Penelope entered the living room, which seemed to last beyond time, filled with the elegance of days gone by and the subtle reflection of technology. The warm light of modern lamps contrasted with the heavy curtains and classic furniture.
Her father, Edmund Whiteman, sat in a leather armchair, reading a newspaper. He was a tall, stocky man with graying hair and a thick, neatly trimmed mustache. Every wrinkle on his face seemed to tell the story of years full of decisions made for the sake of his family and its possessions. Agnes, her mother, sat by the fireplace with her hands entwined on her lower back. Her dark hair, interspersed with gray strands in places, was pinned up in a way that emphasized her sophistication. Her gown, a shade of deep navy blue, glistened in the light, seeming to reflect her aura of calm and class.
Penelope, standing before them, looked like a younger version of her mother - petite, with similar dark hair, but there was an energy lurking in her posture that her parents lacked. She was like a spark that could ignite something that had been extinguished long ago.
- Mom, Dad, I need to talk to you," she began, and a note of tension echoed in her voice. - It's about the investigation I'm conducting with Emma and Alex. I need your help.
Agnes raised her eyebrows in curiosity, and Edmund folded the paper with precision, as if this small gesture were to prepare him for something serious.
- Investigation? - He asked with an air of caution. - What do you mean, Penelope?
The girl took a deep breath and talked about old books, scrolls and disappearances that she and her friends had tried to link to the history of the Whiteman and Blackwood families. She mentioned dark secrets hidden for years and rituals that could be the key to understanding the past. Edmund closed his eyes for a moment, as if weighing the words he would speak in a moment. Agnes, though silent, looked at her daughter with an expression of concern.
- That sounds rather dangerous, Penelope," the mother finally spoke up, her voice quiet but firm. - If you feel you must do it, we will help you. But remember that our family hides things that should not see the light of day.
Penelope raised her head.
- I know, but this is important. Our stories are connected to all of this. We need to understand what happened in the past to solve these puzzles.
Edmund grunted and looked at his wife.
- The key to our secrets," he began, and his voice was almost broken, "is in the archives. There you will find documents that will explain why our families became so different. But you have to be careful. Not every truth brings relief. Not everything we hide is pleasant. Family history has its dark sides.
Agnes nodded her head in agreement, though anxiety was still visible in her eyes.
- Remember," she said with emphasis, "Victor Blackwood is not an ordinary man. His name has always been intertwined with ours. His ancestors were guardians of knowledge that could change people's destinies, but also destroy them. Victor... Victor is like a shadow - unpredictable, always acting for his own benefit. His family has a heavy heritage. Stay away from them.
Penelope felt the weight of their words, but she wasn't about to back down.
- I will understand what unites our families," she said with determination. - It doesn't matter what I find in these documents.
Agnes leaned slightly toward her.
- Penelope, in Heaven Arcane nothing is what it seems. Every step toward the truth brings more questions, and every question can lead to danger. Are you sure you want to get involved?
The young Whiteman looked at her mother with a mixture of uncertainty and steadfastness.
- Yes, mom. It's not just our business. If we don't understand the past, the future of the township will remain in the dark.
Edmund sighed heavily and handed his daughter an old, ornate key.
- In the archives you will find the answers. But remember, Penelope - not every secret should be uncovered.
She left the salon with the key in her hand, feeling it weigh more than it should. There was a growing conviction in her heart that what she would find would change everything - not only for her, but for all of Heaven Arcane. Would it be the truth that would bring solace, or would it spawn more demons? For now, she was ready to put everything on the line.
A few hours later, in a small room whose walls were adorned with bookcases full of old books, the lamplight cast warm, flickering shadows on a table cluttered with notes and scrolls. Penelope, Emma and Alex sat in silence, surrounded by an atmosphere of tension and uncertainty. Each of them felt that the findings could change their outlook on the town and on each other. Emma leaned over the table, looking at the carefully written pages.
- Well, Penelope," she said, breaking the silence. - What did you manage to find?
Penelope looked at her, and a mixture of excitement and seriousness was painted in her eyes.
- Victor Blackwood," she began, "is the last surviving heir to his family. Once our family and the Blackwoods were inseparable. Together they formed the guardians who were supposed to protect the town and provide balance. But something happened. My notes mention an "incident" that destroyed this cooperation and led to conflict.
Alex furrowed his brow, leaning closer.
- An incident? Is it something specific? Any details?
Penelope flipped through several pages in one of the books until she came across a passage written in tiny, almost illegible script.
- Nothing specific," she admitted with reluctance. - Everything is described in a ... evasive. But there is something else. After the incident, our families divided in their activities. The Whitmans went into science and technology, while the Blackwoods.... She paused, as if weighing her words.
- . have taken up the occult," Emma added, finishing for her.
- And strange practices," Penelope added.
Emma sighed, crossing her arms over her chest.
- So it looks like this: science versus magic. So something like a cheap TV series," she threw in with a hint of skepticism, although fascination could also be heard in her voice.
Alex thoughtfully moved his finger over one of the scrolls, which bore intricate runes and symbols.
- Maybe it sounds ridiculous," he spoke up, "but history has shown more than once that people who believe in magic have been able to do the unthinkable. Maybe it's not as silly as it sounds after all.
They exchanged glances, and silence again filled the room. Each of them knew they had to explore the secrets they had before them, even if their weight was overwhelming. Penelope opened one of the more tattered scrolls.
- Here is something interesting," she said, and her voice trembled slightly. - A description of the incident that probably divided our families. It was a ceremony. A rite of the guards. But something went wrong.
Emma looked at her carefully.
- What does it mean to go wrong?
- I don't know exactly," replied Penelope. - But the consequences were ... catastrophic.
Emma began reviewing the Whitmans' notes.
- At the same time, the Whitmans were conducting experiments, she noted. - They were trying to find ways to protect the township using modern technology. But it seems that the experiments often failed.
Alex raised his eyes from over the old documents.
- The Blackwoods, on the other hand ... - began, pointing to drawings of symbols and diagrams. - They focused on rituals to secure the town from what they described as "evil from beyond the borders." But these rituals seem dangerous. There is mention of "unforeseen side effects" in several places.
There was silence in the room, broken only by the rustling of pages being turned.
- Do you think that these rituals could have something.... attracted? - Emma asked, breaking the silence.
Alex nodded, his expression full of concern.
- It's possible. Maybe that's what the disappearances in the township have to do with. If something was brought in and then not trapped....
Penelope looked at the scrolls that lay in front of her, and questions began to arise in her mind that she didn't yet have answers to.
- We have to decide," she finally said. - Do we follow the Whitman science or the Blackwood rituals. But one thing is certain - it's all connected.
In the semi-darkness of the study, where dust danced in the shafts of light streaming in through the thick, stained-glass decorated window, Emma squatted closer to a table full of dusty documents. Her voice sounded serious, in an almost solemn tone that seemed to fit the atmosphere of mystery that hung in the room.
- I think we need to connect these two threads," she began, glancing at her companions. - What I have discovered about the Whitmans' experiments clearly shows their quest for knowledge, often at any cost. The Blackwoods' occult practices, on the other hand, seem ... a defensive reaction. As if they were trying to protect the town from something that was slipping out of the framework of reality.
Penelope, bent over an ancient scroll, raised her gaze, her face focused.
- What if... The Whitmans were experimenting with something they accidentally released? - she suggested. - Maybe the Blackwoods were trying to stop it with their rituals? Or maybe they released something and the Whitmans tried to correct their mistakes?
Alex, who had been leaning against the bookcase so far, crossed his arms and looked at the two girls.
- It sounds like a crazy theory, but given all these notes.... We can't rule it out. We need to find out exactly what the Blackwoods were trying to trap or free. And what were the consequences of that," he said, and his voice sounded increasingly firm. - Maybe these rituals were the cause of the disappearances and strange phenomena we hear so much about.
Emma furrowed her brow as she slid another book toward her.
- Good. Maybe we should now focus on the Blackwood family. If their records are preserved somewhere, they might shed light on what really happened.
A moment later, Penelope pulled out a parchment that was different from the others. Its edges were decorated with hand-drawn runes, and the surface appeared to be covered with some kind of protective coating.
- That must be it," she said almost in a whisper.
Alex and Emma leaned over her shoulder, looking at the tiny letters and symbols that filled the document.
- These notes describe the history of the Blackwood family from generation to generation," Emma noted, running her finger over one of the passages. - But look... something has changed. The 1950s and 1960s saw an increase in "supernatural activity" in the town. That's when they started working intensively on protection rituals.
Alex added, reviewing more notes.
- At the same time, the Whitmans were conducting their experiments. Maybe the two families were like two sides of the same coin - one exploring, taking risks, and the other trying to control the consequences. But... what if both activities were equally destructive?
Penelope looked at him concerned.
- We need to find out what really happened. And what exactly took place in the woods where Victor Blackwood was last seen. This could be important.
Emma closed the book with a quiet clatter.
- Maybe we should talk to someone who knows the history of the town better than we do. Maybe there are still people who remember those times? I'll call my mother maybe she can suggest something.
Alex smiled slightly. - That's a good idea. But if we're going to delve into all these secrets, we're going to need something to keep us alive. More specifically... coffee.
Penelope laughed quietly, which relieved the tension.
- Consensus. Maybe their memory will turn out better as we heat up the topic.
- Sounds like a plan," chuckled Emma, grabbing her bag. - Let's get moving.
With a thrill of excitement mixed with anxiety, they left the office, ready to face the mystery that enveloped Arcane Heaven like darkness surrounding a lantern in the middle of a storm.
The sun poured onto the sidewalks through the crowns of centuries-old trees, painting shadows that rippled with every breeze. The three friends walked along a cobblestone street leading to a café that looked as if it had been taken out of a story about the old days. The building looked like it had been taken out of an old book illustration: a brick facade, overgrown with ivy in places, and windows decorated with lace curtains. The signboard above the entrance was barely legible, and the letters looked as if someone had once decided to freshen up one "C" in paint and gave up after two brush strokes.
- Are you sure it's here? - asked Alex, whose somewhat disheveled hair looked as if it had never made friends with a comb.
His bright, penetrating eyes moved across the building's neglected facade, as if trying to guess its secret.
- It looks like this place still remembers the days of the dinosaurs," chuckled Alex, raising an eyebrow.
- Yes, I'm telling you! - Emma looked at him with exasperation.
Her long, light hair waved in the wind, and her blue eyes sparkled with challenge. She always looked like she knew more than she was saying, which only added to her confidence.
- William Baker always sits here. Mom said he's seen more than anyone else in this town.
Penelope, the quietest of the three, corrected the sunglasses sliding off her nose. She was short and petite, with copper-colored hair tied up in a loose braid that fell over her shoulder. Her fair complexion was even more apparent as she tilted her head thoughtfully.
- Seriously, do you think they serve anything better than instant coffee here? - Penelope was still not convinced that this was the right place for their little mission.
Alex shrugged his shoulders and reached for the heavy door, which opened with a protracted groan. The bell above the doorframe sounded as quietly as if he barely remembered how to ring the bell. It was quiet inside, and the light coming in through the tarnished glass gave everything a slightly golden hue. The interior of the café seemed to be trapped in time. Old tables with chipped tops stood in uneven rows, as if waiting for customers who never came. Wooden chairs with sometimes smoothed surfaces, round tables with faded napkins and a counter whose wooden top had so many scratches and indentations that it looked like a map of an undiscovered land. There was a smell of old coffee and something like spices in the air, though it was probably just a kettle that was tired by now.
Sitting at one of the darkest tables was an elderly man who seemed as integral to the place as the smell of burnt coffee. He wore a gray blazer, as if unwillingly thrown over a chair, and a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up. The cigar in his hand was glowing with a soft orange light, and the smoke floated above him, creating clouds that lazily wove in the golden rays of the sun. The cup of coffee he held in the other was steaming like a magic potion. His face was marred with wrinkles, but his bright eyes shone with curiosity. His gaze was so deep, as if he was looking not at the world, but through it, toward something seen only by those who had survived long enough....
- I take black," Alex chuckled, glancing at the menu board, which looked as if no one had changed its contents in at least a decade.
- Latte," Emma replied, glancing at the old cash register that probably witnessed the invention of coffee.
- Black with milk," added Penelope, whose tone suggested that she did not expect miracles, but at least milk could ease her suffering.
When Alex took their order, they headed toward the man. The man raised his eyes at them, as if assessing whether they were more of a nuisance than a leaking roof. As they approached, for a moment it looked as if he wanted to send them away.
- Sorry to disturb you," began Emma with a slight smile, as if she was afraid that what she was about to say might startle him. - But we are interested in the history of this place. We are writing ... I mean, we are writing a history paper. Could you share your memories?
The man sighed, which sounded like the exhaust of the engine of a long-forgotten steam locomotive. He raised an eyebrow, his face lit up by the shadow of a smile - not sure whether from amusement or irony. He indicated the vacant chairs to them with a gesture.
- Story. - He repeated, leaning back more comfortably in his chair. - So this is of interest to you. Well, sit down, youngsters. If you have time, maybe I'll tell you something for the sake of learning.
The man put the cup down on the saucer, and the sound of the porcelain sounded in the silence like a small gong. He leaned back more comfortably in his chair, and his movements were slow, almost theatrical. He introduced himself as William Baker, one of those who had always been in town, although no one could remember when he had appeared here. He began to speak, and his words had the rhythm of a parable - they were heavy with memories, and at the same time light, as if he were throwing them into space, not expecting anyone to catch them.
- So you are interested in the town's past? - He asked with a slight smile that seemed more mysterious than friendly. - You have come to the right man. But be warned - not everything you want to know, you should know.
- Uhm... sounds like the beginning of a scary movie," muttered Penelope, but Alex silenced her.
- Will you tell? - He asked with a hint of desperation in his voice, because he felt that if they let go now, they would lose something important.
The man sighed, and his gaze rested on each face in turn.
- I am one of those who remember when Heaven Arcane was more than a sleepy hole. There was a time when this place was alive.... And had secrets.
He talked about the old days, when Heaven Arcane was bustling with life. He recalled the Whitman and Blackwood families - the town's founders and also its greatest rivals. From his words emerged images of mysterious rituals in the woods, flashes of light in the night sky and rumors that never stopped circulating in the streets.
- But you must know, youngsters, that it was Victor Blackwood who was the key to many of these mysteries. A man who understood things that the rest of us didn't even try to comprehend.
- And what happened to him? - Alex asked the question before he had time to think about it.
William looked at him, as if weighing the answer.
- Victor Blackwood," he repeated when Alex asked a question about one of the founders. - He disappeared, or at least that's what they say. He was like a shadow, what always lurked in the corners. He did research on things we shouldn't understand. I worked for him - back then everyone worked. But you know, boy.... there are things that are better left alone. And be careful. Not everything in Heaven Arcane is as it seems.
He fell silent, staring at the cigar, as if from it he expected answers to questions that had plagued him for years.
- But I'll tell you one thing: it's better for what was, to stay where it is. Some secrets are like an old door - open it and you will never close it.
His words sounded like a warning, but there was something more hidden in them - perhaps a shadow of hope that young people are able to discover what he understood too late.
Emma looked at Alex with a gleam in her eye.
- I'm beginning to feel that there really is something special hidden here. - She chuckled, then leaned forward. - And what are these things? Was he doing something in our forest?
William took a drag on his cigar and then sighed heavily, as if he himself did not know if the answer would do them any good.
- The forest never forgets. And if you find too much in it.... it may let you go.
These words sank into the memory of each of them, although no one wanted to talk about it out loud.
William looked at them with an expression of seriousness that seemed to weigh every word he said. His steel eyes jumped from one to the other, as if he wanted to make sure they understood the gravity of what he was about to say.
- Victor Blackwood," he began quietly, almost in a whisper, "was a man of science. But his ambitions led him down a path from which there was no turning back. He always believed that nature hides the answers to all the questions of mankind, but he did not understand that some doors are better left closed.
Emma rested her elbows on the table, not taking her eyes off him. Her bright eyes sparkled with curiosity. Penelope, nervously turning a notebook in her hands, bit her lip, trying to assimilate what she had just heard. Alex, as usual, tried to look indifferent, but the tension in his shoulders betrayed him. William pointed to the notes lying in front of Penelope, his fingers stringy and his hands rough, as if they held too many secrets.
- See here," he said, touching a section of the drawing. - These are diagrams for manipulating nature's energy. Blackwood was convinced that the energy hidden in the forest could revolutionize life in Heaven Arcane. The problem was that he had no idea how much he was risking.
- Did something go wrong? - Alex asked, raising an eyebrow in a skeptical gesture.
- Everything went wrong," replied William. - These experiments produced phenomena that he could not control. Imagine trying to tame a hurricane with only an umbrella.
Emma looked at him carefully, as if trying to catch whether he was hiding something.
- But I guess it was just energy? How could such a mistake have been made?
William smiled bitterly, as if these words brought back painful memories.
- It was a science. But science that was ahead of its time. Blackwood worked with magnetic fields of enormous intensity, manipulating the quantum fabric of space. People looked at the effects of his work and saw miracles.... Or magic.
Penelope leaned over the notes.
- This means that the space-time anomalies in the town are.... effect of these experiments?
William nodded his head.
- Some places in Heaven Arcane are still contaminated with this energy. Do you see the diagrams? - He pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and started drawing lines and equations on it. - What Victor created was a powerful magnetic field. At first it acted as a protective shield. But when the field began to destabilize, "quantum fractures" were created - places where time and space do not work as they should.
- Sounds like science fiction," Alex muttered, but there was more fascination than skepticism in his voice.
William gave him a stern look.
- There is nothing fictional about it, boy. I've seen people disappear before my eyes, places that change by the second. I know the feeling when time stands still and then starts running forward, as if trying to make up for lost minutes.
Emma broke the silence.
- What about the families? The Whitmans and the Blackwoods.... How did it end?
- Tragically," sighed William. - The Whitmans warned of what would happen. Finally, to end the experiments, they set fire to one of the wings of the Blackwood mansion. Everything was there - books, notes, equipment. They destroyed it to save the rest of the town.
Alex stared at him in disbelief.
- And yet. everything that has happened still affects the town?
William nodded.
- Blackwood was too close to discovering the truth about this energy. But the line between science and danger is as thin as a spider's web. The township guard was formed just then to keep an eye on the sites and control people who might find out about them.
Penelope looked at Emma and Alex with concern.
- This means that all those legends about ghosts, about strange phenomena.... were not stories for children?
- No, child," replied William, and his voice now sounded like an echo of the old days. - It was a science that no one could understand.
The moment of silence seemed to drag on forever. Finally, Emma interrupted it by correcting her bag on her shoulder.
- We need to find out more," she said firmly.
William looked at them with a shadow of sadness in his eyes.
- Just remember that curiosity can be fatal. Some answers may cost you more than you are willing to pay.
In the far corner of the cafe, hidden in the shadows and almost invisible in the twilight, someone was carefully watching the three friends. The figure wore a long, dark cloak, and from under its collar shone a glittering necklace with a strange, almost hypnotic symbol. The glow reflected off its surface, dancing in the faint light that pierced through the dusty windows. Emma, Penelope and Alex seemed not to notice it, busy talking to William.
Meanwhile, the barista, a young boy with a cocky smile and an apron that looked like it had seen better days, approached their table.
- Can I offer you something to drink? Perhaps another coffee? - He asked, raising one eyebrow in polite, though clearly routine courtesy.
Emma looked at the others, her gaze expressing something between a question and a request for permission.
- Well, all right," she sighed finally. - Maybe one tea.
The barista nodded and walked unhurriedly away toward the bar. His footsteps sounded quietly on the wooden floor, which creaked under his weight.
Meanwhile, a man emerged from another corner of the café - tall, broad-shouldered and with thick eyebrows that seemed to be constantly clenched in a grimace of annoyance. His checkered shirt was carelessly buttoned, and his dark pants bore traces of old paint. He looked as if he had just stopped work on some repair job, and he wasn't going to pretend to be any more polite than he had to be.
- This can't be true! - he burbled, his voice carrying through the cafe like thunder. - Again this madman is scaring the youth with his nonsense! This town should have gotten rid of such lunatics a long time ago!
The man approached William's table, his steps heavy and his gaze full of disapproval. He stood over him, casting a shadow across the table.
- Hey, you old chump! What have you come up with this time? Scaring the youth with some idiotic ghost stories? People have had enough of your bullshit!
William, sitting calmly with a cigar in his hand, raised his gaze. There was not a shadow of fear or anger in his eyes - only clear irritation, as if this man was more of a minor obstacle to him than a real problem.
- Nothing of the sort," he replied coolly. - I don't intend to scare anyone. It was these young people who started asking questions, and I'm only answering.
The man shrugged his shoulders with theatrical dismissiveness, but there was a note of uncertainty in his gaze.
- Don't give me a hard time," he burbled. - All these legends about the mysteries of the town are nonsense. Young people should be occupied with more important things than rummaging through old fairy tales.
Emma, Penelope and Alex exchanged glances in which both surprise and curiosity were evident. It was clear that the subject of Heaven Arcane's mysteries was stirring strong emotions among residents - emotions that could easily get out of hand.
The waiter returned with tea for Emma, placing the cup on the table with caution, as if afraid to disturb the tense atmosphere. He turned to the man who still towered over William.
- Will there be anything else for you? - He asked politely.
The man waved his hand, turning away abruptly, as if to demonstrate his displeasure.
- No, I'm not going to stay here long. I hope this old man is not bothering you with his tales.
He cast one last glance in William's direction and walked away, disappearing behind the door with a loud slam. William raised the cup to his lips, his movements slow and sure, as if he had completely ignored the earlier incident. When he finally set the cup down on the saucer, he looked at the three young researchers with a smile that seemed to hide a lot.
- Don't worry about it too much," he said calmly. - Not everyone believes what these two families did. They are simple people. But you guys... You guys are looking for the truth. And the truth, my young friends, is uncomfortable.
There was silence for a moment, as if these words needed time to fully resonate. In the background, the ticking of a clock from one of the bookcases seemed to measure something more than time - perhaps the moments that remained before these secrets would be revealed.
Emma looked at a photo in an album she had taken out of her bag, her fingers gently gliding over the slightly yellowed pages. She stopped at a photograph showing a young man in a suit, standing proudly in front of a building that resembled an old library. His gaze was penetrating, and there was something intangible in his eyes - a mixture of determination and mystery. She lifted the album, pointing her finger at the figure.
- Do you remember this man? - She asked, raising her eyes to William. - We met him ... well, as an old man, during one of the meetings with Alex and Max. Is it possible that he is someone known here?
William took the photo, his hands were rough, as if he had worked in the fields all his life, but he held the album with the gentleness of someone who understands the importance of the past. He studied the photograph for a moment, his eyebrows raised slightly, and a smile appeared on his face - a slight one, as if he had recalled a memory he had long hidden from the world.
- Of course I know him," he finally said, putting the album back on the table. - That's Joseph Blackwood. Victor Blackwood's grandfather. A man with an extraordinary mind and an equally extraordinary fate. He was one of the pillars of the Heaven Arcane community before.... Before he suddenly disappeared.
Emma, Penelope and Alex exchanged glances, clearly intrigued. - Had he disappeared? How is that possible? - asked Alex, leaning forward, as if he wanted to extract more information from William's mere gaze.
William leaned back more comfortably in his chair, as if preparing for a long story.
- Joseph was a man of science," he began. - He studied the energy that flowed from the earth itself, convinced that it was the key to the future. His projects were aimed at improving the lives of the townspeople, but were always surrounded by secrecy. One day he just... he was lost. He left no clues, no traces. It was as if someone had erased his existence from this reality.
Emma moved her finger along the edge of the album, in thoughtfulness.
- Did anyone have any suspicions? Did anything seem worrisome at the time?
William nodded.
- People started talking. They always talk. Soon there were stories about encounters in the forest, about strange lights and sounds that woke up the residents in the middle of the night. And as I mentioned earlier, years later, when these stories took hold, guards were appointed to maintain order and protect the community from.... well, the unknown.
Penelope, so far silent, looked down at her notes. Her pen paused in the middle of the page, as if searching for the right word to describe everything she had just heard. In her thoughts, the pieces of the puzzle began to come together.
- These stories... Could they have had something to do with Joseph's research? - she finally asked, without lifting her gaze from above her notes.
William nodded.
- It's possible. Joseph was fascinated by nature's energy, especially the energy that seemed to flow from under the earth. He said he had discovered something extraordinary - a source that could change everything. But no one but him understood this research. He had notes, sketches, diagrams - things that looked like madness to anyone who didn't know his mind.
- Something that was ahead of its time? - chuckled Alex, leaning over the table.
William looked at him seriously.
- That's exactly right. Joseph believed that this energy could power devices, change the environment and even affect people. But it was an unpredictable force. Things began to happen that were out of control. And then ... it disappeared.
Emma rested her chin on her hands, her eyes burning with curiosity.
- What if he didn't disappear? If... someone wanted him to disappear?
William smiled bitterly, his face seeming even older for a moment.
- It's a theory that has been circulating for years. Some say Joseph discovered too much. He may have even worked with someone - someone who had knowledge that should not belong to our era. But who could have the power to erase him from history?
Penelope held her breath, looking at her notes.
- What if what Joseph discovered was too dangerous? If his research was the key to all the strange happenings in the town?
William looked at her appreciatively, as if he admired her savvy.
- It's very possible. Joseph has disappeared, but his research.... some have survived. And I'm sure that the key to understanding the mysteries of Heaven Arcane lies in them.
The silence that fell was filled with tension and anticipation. In the background, the clock in the corner of the cafe was ticking quietly, as if it was timed to reveal more secrets.
Alex listened to the story about Joseph Blackwood with a mixture of fascination and tension. William's words about energy and space-time distortions opened memories in his mind that he tried to rationalize, but which never quite gave him peace. He finally broke the silence that followed the story.
- I once had a strange experience," he began slowly, his voice quiet, almost embarrassed. - I noticed a girl.... As if suspended in time. It was strange.
Emma and Penelope looked at him with curiosity and even slight disbelief, but Alex continued, staring at the wall of the cafe, as if he could see the image of that day there.
- I tried to contact her," he continued. - I shouted, waved my hand.... But she didn't notice me. I was like invisible to her. As if we were in two different realities.
William moved a little closer, his steely gaze drilling into Alex.
- What else do you remember? - He asked calmly, although there was something more in his voice - curiosity, perhaps, or a slight concern.
Alex shrugged his shoulders, trying to organize his thoughts.
- It was, like. Like I had moved to the past. But not quite. The girl was there, in another dimension, completely unaware of what was going on around her.
William leaned back in his chair and rubbed his chin with his hand in thoughtfulness.
- Hm... - he began, then pointed to the notes lying on the table. - What you're describing sounds like the effect of space-time distortions. Joseph described similar phenomena in his research. He ran his finger over one of the yellowed sheets of paper, which showed diagrams, as if taken out of a quantum physics textbook. - In theory, there is something called space-time tunneling - a brief disruption in the structure of time and space. If the energy in the forest does indeed have such properties, it could have caused just what you saw.
Emma and Penelope looked at him with wide-open eyes, trying to comprehend how what sounded like science fiction could be reality.
- Joseph experimented with this energy," William continued. - If this energy affects the space-time structure, your experience may have been the result of such interference.
There was a quiet bustle of conversation in the cafe, and in the background could be heard the clatter of porcelain cups placed on the countertops. The aroma of coffee filled the air, but Alex smelled something else - a scent that snapped him out of his reverie. It was strongly woody, with hints of roots and moss. His nostrils were filled with a scent that seemed more appropriate for a forest than a crowded coffee shop.
He turned around slowly and saw a hooded figure sitting at one of the tables in the distance. It seemed that the person had just sat down, but there was a strange aura around her, as if time had slowed down. The glow of the pendant around her neck shimmered in the faint light of the café, giving the whole situation an almost supernatural feel. Alex felt a shiver run along his spine. His eyes followed every movement of this figure, who suddenly rose, leaving a cigarette butt and tip on the table. The hood covered most of his face, but the glint of the shimmering pendant seemed strangely familiar.
- Gee, am I the only one who saw this? - sighed Alex, looking at his companions, who were still engrossed in conversation with William.
The figure took the phone out of his pocket and began to say something to someone on the other side of the line, then disappeared around the corner of the cafe. Alex, feeling a strange premonition, got up from the table, barely noticing that William was watching him with a shadow of understanding in his eyes.
- Where are you going? - Penelope asked, but her voice seemed to come from far away, as if through a layer of fog.
- I need to check something," Alex replied, leaving the cafe and following the figure.
The cool air hit him in the face as he stepped out into the street, but the smell of perfume still lingered around him. He stopped for a moment, trying to spot the hood in the crowd, when he suddenly felt a dull pain in the back of his skull. Falling to the ground, he still saw the hooded figure turn around and talk to someone behind him. In his last seconds of consciousness, he caught a glimpse of a face that seemed familiar - an image from the past that he had forgotten, but which suddenly returned with full force.
- Who... you... are you? - he whispered, before everything disappeared into darkness.