The mist hung heavy over the hills as Lily drove into Misthaven. She had heard of the town's mysterious past, but had never imagined it would be so eerie. The fog was so thick that she could hardly see more than a few feet ahead of her, and the silence was only broken by the occasional hoot of an owl or the rustling of leaves.
Lily had been sent to Misthaven by her editor to cover the annual Harvest Festival, which was the town's biggest event of the year. She had never been to a small town before, and the sense of isolation was overwhelming. As she drove through the quiet streets, she couldn't help but wonder what she had gotten herself into.
Finally, she spotted the sign for the inn she had booked. It was an old-fashioned building, with a thatched roof and a white picket fence. She parked her car and hurried inside, eager to escape the mist.
The lobby of the inn was cozy, with a roaring fire in the hearth and antique furniture scattered about. A plump woman with rosy cheeks greeted her warmly.
"Welcome to Misthaven Inn, my dear! I'm Mrs. Higgins, the innkeeper. You must be Lily, the journalist who's come to cover the festival."
Lily smiled gratefully. "Yes, that's me. It's lovely to meet you, Mrs. Higgins."
"Likewise, dear. Your room is all ready for you. It's the one at the end of the hall, on the left."
Lily thanked her and headed up the stairs. The hallway was dimly lit, and the creaking floorboards gave the impression of a haunted house. She shivered involuntarily and quickened her pace.
When she opened the door to her room, she was pleasantly surprised. It was bright and cheerful, with a large four-poster bed and a bay window overlooking the misty hills. She set down her bags and collapsed onto the bed, relieved to have arrived at her destination.
As she lay there, she thought about the festival she was there to cover. She had done some research beforehand and knew that it was a celebration of the harvest season, with food and craft vendors, live music, and a parade. But there was another, darker aspect to the festival that intrigued her: the legend of the bride of the mist.
According to local folklore, a young bride had been abandoned by her groom on their wedding day. Heartbroken and alone, she had wandered into the mist and was never seen again. But on certain foggy nights, her ghostly figure could be seen walking the moors, still searching for her lost love.
Lily was fascinated by the story and had hoped to write an article about it. But she had no idea how to approach the subject without sounding like a superstitious tourist.
As she pondered this, there was a knock at her door. She got up to answer it and found a tall, broad-shouldered man standing on the threshold. He had piercing blue eyes and a rugged jawline, and Lily couldn't help but feel a flutter in her stomach.
"Hello, miss. I'm Jack, the sheriff of Misthaven. I heard you were in town to cover the festival, and I wanted to make sure you had everything you needed."
Lily was taken aback by his sudden appearance, but managed to compose herself. "Thank you, Sheriff. That's very kind of you."
"Please, call me Jack. And if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask. We like to take care of our visitors here in Misthaven."
Lily smiled and nodded, feeling a warmth spread through her. She had never met a small-town sheriff before.