Ethan, Lew, and Ava rushed to the crime scene, the misty rain shrouding the outskirts of Ravenswood. Sheriff Lee and his team were already processing the area.
"What do we know?" Ethan asked, approaching Sheriff Lee.
"Female victim, mid-twenties," Sheriff Lee replied, his voice grim. "No ID on her. The killer's MO is consistent with the previous victims."
Ava's eyes widened. "The Shadow takes the innocent."
Lew's jaw clenched. "We need to find any connection between the victims."
Ethan examined the scene, taking note of the surrounding area. "This location is different from the previous crimes. More isolated."
Sheriff Lee nodded. "Looks like the killer's escalating. We found a cryptic message near the body."
Ethan's eyes locked onto the message, scrawled on a nearby tree:
"Echoes of the past will haunt the future"
Ava's voice trembled. "This feels personal."
Lew's expression darkened. "We'll find out what it means."
As they processed the scene, Ethan noticed a small, silver necklace near the victim's hand. A pendant in the shape of a raven.
"Look at this," Ethan said, holding up the necklace.
Sheriff Lee's eyes narrowed. "That's the same symbol as the Ravenswood town emblem."
Ava's eyes sparkled. "I think I know what it means. The raven is a symbol of prophecy and mystery in ancient mythology."
Lew's eyes locked onto Ava's. "You think this is connected to an ancient cult?"
Ava nodded. "It's possible. Ravenswood's history is full of secrets."
Ethan's mind began to spin with possibilities. "We need to dig deeper."
As they continued investigating, Ethan couldn't shake off the feeling that they were missing something.