Whispers of the Lost

Chapter 11 : A Trail of Symbols

The walk back from the library felt endless, the autumn air biting at my face like icy whispers. My mind raced as I replayed everything I had just read, every headline, every symbol. It all felt connected in ways that I was only beginning to understand, and the realization left a cold knot in my stomach.

Cody trotted close beside me, his tail low and his eyes constantly scanning the woods around us. I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being followed, but every time I glanced over my shoulder, the path behind me was empty. Still, Cody's tension told me I wasn't imagining things. He sensed it, too.

By the time we made it back to my grandma's house, the sky was a bruised shade of gray, heavy with the threat of rain. The old house looked even more foreboding in the dim light, its windows like dark, watching eyes. I slipped inside quietly, shutting the door behind me and locking it for good measure.

Grandma was in the kitchen, humming softly to herself as she stirred a pot of something that smelled like cinnamon and apples. The warm scent filled the house, but it did little to ease the chill that had settled deep in my bones.

"Did you have a nice walk, Mia?" she asked without turning around.

I hesitated. "Yeah. Just... needed some air."

She finally looked over her shoulder, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You look pale, dear. Are you feeling alright?"

I forced a smile. "I'm fine, Grandma. Just a little tired."

She watched me for a moment longer, as if she could see right through me. Then she nodded and went back to her cooking. I slipped past her and headed upstairs to my room, Cody following close at my heels.

Once I was safely in my room, I pulled out the old book from the Hollow and my notes from the library, spreading them out on my bed. Cody sat beside me, his ears perked up and alert. I couldn't shake the feeling that the answers were staring me in the face, but I just couldn't piece them together.

The symbols were key—I knew that much. The broken ring, the spirals, the claw marks. They were connected to the Hollow, to the shadows, and to the disappearances. But how did that tie into the serial killer? Were they using the symbols as part of some ritual, or were the shadows controlling them, like the book had suggested?

I shivered, rubbing my arms. The thought of a person being twisted and used by the shadows was terrifying. But what scared me even more was the idea that Emma might have been taken not just by someone, but by something.

I flipped to the back of the book, where a series of hand-drawn maps had been tucked into an envelope. The maps showed the woods around our town, with certain areas marked in red ink. My house was circled, as was the library. But there was another place, deeper in the woods, that had a large, jagged X marked over it.

"What is this place?" I whispered to myself. The spot on the map seemed familiar, but I couldn't quite place it.

A soft scratching sound pulled me from my thoughts. Cody had moved to the window, his body tense as he stared out into the darkening yard. He let out a low growl, and my heart skipped a beat. I crept over to the window and peered out, but I couldn't see anything unusual. Just the swaying of the trees in the wind and the shadows they cast across the ground.

But then, movement. A figure slipping between the trees, barely more than a shadow itself. My breath caught, and I ducked away from the window, my heart hammering. Someone was out there. Watching.

I grabbed my phone, my hands trembling, and pulled up the number for the police. But then I hesitated. What was I going to say? That someone was lurking in the woods? That I had a feeling it was connected to a series of symbols and a supernatural legend? They'd think I was crazy.

Taking a shaky breath, I put the phone down and focused on Cody, who was still growling softly. "It's okay," I whispered, more to reassure myself than him. "We're safe in here."

But even as I said the words, I wasn't sure I believed them.

That night, sleep didn't come easily. Every time I closed my eyes, I dreamed of shadows slithering across my room, whispering in voices that sounded almost human. I woke up more times than I could count, each time with my heart pounding and the sense that something was terribly wrong.

Around three in the morning, I gave up and turned on my lamp. The soft glow was a relief, pushing the darkness back just a little. I reached for the old book, running my fingers over the cover, and tried to calm my racing thoughts.

Then I heard it. A soft tap at my window.

My body went rigid, every muscle tense. The sound came again, like someone was gently knocking. I grabbed my flashlight, my hand shaking, and slowly turned to face the window.

The curtains were drawn, but I could see the faint outline of a shadow just outside the glass. My stomach twisted, and I felt like I couldn't breathe. Whoever was out there wasn't just passing by. They were waiting.

I swallowed hard, then slowly got to my feet. Cody was at the window again, silent now but alert. I inched closer, my flashlight held up like a weapon, and grabbed the edge of the curtain. With a burst of courage, I yanked it aside.

Nothing. The window was empty. The yard was still.

I let out a shaky laugh, relief flooding through me. Maybe I was just losing my mind. But then I noticed something that made my blood run cold.

On the outside of the glass, smeared in what looked like black ash, was a symbol. The broken ring.

I stumbled back, my heart racing. Someone had been here, and they'd left me a message. The shadows, the killer, whoever was behind all of this—they knew I was getting close. And they were warning me to stop.

But I couldn't stop. Not now. Not when Emma was still out there, somewhere, waiting for me to find her.

I clutched the book to my chest, my resolve hardening. If the shadows and the killer wanted me to back off, they were going to be disappointed.

 I was more determined than ever to uncover the truth—even if it meant facing the darkness head-on.