The Return

Lena hadn't planned on coming back to Nightfall. The memories, thick with grief and confusion, were enough to keep her away. But something about the recent disappearances—six in the last three months alone—pulled her back. She had grown up here, and no matter how far she had gone, the town's shadow always lingered over her.

Her first step back onto the familiar streets was like stepping into a time capsule. The town hadn't changed. The same crumbling storefronts, the same damp smell of saltwater, and the same oppressive silence that made it seem as though the whole town was holding its breath.

Lena's boots clicked sharply against the cobblestone streets as she made her way to the old lighthouse. Her father used to work there before he disappeared. No one spoke of his disappearance anymore. It was as though the town had erased his existence, swept under the rug like so many others before him.

She stopped in front of the lighthouse, staring up at the twisted ironwork and the peeling paint. The place was abandoned now, just like the rest of the town's history. But Lena was determined to uncover what had been buried.

A cold wind stirred, rustling the dry leaves at her feet. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, breaking the stillness. The message was from her old friend, Ethan—the only person still in town who hadn't completely distanced himself from her family.

Ethan's Message: "Lena, don't dig too deep. They won't let you leave again."

Lena frowned. What did that mean? She hadn't even started digging yet, and already, Ethan was warning her. The words felt like a threat, but why? Why would he want to keep her from finding out the truth?

...….

The town square was just as silent as the rest of Nightfall, the lingering fog making it feel like time stood still. Lena walked through the square toward the Cove Tavern, the local watering hole where the remaining residents gathered after dark. She knew she'd get answers here, but she wasn't sure if she was ready to hear them.

As she entered, the warm glow of the tavern's lights met her eyes, but the warmth didn't reach her. The atmosphere inside was thick with tension. Every conversation seemed to stop as she walked in, the patrons glancing up at her with silent, unreadable expressions.

Behind the bar stood Ray, the tavern owner, who gave her a tight smile. "Long time, Lena," he said, his voice rough, as though he hadn't used it in a long while.

"Ray," she replied. "I need to ask you some questions."

He didn't respond right away, just wiped down the counter and watched her, as if deciding whether or not he should answer. Finally, he leaned in closer.

"People around here have a way of forgetting things. It's better that way. You don't want to know what happened to your father. No one does," he said quietly.

Lena's breath caught. "You're not making any sense."

Ray didn't reply immediately. Instead, he looked past her, his eyes narrowing. "You should leave, Lena. Whatever you're looking for… it's already found you."

Lena turned to follow his gaze but saw nothing but empty tables and the dim glow of the gas lamps. But the air in the room felt charged, like the entire town was holding its breath.

Then, it happened.

The lights flickered, and the sound of footsteps echoed from somewhere deeper inside the tavern. The door at the back, which had always been locked, slowly creaked open.

Before Lena could react, a figure appeared in the doorway—a tall man, his face obscured by the hood of his jacket, his silhouette barely visible in the half-light.

And then he spoke.

"Lena, you shouldn't have come back."

Her heart pounded in her chest. The voice was familiar, but she couldn't place it. She wanted to call out, but the words stuck in her throat.

The figure stepped forward, and Lena felt the air grow colder.