The Childless Bridge

In the isolated town of Blackridge, nestled deep within the shadowed folds of a mountain range, there exists a chilling decree that has shaped its destiny for generations.
No child under the age of ten is allowed to be born within its borders, nor are they permitted to enter. This ancient law, known simply as the Silent Law, was established after a series of inexplicable events 45 years ago -events that the town's elders refuse to speak of, even now.
The origins of the law are shrouded in mystery. Some whisper that the town is cursed, that it harbors a malevolent force drawn to the innocence of young children. Others believe it to be a pact with an unknown entity, a trade for prosperity and protection. Whatever the truth, the town has flourished in eerie tranquility ever since, untouched by the passage of time. Its cobbled streets are lined with grand homes and thriving shops, but a haunting stillness pervades the air-a silence broken only by the absence of children's laughter. Families who wish to stay in Hollowridge must send their expectant mothers away, returning only when their child has passed the age of ten. Those who defy the law find themselves facing the wrath of the town's secretive council, the Watchers, who ensure that the Silent Law is never broken.
There are rumors of what happens to those who try-whispers of children who disappeared without a trace, of families who vanished overnight, their homes left cold and abandoned. The town's children, upon their return at age ten, often speak of strange dreams and haunting memories they should not have.
Some residents begin to question the law, to dig into the town's forgotten history, and to uncover the dark truths that lie hidden beneath its seemingly perfect facade.