Howl of the ridge

Chapter 2 Whispers in the shadows Episode

Morning arrived in Ridgewood with a chill that seemed to seep straight into Elara’s bones. Gray clouds hung low over the town, shrouding the Ridge in a mist that blurred the edges of the forest into the sky. She felt like the whole town was draped in shadows, an unsettling stillness blanketing everything. But if she was going to get answers, she couldn’t let herself be deterred by fog or fear.

Wrapping her father’s old scarf around her neck, Elara slipped her father’s journal into her bag and set out for the town square. She knew she’d have to talk to the locals eventually, but she didn’t relish the thought. If last night’s reception was anything to go by, Ridgewood’s residents weren’t keen on outsiders, especially not ones asking questions. And she’d been gone so long, she practically counted as a stranger.

Her first stop was the town’s small library, a squat, weathered building she remembered from childhood visits with her father. He’d once spent hours here, sifting through local histories and old records, though he’d never explained why. Elara had never questioned it; Ridgewood’s history felt unremarkable to her then, little more than ghost stories and local legends.

Now, those stories felt anything but unremarkable.

Inside, the library was as quiet as a tomb, the smell of old paper and wood dust heavy in the air. The shelves loomed, filled with books that looked like they hadn’t been touched in years. A small woman with silver hair sat behind the desk, glancing up as Elara entered. Her expression hardened instantly, as if she’d expected trouble the moment she saw her.

“Can I help you?” the woman asked, her voice clipped and wary.

“I was hoping to look through some of the town records,” Elara replied, doing her best to sound casual. “My father, Jonah Carver, used to spend a lot of time here. I thought I might… continue his research.”

The woman’s expression shifted, her brows knitting together in suspicion. “Jonah Carver…” She said the name slowly, as though it left a bad taste in her mouth. “I remember him. Stirred up a lot of trouble, that one.”

Elara felt a twinge of annoyance. “I’m just here for answers. Nothing more.”

The woman held her gaze for a long moment, then finally sighed and gestured to a back corner of the library. “Town records are in the archive. Just remember, not all questions have answers you’ll want to hear.”

The warning seemed as much a habit as a genuine concern, but it was enough to send a chill through Elara. She nodded and headed to the archives, a narrow hallway with shelves filled with old, dusty ledgers and newspaper clippings. She selected a few books and settled at a table, flipping through pages filled with dates and names, hoping to find some trace of her father’s work.

Hours passed in near silence, broken only by the occasional whisper of pages turning. She found entries on local legends about the Ridge — stories of ancient curses, of creatures haunting the woods, of families marked by dark histories. It was the same story over and over: people who ventured too deep into the forest and came back changed, or didn’t come back at all.

One article caught her eye: a clipping from the Ridgewood Gazette, dated nearly twenty years ago. “Local Hunter Missing Near Ridge,” the headline read. She scanned the article, her breath catching as she saw her father’s name. The story was brief, mostly speculation about his disappearance, but one line stood out to her: “Carver was last seen near the Ridge, where several locals reported hearing strange howls that night.”

A chill settled over her, and she closed the book, her mind reeling. Her father had left Ridgewood shortly after that — and she’d never known why. Until now.

She gathered her notes and left the library, the librarian’s wary gaze following her as she went. Outside, the mist had thickened, clinging to the town like a shroud. Elara barely noticed, lost in thought as she wandered back to the Ridgewood Inn. Her father’s disappearance had always been a mystery, but now… it felt more like a warning.

---

That evening, she returned to the Ridgewood Inn, hoping that someone there might know more about the night her father disappeared. The tavern was louder than last night, the clink of glasses and murmur of voices filling the air as she entered. A few heads turned as she walked in, but most quickly went back to their drinks.

She approached the bar, her gaze falling on the bartender from the night before. He looked up as she ordered her drink, his expression guarded.

“You’re back,” he said, pouring her drink without taking his eyes off her. “Most people don’t come back after the first night.”

Elara raised an eyebrow. “Is that supposed to be a warning?”

“It’s advice,” he replied, setting her drink down. “Some folks don’t take well to questions around here.”

“I’m not here for their comfort,” Elara said, meeting his gaze. “I’m here for answers. You knew my father, didn’t you?”

The bartender hesitated, his gaze flicking to the other patrons before he leaned closer. “I remember Jonah. He was a good man. But he was… too curious. Ridgewood has rules, and people who don’t follow them… well, they usually regret it.”

She felt a flash of anger. “That’s not a real answer.”

“Maybe not,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “But sometimes the truth is worse.”

Before she could respond, a voice interrupted them. “Are you bothering her, Sam?”

Elara turned to see Lachlan Wolfe standing nearby, watching her with that same unreadable look he’d had the night before. There was something both dangerous and magnetic about him, a sense that he could either protect her or destroy her, depending on his mood.

“Not at all,” Sam replied, straightening. “Just reminding her that Ridgewood’s a quiet town.”

Lachlan’s gaze shifted to Elara, a slight smirk playing on his lips. “Quiet towns often have the loudest secrets.”

Elara felt her pulse quicken, a mixture of frustration and intrigue. “I don’t suppose you’re here to share those secrets?”

Lachlan chuckled, the sound low and unsettling. “Depends on what you’re willing to pay.”

She clenched her fists. “I’m not here to play games, Lachlan.”

His expression sobered, his gaze darkening. “Neither am I, Elara. But some things… some things are better left in the dark.”

They held each other’s gaze for a long moment, the weight of his words settling over her. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Lachlan knew far more than he was letting on, and that he was testing her, waiting to see if she’d flinch.

Finally, he leaned in, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “If you’re really looking for answers, meet me at the edge of the Ridge tomorrow morning. I’ll show you what your father was looking for.”

She stared at him, her heart pounding. “And why would you help me?”

A shadow crossed his face, a flicker of something she couldn’t quite read. “Maybe I’m curious. Or maybe I think you deserve to know the truth. But be warned, Elara — once you go looking, there’s no going back.”

With that, he turned and left, leaving her standing in the middle of the tavern, her mind racing. She felt a mixture of dread and excitement, a sense that she was standing on the edge of something vast and dangerous.

---

That night, sleep was elusive. Elara lay awake, staring at the ceiling as questions circled her mind. What was her father searching for on the Ridge? And why had Lachlan, of all people, offered to show her the truth? There was a warning in his words, but also something more — a strange sort of invitation, as though he wanted her to follow him, despite the risks.

In the silence of her room, the weight of her decision settled over her. Tomorrow, she would follow Lachlan to the Ridge. She would find out what secrets lay hidden in the forest, and maybe — just maybe — she would find the answers she’d come looking for.

As she drifted into a restless sleep, a single thought echoed in her mind: Whatever she found tomorrow, it would change everything.

---

In the early morning hours, as the mist curled around the town and the first light crept over the horizon, a distant howl pierced the silence, rising from the depths of the Ridge. It was low, haunting, and filled with a primal force that sent a shiver through Elara, even in her sleep.

But this time, she didn’t wake up.

The howl faded into the stillness, leaving only the quiet, expectant hush of the forest — and the promise of secrets waiting to be uncovered.