The day bleeds into the night, and I find myself standing on the deck of the dilapidated ferry that serves as the town's link to the outside world. Ite rusted metal creaks with every gust of wind, a testament to the years it has spent doing its duty in these cold, unforgiving waters. The town of Haven's Cove never looks more alive than when the fog wraps around it like a blanket, as if the sea is trying to swallow everything. However, there is no escaping the truth here—not for me or anyone.
I close my eyes and let the salt air sting my face, feeling the cold against my skin like an old wound, one I've tried to bury for years.
The town has its own rhythm, which was difficult to hear when I was younger. But it's clear now. The stillness. The way people glance over their shoulders, their eyes darting nervously at the sound of a creaking door or the whistle of the wind. It's all connected, like a web too thick to break. I can almost feel the pulse of this place in my bones.
The ferry lurches forward, and I steady myself against the weathered rail. My mind keeps drifting back to the phone call with Mac. He was right about one thing: I can't trust anyone. Not even him. But right now, he's the closest thing I have to an ally, even if he is buried in guilt and regret.
He's wrong about one thing, though.
I don't need to leave. I need to stay. There is too much unfinished business here, and no matter how much I want to run, it will not be over until I face it.
A loud splash pulls me from my thoughts. The water beneath the ferry has turned dark, as if the ocean is hiding something. The cold, black water churns beneath the boat, mirroring the storm inside me.
I lean over the railing, my fingers grazing the frayed rope as the boat continues its slow trek across the bay. The lighthouse is still visible, and its beam cuts through the fog continuously. I stare at it, feeling its beacon pull me in. What's hidden in the shadows of that light?
The creaking of the ferry's wood becomes a steady thrum beneath my feet, the sound so familiar it almost feels comforting. However, nothing is comforting about this place. There never has been.
As I return to my car parked at the end of the pier, the town feels even more oppressive than usual. The streetlights flicker, and the wind picks up, making it feel like the night is closing. Haven's Cove is a town of secrets, and secrets never stay buried forever.
I haven't heard from Mac since he left my house, and the silence gnaws at me. I don't trust that he's telling me everything. He says I should not be here stirring a hornet's nest, but I know better. He's trying to protect me in his own way—by pushing me away. He was still haunted by the same mistakes he made before.
I drive past the dilapidated houses and the boarded-up shops that haven't seen a customer in years. Every time I return, the town feels more like a ghost town, but its pulse is still hidden beneath the surface. I am looking for the answer somewhere in Haven's Cove, buried deep in its bones.
I turn onto the narrow street that leads to the old cannery. I had not been here in years, but the building still looked the same, frozen in time. The old wooden structure is half-sunken, the roof caving in on one side, and the windows are broken and boarded up. The locals avoid it, mainly because it's steeped in bad memories. The cannery was once the town's lifeblood, but it has been abandoned for as long as I can remember.
But tonight, I'm here for a reason.
The ferry ride, the town, the journal—everything has led me to this moment. I'm convinced that the cannery holds the answers. There's something about it that pulls me in, something about the place that makes me feel like I'm finally getting close. My instincts are screaming at me that this is the place.
I park my car in front of the boarded-up entrance, and as I step out, the night air presses against my skin, making me shiver. The fog has thickened, wrapping around the old buildings like a shroud. I can barely make out the outline of the cannery now, but I know it's still there. The smell of salt and decay hangs in the air, a constant reminder of the past that this town refuses to forget.
I take a deep breath and walk toward the side entrance, my footsteps muffled by the thick fog. I've been here before, back when I was a kid. I remember the faint sound of machinery in the distance, the metallic tang of the air, the way the old factory used to hum with life. But now, it's as silent as the grave.
I push open the rusted door, which creaks in protest but gives way, revealing the darkness inside. It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the gloom, and when they do, I see what I expected: an old, abandoned factory. The walls are lined with peeling paint and broken windows, and the floor is littered with debris. But there's something else here, something more pressing.
The faint scent of whiskey hangs in the air.
It's not the first time I've smelled it, but tonight, it's stronger. My heart races in my chest as I step farther into the building. The floorboards groan under my weight, and I try to move quietly, but it's impossible.
I'm not alone.
I heard the faint sound of shuffling footsteps from deeper within the building, followed by something heavy scraping against the floor. My heart skips a beat as I freeze, my eyes darting around in search of the source of the sound.
And then I see him.
A figure stood at the room's far end, his face half-hidden in shadow. It's Mac.
I don't know how he found me, but I don't have time to ask.
"Ellie," he says, his voice low and strained. "I told you to stay out of this. You don't know what you're dealing with."
I take a step toward him, my fists clenched at my sides. "I don't care what you told me, Mac. I'm here for the truth, and I'm not leaving until I get it."
He looks down at the floor, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "You don't understand, do you? This place... these people... they're dangerous. There's no truth here, only lies. And the more you dig, the more you'll get pulled under."
"I'm already in over my head," I reply, stepping closer. "And I'm not backing down now. Not when I'm so close."
Mac exhales a deep breath, his hand rubbing his tired face. "I should've never let you come back here. But it's too late for that now."
I look around the room, my mind racing as I try to piece everything together. The walls feel like they are closing on me, but I refuse to be intimidated. I'm done being scared of this place, of the secrets that it holds.
Something has been hidden here for years, and I will not leave until I find it.
"Where's the safe?" I ask, my voice steady, despite the pounding of my heart.
Mac doesn't answer at first, but I can see the hesitation in his eyes. "You don't need to know."
"I need to know," I snap. "I'm not leaving until I have the answers. You may have been the one who botched the investigation all those years ago, but this time, I'm going to finish it."
He stands there momentarily, his eyes flickering between me and the dark ahead. Then, he nods. "Fine. I'll show you. But you're not going to like what you find."
I follow him deeper into the building, each step heavier than the last. The shadows seem to stretch out before us, waiting, watching. The silence between us is thick, like a veil we cannot tear away.
And then, as we turn a corner, I see it.
The safe.
It's old, rusted, hidden behind a pile of discarded equipment, but it's there, just as I'd hoped. This is it. This is the key to everything.
Mac approaches it cautiously, his hands trembling as he opens it. I stand back, my heart hammering in my chest. The air is thick with anticipation, and I can feel the past catching up with me for the first time in years.
I hold my breath as the safe door creaks open.
And there, inside, is the ruby necklace. The one my aunt stole. The one that ties everything together.
The one that could finally reveal the truth.
But the truth comes with a cost.
Mac looks at me, his expression unreadable, as footsteps echo through the building.
"We've stirred up the hornet's nest, Ellie," he whispers. "And it's coming for us."
The Ferryman is here.
And it's only just begun.