Moonlit Secrets

Chapter 10: The Search for Jacob

The sun cast a pale light over Willow Creek, illuminating the remnants of the night’s chill. Emily and Sophie walked through the quiet streets, the air crisp with early autumn. They were filled with an anxious determination to find the truth about Alice Larkin.

“What now?” Sophie asked, glancing at the patches of fog that clung stubbornly to the ground. “We can’t keep digging into this. It’s dangerous.”

Emily paused, considering the magnitude of their next step. “We need to find Jacob,” she said finally. “He was Alice’s friend, and he might know something about what happened the night she went missing.”

“Jacob?” Sophie raised an eyebrow. “The guy who hangs out with that bad crowd? The one with all the crazy stories about the woods?”

Emily replied, her mind racing. “If anyone can shed light on what happened, it’s him. We need to know if he was with her.”

Sophie chewed her lip, glancing nervously around the quiet town. “Do you think he’ll talk to us?”

“He has to,” Emily insisted. “If he was there, he might have seen something. We can’t let fear stop us now.”

With a renewed sense of purpose, Sophie headed toward Jacob’s usual hangout—a rundown house on the outskirts of town, where rumors of wild parties and reckless behavior swirled like the smoke that often lingered in the air. The streets were eerily silent, the town still waking up.

As they approached the modest two-story home, the porch light flickered on and off, giving the place a haunting aura. Emily felt a wave of nerves crash over her. Would Jacob be willing to help? Would he even want to talk about Alice?

Sophie stepped up to the door and knocked. Emily stood slightly behind her, glancing nervously around the dimly lit yard. Moments later, the door swung open, and Jacob stood before them, his light brown hair tousled and his captivating blue eyes wide with surprise.

“Sophie?” he said a hint of confusion mixed with concern in his voice. “What’s going on? Who's with you?"

"This is Emily. We need to talk to you about Alice." Sophie replied.

“Can we come in?” Emily asked before Jacob could respond. Her heart pounded. There was something about Jacob that made her feel both excited and anxious. He had a magnetic charm, an allure that seemed to draw her in like a moth to a flame.

“Sure, of course,” he said, stepping aside to let them in. The interior of the house was dimly lit, with soft, warm lighting creating a cozy atmosphere. The faint sound of laughter and music could be heard from a party happening somewhere in the back, a stark contrast to the serious conversation they were about to have.

As they settled into the living room, Emily felt the weight of the moment press down on her. “We need to talk to you about Alice,” she said, trying to sound as casual as possible despite the gravity of the situation. “About what happened the night she went missing.”

Jacob’s expression shifted instantly, the warmth in his eyes replaced by a shadow of sorrow. “Alice…” he murmured, looking away as if the very mention of her name brought forth a painful memory. “I can’t believe she’s gone.”

“We found out some things,” Sophie interjected, her voice trembling slightly. “Things about how she died. We think she was attacked.”

Jacob stiffened, the air around him growing heavy with tension. “Attacked? By what?” His voice was low.

“We don’t know for sure,” Emily replied, feeling the urge to reach out and comfort him. “But we thought you might know something. Were you with her that night?”