside him, her expression unreadable behind her glasses and tightly pulled-back hair. “We’re here to talk with you about what happened today.”

Emily’s grandmother rose to greet them, her voice polite but clipped. “Thank you for coming. Emily’s had quite a shock.”

Officer Davis gave a perfunctory nod, but his gaze settled on Emily, and there was a glint in his eyes that made her feel small like she was a child caught in some imagined mischief. He pulled out a chair across from her, gesturing for Officer Reed to follow suit. They both sat down, Davis resting his arms casually on the table as if he were settling in for an easy conversation.

“So,” Officer Davis began, flipping open a small notebook, “why don’t you tell us what happened out there, in your own words?”

Emily took another deep breath, forcing herself to keep calm. “I was at the creek. I was just… remembering things, and then I heard something in the woods. I saw something move, so I ran. And then—" She hesitated, her voice faltering as the memory of the body flashed behind her eyes again.

“There was a girl,” she continued, her voice quieter now. “She was dead, her body… it was awful. I called you as soon as I found her.”

Officer Reed scribbled something in her notebook, her face impassive. Officer Davis leaned back in his chair slightly, folding his arms across his chest.

“And you didn’t recognize this girl? Never seen her before in town?”

“No,” Emily shook her head. “I didn’t recognize her at all.”

Davis exchanged a glance with Officer Reed before turning his attention back to Emily. “You mentioned you ran from something. Can you describe what you saw? An animal? Another person?”

Emily frowned, feeling the tension return to her shoulders. “I don’t know exactly what it was. It moved so fast, and it was dark. I thought it might’ve been a deer at first, but…”

“But?” Davis prompted, one eyebrow raised.

“I don’t think it was,” Emily said, her words coming out slower now as she replayed the moment in her head. “It didn’t move like a deer. It was too big, too fast. And then I felt like—” She paused, unsure how to explain it without sounding ridiculous. “I felt like something was watching me.”