THE MOONLIT FURY
AKPORIEN KEHINDE@akporienkehinde866986
1 month ago
EPISODE 2: WHISPERS IN THE NIGHT
The following day dawned gray and overcast, a thick blanket of clouds obscuring the sun. Lucas awoke to the sound of birds chirping outside his window, their calls strangely muted in the heavy air. He lay in bed for a moment, trying to shake off the remnants of a restless sleep filled with nightmares. The events of the previous night were still fresh in his mind, and he couldn't rid himself of the unease that had settled over him.
Determined to learn more about Moonlit Ridge and its secrets, Lucas decided to explore the town in the daylight. He dressed quickly and headed downstairs, where the innkeeper greeted him with a nod.
"Good morning," she said, her sharp eyes watching him closely. "Did you sleep well?"
"Well enough," Lucas replied, avoiding her gaze. "I'm going to take a walk around town, see what there is to see."
The innkeeper's expression remained neutral, but Lucas thought he saw a flicker of something—concern, perhaps?—in her eyes. "Be careful," she said softly. "The woods can be treacherous, especially for those who aren't familiar with them."
"I'll keep that in mind," Lucas said, offering a faint smile before stepping out into the cool morning air.
The streets of Moonlit Ridge were just as deserted as they had been the night before. Lucas walked slowly, taking in the sights and trying to get a feel for the place. Despite its isolation, the town had a certain charm, with its quaint buildings and picturesque setting. But beneath the surface, there was an undeniable sense of decay and abandonment.
As he wandered, Lucas noticed that many of the houses appeared to be empty, their windows boarded up and their yards overgrown with weeds. The few residents he did see avoided his gaze, hurrying past him with wary glances. It was as if the entire town was haunted by some unspoken dread, a fear that permeated every corner.
He eventually found himself standing in front of the old church, its weathered stone walls covered in ivy. The door creaked open as he approached, revealing a dimly lit interior. Lucas stepped inside, the musty smell of old wood and incense filling his nostrils. The church was empty, save for a few dusty pews and a single figure kneeling at the altar.
The figure was an elderly man, his head bowed in prayer. As Lucas approached, the man looked up, his eyes filled with a mix of sadness and resignation.
"Good morning," Lucas said quietly, not wanting to disturb the man's reverie.
The old man nodded slowly. "Good morning, young man. What brings you to our little town?"
"I'm just passing through," Lucas replied, choosing his words carefully. "I was hoping to learn more about the history of this place."
The old man sighed, his shoulders sagging. "There isn't much to tell. Moonlit Ridge was once a thriving community, but those days are long gone. Now, it's just a shadow of its former self."
"What happened?" Lucas asked, his curiosity piqued.
The old man's eyes grew distant, as if he were recalling a painful memory. "There was an incident many years ago. A tragedy that left a mark on this town and its people. Some say it was a curse, others say it was just bad luck. Either way, things were never the same after that night."
Lucas leaned forward, his pulse quickening. "What kind of tragedy?"
The old man shook his head, his expression pained. "It's not something we like to talk about. Too many bad memories. But if you're truly interested, you might want to visit the library. There's an old journal there, written by one of the town's founders. It might shed some light on what happened."
"Thank you," Lucas said, grateful for the lead. "I appreciate it."
The old man nodded again, turning back to the altar. "Be careful, young man. Some secrets are best left buried."
Lucas left the church, the old man's words echoing in his mind. He made his way to the library, a small, weathered building at the edge of town. Inside, he was greeted by a middle-aged woman with graying hair and kind eyes.
"Good morning," she said with a warm smile. "How can I help you?"
"I'm looking for an old journal," Lucas explained. "One of the town's founders wrote it. I was told it might be here."
The librarian's smile faded slightly, replaced by a look of concern. "Ah, yes. The journal of Elias Gray. It's in the back, in the archives. Not many people ask about it these days."
Lucas followed her to a small room at the rear of the library, where rows of dusty shelves held old books and documents. The librarian pulled out a worn leather-bound journal and handed it to him.
"Here it is," she said softly. "Please be careful with it. It's very old."
"Thank you," Lucas said, taking the journal and finding a quiet corner to sit and read.
The journal's pages were yellowed with age, the ink faded but still legible. As Lucas began to read, he was transported back in time, to the early days of Moonlit Ridge and the events that had shaped its dark history.
Elias Gray had been one of the town's founders, a respected leader and a deeply religious man. His journal detailed the hardships and triumphs of the early settlers, their struggles to build a community in the remote wilderness. But as Lucas read on, the tone of the journal shifted, becoming darker and more ominous.
Elias wrote of strange occurrences in the woods, of unnatural sounds and sightings that filled the settlers with dread. There were reports of animals found mutilated, their bodies arranged in grotesque patterns. People began to disappear, vanishing without a trace. Fear and paranoia gripped the town, and whispers of a curse spread like wildfire.
The journal's final entries were the most disturbing of all. Elias described a night of horror, when the townsfolk had gathered for a ritual to appease whatever malevolent force they believed was plaguing them. The ritual had gone horribly wrong, resulting in a bloodbath that left many dead and the survivors traumatized.
As Lucas closed the journal, he felt a chill run down his spine. The old man's words echoed in his mind: "Some secrets are best left buried." But it was too late for that now. He had uncovered a piece of Moonlit Ridge's dark past, and he knew that he couldn't turn back.
Leaving the library, Lucas walked back to the inn, his mind racing with questions. What had really happened that night? Was the town truly cursed, or was there a more rational explanation for the strange events? And why did he feel like he was being drawn deeper into the mystery?
That night, as he lay in bed, the whispers began. Faint at first, barely audible, but growing louder with each passing moment. They seemed to come from the walls, the floor, the very air itself. Words he couldn't quite understand, but that filled him with an overwhelming sense of dread.
TO BE CONTINUE.......
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