Moonlit Secrets

Chapter 5: Rumors

The next morning, Emily and Sophie set out with a shared sense of purpose. They’d agreed to split up at first—Sophie would chat with some of the shopkeepers she was friendly with, and Emily would visit the café where locals gathered to swap gossip. Both knew that Willow Creek was a town where information spread not through official channels, but through the quiet hum of conversation. People didn’t always talk openly, but if you knew the right questions to ask, and the right people to ask them, you could piece together the truth.

The town square was bustling with late morning activity, locals moving between the flower shop, the bakery, and the general store. It was a picturesque scene, the kind that would never hint at the dark secrets hidden just outside town in the shadowy woods.

Sophie waved to Emily before heading toward the hardware store, where Mr. Baker, an older man with deep roots in Willow Creek, was usually found chatting with his customers. Emily took a deep breath and walked into the café.

The scent of coffee and freshly baked pastries hit her as soon as she opened the door. The café was small but cozy, with mismatched wooden tables and chairs that gave it a homey charm. A few people sat scattered around, sipping coffee and talking quietly. At the counter, an older woman was pouring a cup of tea, her sharp eyes noticing Emily immediately.

“Back in town again, huh? Thought I saw you yesterday,” Mrs. Haverford said with a nod, placing the teapot back down. “It’s been a while since you’ve been around.”

Emily smiled politely, sliding onto a stool at the counter. “Yeah, I’m staying with my grandmother for a bit. Needed a break from city life.”

Mrs. Haverford raised an eyebrow. “Well, you’ve picked an interesting time to come back. People around here have been on edge lately.”

That was exactly the opening Emily needed. “I’ve noticed that,” she said, lowering her voice just a little. “I heard about some strange things going on near the woods. Is it true?”

Mrs. Haverford gave her a long, appraising look before leaning in slightly. “You could say that. It’s mostly rumors, but there’s been talk. Missing pets, odd noises at night. Some folks say they’ve seen things moving out there. Big things.”

“Big things?” Emily asked, trying to keep her tone casual.

The older woman nodded. “Not just deer or foxes. Something else. Some people think it’s just wild animals, but others... well, they think there’s something more dangerous out there.”

Before Emily could ask another question, a voice from behind her chimed in. “You talking about the woods again, Mrs. Haverford?” It was a man seated at a table by the window, an older gentleman with a weathered face and gray hair tucked under a flat cap.

“Mr. Collins,” Mrs. Haverford sighed, clearly exasperated. “You and your stories. Scaring the girl for no reason.”

Mr. Collins ignored her, turning his attention to Emily. “You’re Emily, right? I remember you from when you were a kid, always running around with Sophie. I heard you found something in the woods yesterday.”

Emily blinked, surprised. The news did travel fast in this town. “Yeah, I found a girl—well, her body. It was pretty gruesome. I called the police, but they didn’t seem all that concerned.”

Mr. Collins shook his head. “Typical. The cops around here don’t like stirring up trouble. But let me tell you something, young lady, whatever’s in those woods isn’t natural. It’s been around for a while, lurking just out of sight. People go missing now and then, but no one talks about it because it’s easier to pretend everything’s fine.”

Emily felt a chill creep down her spine. “What do you mean? What’s out there?”

Mr. Collins leaned forward, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “Some say it’s an animal—a wolf or a bear—but others think it’s something older. Something that doesn’t belong in this world. I’ve heard stories from my grandfather’s time about shadows in the woods, creatures that move like men but aren’t human. He called them ‘forest walkers.’ Said they could mimic voices, lure you deeper into the trees.”

Emily’s heart raced, her thoughts flashing back to the moment in the woods when she’d heard something behind her, that feeling of being watched. “Has anyone seen one of these… forest walkers?”

Mr. Collins gave her a grim smile. “People have seen shadows. Heard voices. But those who get too close don’t usually come back.”

Mrs. Haverford huffed, clearly unimpressed. “You’re filling the girl’s head with nonsense, Collins. There’s no such thing as ‘forest walkers.’ You want a reason people are going missing? It’s probably some drifter or dangerous animal. That’s all.”

Emily sipped her coffee, her mind racing. It was hard to know what to believe, but after what she’d seen, she wasn’t ready to dismiss anything yet. She thanked them both and promised to come back before heading out to meet Sophie.

---

Sophie was waiting for her outside the general store, leaning against the wall with a thoughtful look on her face. “Well, that was interesting,” she said as Emily approached.

“Same here,” Emily replied. “I talked to Mrs. Haverford and Mr. Collins. There’s something weird going on, but no one seems to agree on what it is.”

Sophie pushed herself off the wall, walking beside Emily as they headed toward the park. “I talked to Mr. Baker. He mentioned the missing pets and said he’s been hearing weird howls at night—low, deep, not like any animal he’s familiar with. He’s lived here his whole life, so if anyone knows the woods, it’s him.”

“That matches up with what Mr. Collins said,” Emily nodded. “He mentioned something about ‘forest walkers,’ creatures that mimic voices and lure people deeper into the trees.”

Sophie’s eyes widened. “That’s creepy. And not too far off from what I’ve heard. Mrs. Parson at the flower shop said her son swears he heard someone calling his name from the woods a few nights ago. When he went to check it out, there was no one there, just shadows.”

Emily shivered. “So whatever this thing is, it’s smart. It’s not just attacking—it’s manipulating people.”

Sophie nodded, her expression serious. “It’s starting to sound less like an animal and more like something… supernatural.”

Emily had been thinking the same thing, but hearing Sophie say it out loud made it feel more real. They walked in silence for a few moments, both lost in thought before Sophie spoke again.

“We can’t rely on the police to figure this out,” she said quietly. “If we’re going to get to the bottom of what’s happening, we need to dig deeper.”

Emily nodded, feeling a renewed sense of determination. “Agreed. We need to start by figuring out who the girl in the woods was. If we can figure out who she was, maybe we’ll get a clue about why she was out there—and what might have killed her.”

Sophie smiled grimly. “Let’s see if anyone’s reported her missing. Maybe someone at the town hall or the library can help us find some records.”

The two girls walked on, their minds racing with theories, rumors, and whispered stories of the woods. The more they learned, the more they realized that the mystery of Willow Creek was far deeper—and far more dangerous—than they had ever imagined.