Chapter 1: The Whispering Shadows
The town of Black Hollow had always been quiet—too quiet. Nestled between dense, ancient forests, it was a place where time seemed to move slower, and the air was thick with secrets. Few dared to walk the streets after sunset, not because of crime, but because of the stories.
Amelia Carter had never believed in ghost tales. She had spent her childhood rolling her eyes at the superstitions whispered by old folks at the general store. But that was before she heard the whispering shadows.
It started one autumn evening as she walked home from the library. The wind howled through the trees, shaking the golden leaves loose from their branches. The streetlights flickered, casting long, distorted shadows on the cobblestone road. At first, she thought it was just the wind playing tricks on her ears. But then she heard it—soft, almost inaudible voices slipping through the air like a secret being passed from one shadow to the next.
She turned quickly, scanning the empty street. "Hello?" she called, her voice steadier than she felt.
Silence.
A chill crawled up her spine. She quickened her pace, her heartbeat pounding like a drum in her chest. But the whispers followed her, growing clearer. They weren't words she understood—just hushed murmurs, urgent and insistent.
Amelia broke into a run. Her house was only two blocks away. She could see the warm glow of the porch light beckoning her forward. But as she reached her doorstep and fumbled for her keys, a final whisper brushed against her ear, so close it felt like someone was right behind her.
"He's coming."
Her blood turned to ice. She spun around, but the street was empty. Only the shadows remained, stretching and shifting under the dim glow of the flickering streetlights.
And then, as suddenly as they had come, the whispers stopped.