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Elena's POV
Elena woke to the soft glow of morning light streaming through her window. Despite her restless night, she felt a renewed determination. If she was going to stay in Blackwood Hollow, she needed to understand the people around her—and the strange undercurrent of secrecy that seemed to flow through the town.
As she brewed her coffee, her thoughts wandered back to Maria's warning. Be careful. The woods can be dangerous. What had Maria meant by that? It wasn't the first time someone had hinted that there was more to Blackwood Hollow than met the eye.
Deciding she needed to distract herself, Elena made a mental note to visit more places in town and talk to more locals. If anyone had answers, it would be the people who had lived there their entire lives.
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The town square was busier than usual when Elena arrived mid-morning. Market stalls lined the streets, vendors selling everything from fresh produce to handmade crafts. The hum of conversations and laughter filled the air, giving the illusion of a normal, bustling community.
Elena wandered through the stalls, admiring the goods. A wooden sign caught her eye: Thatcher's Bakery. She smiled, remembering Maria's kindness the night before, and decided to step inside.
The bakery smelled like heaven. The rich aroma of cinnamon, vanilla, and freshly baked bread enveloped her, momentarily pushing aside her worries.
"Good morning, Elena!" Maria called from behind the counter, her cheeks flushed from the heat of the ovens. "I'm glad you stopped by."
"Good morning," Elena said. "I thought I'd see what all the fuss is about."
Maria chuckled and slid a tray of pastries onto the counter. "Best in town, if I do say so myself. Here, try one on the house."
Elena accepted the warm croissant, its buttery layers practically melting in her mouth. "This is incredible."
"Family recipe," Maria said with a wink. "So, how's the cabin treating you? Settling in okay?"
Elena hesitated. "It's nice. Quiet, but... I've had some strange experiences."
Maria's hands stilled as she wiped the counter. "Strange? How so?"
"Just... things in the woods. I thought I saw a wolf the other night, and then there was a man near my cabin yesterday. He didn't say anything, just... stared."
Maria's warm expression shifted, her brows furrowing. "A man? In the woods?"
"Yes," Elena said. "Dark hair, amber eyes."
Maria glanced around the bakery, as if checking to see who was listening, then leaned in closer. "Elena, if you see someone like that again, stay away. Some folks around here—well, let's just say not everyone is friendly."
Before Elena could press her for details, the door chimed, and a group of customers entered. Maria straightened, her friendly smile returning, but the worry in her eyes lingered.
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Determined to get more answers, Elena decided to visit the town's library next. The building was small but charming, with ivy climbing its stone façade and large windows that let in plenty of natural light.
Inside, she found a cozy atmosphere filled with rows of bookshelves and a few scattered reading tables. Behind the counter sat an older man with salt-and-pepper hair and glasses perched low on his nose.
"Good morning," Elena said.
"Morning," the man replied, looking up from his book. "You must be the new vet. Word travels fast in a town like this. I'm Mr. Greene, the librarian."
"Elena Hayes," she said, smiling. "I was hoping to do a little reading about the area."
"Local history?" Mr. Greene asked, his tone casual but his gaze sharp.
"Something like that," Elena said, trying not to sound too curious.
He nodded and gestured toward a section near the back of the library. "You'll find plenty about Blackwood Hollow there. Just be warned—some of it's more legend than fact."
"Legends?" Elena asked, intrigued.
Mr. Greene leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. "The Hollow has its fair share of stories. Strange disappearances, mysterious creatures, you name it. People say the woods are cursed, but I think it's just old folklore."
Elena thanked him and made her way to the back of the library. The section he'd pointed to was filled with dusty books and faded newspapers, many of them recounting strange events in Blackwood Hollow's history.
One headline caught her eye: "Beast of Blackwood: Myth or Reality?"
Elena skimmed the article, her pulse quickening. It described a series of animal attacks that had occurred decades ago, the victims found with wounds that couldn't be explained by any known predator. Locals had blamed a mysterious creature—a wolf-like beast said to roam the forest under the cover of night.
A shiver ran down her spine. Could the wolf she'd seen be connected to these stories?
"Elena?"
She jumped, nearly dropping the book. Turning, she saw Sheriff Boone standing a few feet away, his hands in his pockets and an easygoing smile on his face.
"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you," he said. "Doing a little research?"
"Just curious about the town's history," she replied, closing the book.
Boone's smile faltered slightly. "Be careful with that section. Folks around here like their stories, but they're not always... accurate."
"Do you think the woods are dangerous?" Elena asked, studying his reaction.
Boone hesitated, his jaw tightening for a brief moment before he said, "The woods are wild, that's all. Stick to the trails and you'll be fine."
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By the time Elena left the library, her mind was racing. Everyone seemed to have the same vague warnings, but no one would tell her the full truth. The pieces didn't add up—mysterious men, strange warnings, old legends of beasts in the woods.
As she drove back to her cabin, she resolved to find out more. Whatever secrets Blackwood Hollow was hiding, she wasn't going to stop until she uncovered them.
That night, as she lay in bed, she thought about the wolf again. Its piercing amber eyes, so eerily human, stayed with her. For the first time, she wondered if the stories she'd read weren't just legends after all.
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