Moonlit Secrets

Chapter 8: Breaking In

The walk back from the Larkins’ house was quiet, the weight of the conversation lingering between Emily and Sophie like a heavy fog. The girl was dead—that much was now an irrefutable fact. But how? Emily couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to the story, more than just the Larkins’ grief and guilt. The mention of shadows, monsters, and the moon—it all felt too surreal, like pieces of a puzzle that didn’t quite fit together.

Sophie broke the silence first. “Do you believe them?” Her voice was low, as if afraid someone might be listening.

“I don’t know,” Emily replied, glancing toward the darkening sky. The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the quiet streets of Willow Creek. “But something doesn’t add up. Why didn’t they report her missing?”

“Because they were scared,” Sophie said, though her voice lacked conviction. “But... of what?”

Emily shook her head, her mind racing with possibilities. She thought back to the girl’s body—found in the woods, cold and lifeless. The sight had haunted her ever since. “We need to know how she died,” Emily muttered. “We need to see the autopsy report.”

Sophie stopped in her tracks, eyes wide. “What? How are we supposed to do that?”

Emily turned to face her, determination burning in her chest. “We’ll have to break in.”

Sophie’s jaw dropped. “Are you serious?”

“Do you have a better idea?” Emily shot back. “The police aren’t taking us seriously, and the Larkins are hiding something. If we want to know the truth, we have to see that report.”

Sophie hesitated, biting her lip. “Emily, this is crazy. Breaking into the coroner’s office? We’ll get caught.”

“Not if we’re careful,” Emily replied, her mind already spinning with a plan. “We’ll go tonight, after dark. It’s a small town. How much security could they have?”

Sophie let out a long breath, her hands twitching nervously at her sides. “This is insane,” she muttered, but Emily could see the resolve forming in her friend’s eyes. Sophie was scared, but she wasn’t about to back down. Not now.

---

The town was eerily quiet by the time they made their way toward the small, brick building that housed the coroner’s office. It sat on the outskirts of town, not far from the local hospital, its dimly lit windows casting an eerie glow into the night. Emily and Sophie crouched behind a row of bushes, their hearts pounding in their chests.

“Are you sure about this?” Sophie whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

Emily nodded, her breath coming in shallow bursts. “We have to know.”

They waited for a few minutes longer, watching as the lights inside flickered off, one by one. The town was already asleep, and the coroner’s office was no exception. Once the building was cloaked in darkness, Emily nudged Sophie.

“Let’s go.”

They crept toward the side of the building, sticking to the shadows as they moved. Every crunch of gravel beneath their feet felt like a gunshot, loud and accusing in the stillness of the night. Emily’s pulse raced in her ears, every instinct telling her to turn back, to run, but she forced herself to press on. They had come too far to stop now.

Reaching the side entrance, Emily knelt down, pulling a bobby pin from her pocket. She had watched enough tutorials online to feel somewhat confident, but as she fumbled with the lock, doubt gnawed at her. The cool metal pin trembled in her fingers, and for a moment, panic surged through her.

“What if we can’t do it?” Sophie whispered urgently, glancing over her shoulder as if expecting someone to jump out of the darkness at any second.

“We will,” Emily muttered through gritted teeth. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to focus. A few more twists, and then—a satisfying click. The door swung open with a quiet groan.

Emily and Sophie exchanged a glance. They were in.

---

Inside, the building was dark and cold, the sterile smell of disinfectant clinging to the air. Their footsteps echoed unnervingly in the narrow hallway, and every shadow seemed to shift and move as if something unseen lurked just beyond the edges of their vision.

“This way,” Emily whispered, leading the way toward the back room where the records were kept. Her pulse quickened as they passed the autopsy room, the faint metallic smell of blood and chemicals filling her nostrils. She shuddered, pushing the thought away.

The records room was locked, of course, but this time the lock was easier to pick. Within moments, they were inside, rows of filing cabinets stretching out before them. Emily fumbled for her phone, using its dim light to scan the labels.

“Help me find her file,” she whispered.

Sophie joined her, and together they rifled through the cabinets, their hands moving quickly and silently. The minutes dragged on, the tension mounting with every second.

Finally, Emily’s fingers brushed against the cold metal of a file labeled Larkin, Alice.

“Got it,” she breathed, pulling it free.

They sat on the floor, their backs pressed against the cold metal of the cabinets as Emily flipped open the file. Her heart pounded in her ears as she scanned the first page.

The cause of death was listed as exsanguination—severe blood loss. But the details of the injuries made Emily’s stomach churn. Deep lacerations, consistent with an attack by a large animal. There were also strange bruises and contusions, as if the girl had been grabbed or restrained.

“An animal?” Sophie whispered, her eyes wide with horror. “Do you think it was…?”

Emily shook her head, her mind racing. “I don’t know. But look at this.” She pointed to a section of the report that described the wounds. “The cuts—they aren’t clean. It’s like she was torn apart.”

Sophie’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh my god.”

There was more. The report mentioned unusual marks on the body, something the coroner couldn’t explain. Circular puncture wounds, too small to be made by an animal’s teeth. The coroner had theorized they were caused by some kind of tool, but Emily wasn’t convinced.

“This isn’t right,” Emily murmured, her voice shaky. “It doesn’t make sense.”

Before she could say more, a sound echoed through the building—the unmistakable clink of keys.

“Someone’s here,” Sophie whispered, eyes wide with fear.

Emily’s heart jumped into her throat. “We need to hide,” she hissed.

Without wasting another second, they darted toward a small supply closet in the corner of the room. They squeezed inside just as the door to the records room creaked open. From the crack between the door and the frame, Emily could see the beam of a flashlight sweeping the room.

Her heart hammered in her chest as she held her breath, praying they wouldn’t be caught.

The beam of light passed over the filing cabinets, lingering for a moment on the open drawer before moving on. There was a long pause, then the door clicked shut, and the sound of footsteps receded down the hallway.

Emily and Sophie waited in silence, too afraid to move.

Finally, when the building was quiet again, Emily pushed the closet door open. She turned to Sophie, her heart still racing. “We have to get out of here. Now.”

Sophie nodded, her face pale with fear.

Clutching the file tightly, Emily led the way back through the darkened hallway, every shadow now feeling like a threat. They slipped out the side door, closing it quietly behind them, and bolted into the night.

As they ran, Emily couldn’t shake the gnawing fear that followed them. Something wasn’t right about the girl’s death—and now, more than ever, they needed to know what.