Natalie leaned back on the couch, watching the television with half-focused eyes, while her husband, Richard, channel-surfed beside her. The evening news caught their attention, as the anchor spoke with a tone of cautious excitement.
"And in local news, the infamous Green Hollow Lake, the site of the unsolved murders over two decades ago, is set to reopen this weekend. Authorities have conducted a thorough search and declared the area safe for visitors. A small church now stands near the lake, where priests performed purification rituals, hoping to cleanse any lingering darkness. The town hopes this reopening will bring new life and—"
Natalie's breath hitched, and she quickly reached for the remote, turning the volume down. Her heart raced as memories, long buried but never forgotten, surged back to the surface. The chilling darkness of that night, the screams, the blood—all of it seemed to echo in her mind once again.
Richard glanced at her, his face softening with concern. "You okay, Nat?" he asked gently, placing a hand on her knee.
She forced a faint smile, nodding slightly. "Yeah… I'm fine. It's just… strange, you know? I didn't think they'd ever reopen that place. I mean, it was closed off for so long…"
Richard squeezed her hand reassuringly. "They say it's safe now. The police did a thorough job, and if there was anything still there, it's gone. And with the rituals, maybe it'll give some peace to… whoever was haunting that place."
Natalie let out a slow breath, the tension in her chest easing slightly. "I suppose," she murmured. "It's just… I don't think I could ever go back there. Even if it's safe, I'm not sure my mind could handle it. The memories are still too vivid. I've… I've been working through it for years. You know how it is… the nightmares, the medications." Her voice trailed off, her gaze distant.
Richard rubbed her shoulder comfortingly. "We don't have to go. You've been through enough. Nobody could blame you for not wanting to revisit that place."
Just then, the sound of footsteps came down the stairs, and their daughter, Emily, walked into the room. A bright young woman in her early twenties, Emily had Natalie's auburn hair and her father's hazel eyes. She slipped on her shoes near the door, grabbing her jacket from the rack.
"Heading out?" Richard asked, glancing over his shoulder.
"Yeah, I'm meeting up with some friends," Emily replied, fiddling with her phone. "We're just gonna hang out for a while."
Natalie stood up and walked over, giving her daughter a curious look. "So, a date tonight, huh?" she teased gently, her tone light and playful. "Or just friends?"
Emily chuckled, rolling her eyes. "Mom, it's not like that. I mean, yeah, he'll be there, but it's not just us. There's a whole group coming." She grinned, her cheeks flushing slightly. "It's nothing serious."
Natalie's smile faded just a bit, a shadow of worry flickering in her eyes. "Well, have fun. But stay safe, okay? Don't go wandering off anywhere weird or… doing anything suspicious," she said, half-joking but with a hint of genuine concern.
Emily laughed. "Relax, Mom. We're just hanging out. It's not like we're going to explore some creepy abandoned place."
Natalie's stomach tightened at the thought, but she brushed it aside, nodding. "All right, then. Just… don't stay out too late."
"I won't," Emily assured her with a smile. "Promise."
As Emily left, Natalie lingered at the window, watching her daughter disappear down the driveway. Richard came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "She's a good kid," he murmured. "She'll be fine."
Natalie leaned back against him, letting out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. "I know," she whispered.