Ethan Hartman's Point Of View.
I was sitting in the driver's seat of my old sedan while my hands were resting on the steering wheel, while the engine was idling as I listened to the radio crackle with static. The news was grim, as it had been for the past few weeks. Another murder occurred in Light Haven last night, the latest in a series of gruesome killings that have left the town paralyzed with fear.
"This is WLHN, Light Haven's local news station. We have breaking news this morning. Another body has been found near the old mill surrounded by the dense forest. The victim, identified as 27-year-old Daniel Carter, was discovered late last night by a local resident. Authorities are urging everyone to stay indoors after dark, especially far away from the old mill and to report any suspicious activity immediately."
I turned up the volume while leaning in closer as the broadcaster continued as I rubbed my forehead in frustration.
"Details are still emerging, but sources say the victim suffered extensive injuries and cruel torture, consistent with the previous murders. The police have not released any further information at this time. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story." I switched off the radio, my mind seemed to race.
Daniel Carter—another name to add to the growing list of victims. Each and every murder seemed more brutal than the last, and the town was on edge. I had come to Light Haven to get to the bottom of these killings, to find out what—or who—was behind them.
I pulled into the town square and parked near the old general store. The air felt heavy, and the usual small-town hustle was replaced by an uneasy silence. People moved quickly as it was getting dark, while their heads were down and casting nervous glances at each other. Fear seemed to hang over everything, like it was part of the town itself. I shook my head, disapprovingly.
Grabbing my camera from the passenger seat, I stepped out of the car and made my way toward the old mill. The place where Daniel Carter's body had been found. It was a short walk through the deserted streets, and the silence could be broken only by the occasional bark of a dog or the creak of an old sign swinging in the breeze.
The old mill stood ahead, falling apart at the edge of the dense forest. Its walls, once strong and proud, are now covered in ivy and graffiti. The waterwheel was still and rotting. The place looked abandoned, like it had been forgotten for a long time. There was something mysterious about it, like it had a dark past that no one talked about.
The mill seemed to hold secrets, and you could almost feel the history and hidden horrors in the air around it. Years ago, a terrible fire had burned the mill to the ground. The flames destroyed everything, leaving it in ruins. Thirteen families died that day, trapped inside with no way out. Since then, the mill had been abandoned, and people whispered that the spirits of those who died still haunted the place. The air around the mill felt heavy, filled with the weight of its tragic history and the secrets it held.
I started taking pictures, while the click of the shutter was echoing in the stillness. The mill's shattered windows and sagging roof created a haunting scene, one that seemed to capture the essence of Light Haven's current state perfectly. As I moved around the area, snapping shots from various angles, I could not shake the eerie feeling that crept over me. The dense forest pressed in around the mill, while its shadows were drawing frightening air, giving the impression that the trees themselves had witnessed the cruel murders. There was something about this place that felt wrong, as if the very ground was soaked in blood.
As I stood up to take another shot, the sound of rustling leaves caught my attention. I turned towards the dense forest, while my curiosity piqued. Stepping closer, I followed the noise until I stumbled upon a shocking sight — a girl in her teens, while her leg was entangled in a cruel trap meant for capturing animals.
My heart pounded in my chest as I rushed to her side, while horror could be seen crystal clearly washing over me at the sight of her bloody leg. "Hang on, I'll get help," I whispered as I promised, while my voice was tinged with urgency but before I could move, a human figure emerged from the shadows of the trees, shrouded in darkness. My blood ran cold as I watched them approach, Its face was hidden by the cover of night. Fear clawed at my insides as I realized I was not alone in this forest, and whoever—or whatever—was out there meant harm.
I fumbled for my phone in my pocket while my hands were shaking as I dialed 911. The girl on the ground, barely in her teens, whimpered in pain, as the blood could be seen ozing out of her legs.
"911, what's your emergency?" The operator's calm voice came through the speaker.
"I am at the old mill, near the forest in Light Haven. There's a girl here, she is caught in a trap and badly hurt," I whispered urgently, while my eyes were darting around the darkening forest.
"Okay, I need you to calm down a bit. Now, can you give me your name, sir?" The operator asked, while her tone was steady and professional.
"Ethan Hartman. I am a journalist. I was taking pictures of the mill when I heard rustling of leaves at the right side of the old mill. I went to check and found her in the following state." I explained quickly.
"Okay, Ethan, stay with her. Help is on the way. Can you tell me the girl's name?" The operator inquired in an urgency tone.
I turned to the girl, while her face was pale and eyes wide with fear. "Hey, what's your name?" I asked gently.
"Sarah," She managed to whisper through her pain.
"Her name is Sarah," I relayed to the operator.
"Alright, Ethan, you are doing great. You just need to keep talking to her. Is she conscious?" The operator continued.
"Yes, but she's in a lot of pain," I replied, which glancing nervously at the forest around us for the figure.
"Stay calm, Ethan. Can you describe the injury?" she asked.
"Her leg is caught in a metal trap. It looks pretty bad," I said, while trying to keep my voice steady.
"Okay now Ethan, is there anyone else around who can help?" The operator asked further trying to know the details of the situation.
"Well," I hesitated, "I saw someone earlier. A figure, definitely a human figure but I could not see its face. It was holding something, a sharp metal blade. It was moving closer, but then it disappeared."
The operator's voice grew more urgent. "Ethan, where exactly did you see this figure?"
"Uhm right near the edge of the forest, where I found Sarah. I don't know where it went. One moment it was there, and the next, it was gone in a thin air." I explained while my voice felt to be shaky.
"Okay, It might be the killer we are looking for the last few years. Help is already on the way. It is led by our sheriff, Tom Hawkins. Until then, please find a safe place for yourself and Sarah." She explained in a line.
"Okay, let me see if there's any safe place around." I said as I ended the call and slipped the phone back into my pocket,
I looked up and all of a sudden felt the blood drain from my face. The figure that had been approaching was gone. Instead, a huge white-furred beast stood in its place, its eyes glowing eerily in the dim light. My breath caught in my throat, and a cold sweat broke out on my skin.
I took a step back, while my mind was racing. There were endless questions in my mind like a puzzle pieces.
What was this creature and what had happened to the figure I had seen?
"Oh my god, No. Please help." Sarah whimpered again while her voice was barely above a whisper. I took a long and deep breath, while trying to steady my nerves.
"Hang on, Sarah. Help is coming," I said, while my voice was trembling involuntarily.
The beast let out a low, guttural growl, and I knew I had to make a decision that is to stay and protect the girl, or run and risk leaving her to this monstrous fate. My feet felt like they were glued to the ground, but Sarah's desperate eyes pleaded me to help her.
As I stood there, I could not get the image of the figure out of my mind. It had been shrouded in darkness, its face was hidden by the cover of night, but one thing had been clear — the glint of sharp metal in its hand. It looked like a knife or some kind of blade, catching the light as it moved closer.
I had no idea who or what it was, but the sense of danger it exuded was palpable. Now, with the beast in front of me, I could not help but wonder if the two were connected. The figure had vanished as mysteriously as it had appeared, leaving me to face this monstrous creature. My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to piece together what I had seen, while the fear and the confusion was swirling in my mind.
Just then by the god's grace, I heard the distant sound of sirens. Help was on the way, but would it arrive on time? The beast's eyes flickered towards the approaching noise, and I prayed silently that we would both make it out of this alive.