The storm had calmed into a constant hum, as if the town itself was holding its breath. Inside Audrey's record store, the air hung heavy with unspoken words. The dim lighting cast long shadows over the rows of vinyl, shrinking the space, making it feel almost suffocating.
I leaned against the couch, my fingers gripping the edge tightly. They trembled, not from the cold, but from the weight of everything I couldn't yet say. Across from me, Audrey stood with her arms crossed, her sharp eyes scanning me like she was trying to solve a puzzle.
"Clara," she said finally, breaking the silence. Her voice was steady, but there was something unspoken in it. "You're going to have to start at the beginning."
I opened my mouth, but the words caught in my throat. Where was the beginning? Was it Maeve's warning? Amelia's cryptic words? The first time I felt the threads tugging at me like invisible strings? Or was it even earlier, when I first set foot in Everbrook?
"I don't know where to begin," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "But something is wrong with this town. I think... it's alive."
Audrey didn't flinch, didn't laugh. Instead, she nodded slowly, as if she'd been waiting for me to say it.
"Clara, I've thought the same thing since I got here," she said, her voice low. "Something about this place, it's never felt right."
She sat down on the couch, her denim jacket creaking as she adjusted herself. "I thought it was just me," she murmured, staring at her hands. "But the people here... they're practically emotionless. It's like they're just... hollow."
I hesitated. "It's hard to explain what I've seen without sounding crazy."
"Just say it," Audrey said, her tone firmer now. "Let it all out."
I took a deep breath. "When I first got here, Amelia seemed kind. But after spending more time with her, I felt... something else. Like she's hiding behind a mask. I thought we were alike, both pretending to be fine when we're not, but now I'm not so sure."
Audrey snorted. "Amelia's a master manipulator. Whatever mask you think she's wearing; it's part of her game."
"And Ryan..." I hesitated. "At first, he seemed genuine. But the more I've seen, the more it feels like he's tangled in Amelia's web of anger and control."
"Ryan." Audrey rolled her eyes. "He's, her puppet. He used to have some independence, he runs the bar, after all, but he's been under her thumb for years."
I swallowed hard, bracing myself. "Then I saw Maeve," I said quietly. "Through the newspaper you gave me. It's hard to explain, but I think I... traveled into her memory."
Audrey froze. Her eyes widened, and she leaned forward. "Maeve? Clara, that's impossible. She's dead."
"I know how it sounds," I said quickly, holding up my hands. "But it's true. I have this... power. I can see threads around people, like emotional threads. I can access their memories, sometimes through objects or images. It's something I've been able to do since I was a kid."
Audrey stared at me, her expression a mix of disbelief and something else, hope, maybe. Slowly, she nodded. "If what you're saying is true..." She paused, her voice trembling slightly.
"Then maybe you're the one who can save this town."
I took a short moment to recollect myself and my emotions, before I replied. "It won't be that easy, this town is so broken I'd need help to fix it or save whatever is left of it." I said, struggling to keep my voice steady, trying to breathe for a moment.
I hesitated, gripping the edge of the couch as a chill ran through me. The truth was, I wasn't just afraid of failing the town, I was afraid of what this fight would do to me, how much of myself I might lose in the process. The threads, the memories, the power, it all felt like it was pulling me further away from who I used to be, leaving me a broken mess.
"If you need help, I'm here to help you. Through anything you need." Audrey stared, then places her hand on mine. "It won't be easy as it's been happening for years, with nobody to help us. You'll be able to do something impactful, I just know it." Audrey said with quiet courage.
Audrey's confidence was like a spark, but it didn't get rid of the demons that clung to my thoughts. I swallowed hard and met her gaze. "If we're going to do this, we need to start somewhere, but the thing is.. I don't know where to start."
Audrey leaned back slightly, wandering off in thought. "The first step is figuring out what this town wants. If it's alive, like you say it is. Then it has a purpose, right? Something it's trying to do."
Her words cut through me like a knife. "What if it wants our emotions? Our memories?" Audrey sat upright; her eyes widened. "That would explain why so many people are just going through the motions." She rubbed her hands together, a nervous habit I hadn't noticed before.
"It could all be connected to Amelia, she's the one they all like to defend, right?" She'd exclaim, standing upright and prancing around the room.
I nodded slowly; the weight of the words we exchanged pressed down on me. "Amelia." I said quietly. "She definitely knows more than what she lets on. She's definitely tied to this. If we can figure out her role, maybe we'll understand the bigger picture."
Audrey looked at me with widened eyes. "Clara. Amelia is dangerous. If we're going to confront her, we need to be ready. But we can't do this alone."
Her words hung in the air for a moment before I asked, "Then who do we turn to?
"Audrey hesitated, walking around the window where the storm is still rumbling faintly. "Ryan. He's under Amelia's thumb, but if anyone knows her secrets, it's him. The question is, will he talk?"
I'd think to myself for a moment, letting those words cling in memory. "If I can go back through a photo of his, even that could suffice in getting enough information I need. We just need to find a picture that is mostly set in the present day." I'd put my hands together and think.
"I forgot you had whimsical powers that can solve things without needing to confront. But the question is, how do we get a picture? We'd need to distract him and search around." Audrey would say, open minded.
I'd nod my head in agreement, "It won't be easy but that's the current plan." I'd say confidently, still a bit anxious but going forward this seems like the only path that makes sense.
Audrey tapped her fingers on the edge of the record shelf, her gaze distant. "The bar's our best bet," she said. "Ryan keeps a lot of personal stuff there, photos, old flyers, notes. He likes to reminisce about the 'good old days.' If we're lucky, we might find something there."
The thought of sneaking into the bar sent chills down my spine. "But Amelia practically controls him, doesn't she have eyes everywhere? Even townsfolk are entranced in her delusions."
Audrey shrugged, but there was a bit of uneasiness in her voice. "It's a small town, Clara. We'll make it work; we have to."
The storm was ongoing louder and louder. The wind howling as if the town itself was giving us a warning to stop. A shadow appeared at the edge of the window; its shape indistinct but deliberate. My breath hitched as it moved closer, pressing a hand against the glass before fading into the storm. "Yeah, we need to get this going Audrey." I'd say in a rush.
I stopped in the middle of thought, "But what if this power isn't enough? What if I'm not enough?"
Audrey paused, her hand resting on the record shelf. "Clara, I've learned one thing living here: no one can face this kind of fight alone. But together? We might have a chance."
Her words were like life support for my weary mind. Pulling me out of my spiraling thoughts. I forced myself to grab my jacket and put it on. "Let's do this."
As we stepped outside, the storm howled louder, its energy crackling in the air. The streets lay empty, but the weight of unseen eyes pressed down on me. Every step felt heavier, like the town itself was holding its breath, waiting. The storm had quieted slightly, but the tension was just beginning.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRjN8DiRRy
