Hollow Creek /Finney Blake X Male Oc/

Chapter Eleven: The Consequences

Chapter 11: The Consequences

Ethan slipped through the front door as quietly as he could, hoping his parents hadn't noticed he'd been gone. His sneakers barely made a sound against the floor, but the dim light spilling from the kitchen told him his plan to sneak in unnoticed was about to fail.

As he crept down the hall, he could hear the faint murmur of voices-his parents talking in low, tense tones. They must have heard him, because his mom's voice broke off abruptly. A moment later, she appeared in the doorway, arms crossed, her expression a mix of relief and frustration.

"Ethan Carter," she said, her voice steely. "Do you want to explain why you were out this late?"

Ethan's dad emerged behind her, looking equally concerned. "It's not safe to be out at night alone, especially with everything going on in town." The worry etched into his face told Ethan he'd already been thinking about the recent disappearances.

Ethan fumbled for an excuse, heat rising in his cheeks. He wanted to tell them about his adventure, his discoveries with Finney and the others-but he knew they wouldn't understand.

"I... I just lost track of time," he mumbled, shifting on his feet. "I'm sorry."

His mom's stern expression softened a bit, but her worry remained. "Promise us you won't go out alone like that again. You're thirteen, Ethan, and there are dangerous people out there."

Ethan's mom softened her stance, stepping closer to him. "Look, honey," she said, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder, "we just moved here, and I know it hasn't been easy for you. Making friends, adjusting to a new school, and everything else..." She paused, as if searching for the right words. "But sneaking out like this isn't the answer."

Ethan swallowed, glancing away. He understood their concern, but they didn't know what he and Finney had been piecing together. There was something strange about this town, something lurking beneath the surface, and he felt like he couldn't just ignore it. But he knew he'd only worry them more if he said that out loud.

"I'm sorry," he said again, keeping his voice low. "I'll... I'll try to be more careful."

His dad nodded, the hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Good. We just want you safe, kiddo." He ruffled Ethan's hair lightly before reaching for his own coat hanging by the door. "Now, off to bed with you. I've got to head out early tomorrow for work, but I'll see you after school, alright?"

Ethan nodded, relief washing over him as he realized they weren't going to push further. He knew his dad was busy with a new case-something about missing kids, though he hadn't shared many details. Still, the thought of it lingered in Ethan's mind as he trudged upstairs.

In Ethan's Room

Ethan closed the door quietly behind him and leaned back against it, letting out a long breath. His room felt like the one place where he could think, where he didn't have to pretend everything was normal. His eyes drifted over to his record player, the one familiar constant that had followed him from New York. Without thinking, he dropped the needle on one of his favorite records, letting the soft crackle of vinyl fill the silence.

As the music played, he grabbed his sketchpad and sank onto his bed. Lines began to form on the paper-a shadowy figure, half-formed, lurking in the corners of his mind. He didn't want to believe it, but the thought nagged at him: what if all these disappearances were connected?

Finney's face flashed through his mind-the one friend he felt like he could trust in this new town. He didn't know him well yet, but he already felt tied to him, like they were both part of some strange puzzle he was supposed to solve.