Narrator's POV
*A few days later*
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the city, Athallia Marie found herself sitting in her office, consumed by the mystery surrounding Hannah's disappearance. She couldn't shake off the feeling that time was slipping through her fingers, and she needed a breakthrough.
Just as her frustration mounted, a soft knock echoed through the door. Athallia looked up to see Liam standing at the threshold, his dark hair tousled and piercing blue eyes glistening with determination. She couldn't help but feel a flutter of anticipation as she invited him in.
"Liam," Athallia greeted him, her voice tinged with both curiosity and caution. "What brings you here?"
Liam stepped forward, a hint of excitement in his eyes. "I've uncovered something that might help us," he said, reaching into his bag and pulling out a worn book titled "The Midnight in Duskwood."
Athallia's eyes widened as she recognized the title. "the man without a face," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "This is a myth associated with the man without a face. How did you come across this?"
Liam's lips curled into a wry smile. "Let's just say I have my ways. This book holds the key to understanding the darkness that haunts Duskwood." liam saw a hidden compartment in the book and immediately looked at it "There's a hidden compartment within its pages." after opening a hidden compartment that Liam found, he saw a usb, "Athallia look it's a usb right let's see if we can see a clue of the contents of that usb."
Athalia immediately inserted the usb in her laptop
*inserted the usb*
She saw the tale of the man without a face and they opened it and watched the clip at the same time.
*play the video*
"The Disappearance of Butcher's boy, William due to a severe defect which cause half of his face to be disfigured, most kids avoid young William. Therefore, he is excited by the offer, Three boys, Jimmy Hopkins, Nathaniel Tanner, Scotty Morris, make him especially since they only make faces or insults at him. During a walk, they came across a fawn. So they say, which is why they are inviting William to go visit the little deer together. So He follows his new playmates deeper and deeper into the forest while they Continue to Gush over the fawn. they say that its ear are so big and funny, His coat so incredibly soft, His eyes so beautiful to look at. Yes, supposedly it evens like to be petted. However, when they arrive at the clearing they had described there is no fawn anywhere to be found. The warm smile of his friend suddenly changes into the awful laughter of Ridicule before William realizes the terrible situation he has gotten himself into. They tie him to a large tree and pull a jute bag over his head while repeatedly calling out the word scarecrow. They leave William, who is very scared behind. he is so terrified that he does not make a sound, does not cry or call out as they abandoned the poor boy to his fate. The same night Jimmy Hopkins come to his sense and confesses their cruel prank to his dear father. It does not take long iluntil the whole town of duskwood search the dark forest for the child. But when they arrived at the location described by the foolish boy Jimmy Hopkins. William is not there all they can find untouched at the foot of the tall tree, an ocean of raven feathers, and the Jute bag soated with blood. Some may say that the legend of the man without a face was born when William's father picked up that the bag was dripping with his own child's blood. Because William was never found and neither was a single clue of his whereabouts. But soon the houses of wrongdoers were mark with a strange signs that resembled a raven. They appeared out of nowhere as if they were made by an invisible hand, then in the night of new moon the families of the three boys vanished completely. And Were never seen again. And the legend lives on demanding payment for sins , that have been committed, it slowly creeps through duskwood streets watching, vigilantly through raven eyes in the cover of the dark night."
*Video Stopped*
After they watch a video clip Athallia was intrigued and say "so what we are looking for is a parent who lost a child to someone, so did he take Hannah because she had something to do with his child? or Hannah did something bad to that person's child" Liam look at Athallia and say "We still don't have valid evidence to say that, but if Hannah was guilty of her son when she pretended to be MWaF, why did she do that? is she mad at that woman? we need to find out the truth", after liam say that thing Athallia reached out and took the book, carefully searching the hidden compartment. Athallia saw a photograph of Hannah and her friends: Richy, Dan, Cleo, Thomas, and Jessy. They were captured in a moment of happiness, unaware of the danger that awaited them.
Athallia's voice trembled as she studied the photograph. "This was taken at the local park, their last known location before Hannah disappeared. We need to go there, Liam. We might find something that will lead us to her."
Liam nodded in agreement. "I've been digging deeper into the Duskwood myth, and there are whispers of a hidden underground network, a dark web of secrets. I believe the man without a face is not just a myth but a real person, someone who thrives on fear and preys on the innocent."
Athallia's eyes met Liam's, and in that moment, an unspoken understanding passed between them. They were in this together, bound by a shared purpose and an undeniable attraction that neither of them could ignore.
As they made their way to the park, the moon cast an ethereal glow, heightening the sense of mystery that surrounded them. The night seemed to hold its breath, as if aware of the danger that awaited them.
Liam broke the silence, his voice filled with urgency. "Athallia, we need to be careful. The man without a face is cunning and elusive. He won't hesitate to eliminate anyone who gets too close."
Athallia's grip tightened on the book. "We won't let him win," she said, determination lacing her words. "We'll find Hannah and bring her back, no matter the cost."
Their footsteps echoed through the empty park, their eyes scanning every shadow, searching for any clue that would lead them closer to Hannah and the man without a face.
As the wind rustled through the trees, Liam reached out and gently touched Athallia's hand. "We'll find her, Athallia. I promise," he said, his voice filled with conviction.
Athallia looked into his eyes, finding solace and strength in his unwavering support. She squeezed his hand, a silent acknowledgment of their unspoken bond.
Together, they would unravel the secrets of Duskwood, confront the man without a face, and bring Hannah back to safety. Love had found them amidst the darkness, and it would be their guiding light.
With renewed determination, they resumed their search, their footsteps echoing through the night as they followed the trail of clues laid out before them.
Little did they know that their journey would take them deep into the heart of Duskwood, where ancient myths and modern-day nightmares intertwined. The man without a face lurked in the shadows, watching their every move, ready to strike when they least expected it.
But Athallia and Liam were armed with courage, intelligence, and a love that defied all odds. They would not falter. They would not give up.
The night would test their resolve, pushing them to their limits. But as they ventured further into the darkness, their love burned brighter, casting a beacon of hope in the face of adversity.
And so, hand in hand, they embarked on their perilous journey, ready to face the man without a face, and determined to bring Hannah back from the clutches of darkness.
The night held its breath, aware that the battle between good and evil was about to unfold. But Athallia and Liam were ready. For love, justice, and the relentless pursuit of truth would prevail.
Chapter 3 ended with Athallia and Liam standing at the heart of the park, their gazes locked in silent determination. The night whispered promises of danger and uncertainty, but they stood tall, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
To be continued...