Chapter 1: Shadows of the Past

Maya Ellis stepped out of her small cottage, into the crisp Ravenswood air, and breathed in the scent of damp earth and leaves. The misty dawn shrouded the town, casting an eerie silence over the streets. She wrapped her cardigan tighter, feeling the chill of the autumn morning.

As she walked through the deserted streets, the silence was broken only by the soft crunch of gravel beneath her feet. Maya's eyes wandered to the old oak tree, its branches like skeletal fingers reaching towards the sky. She shivered, despite the familiarity of the sight.

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Maya's thoughts drifted to the letter she received yesterday, its contents still etched in her mind like a fresh wound. The words "We know what you did" echoed in her mind, stirring up memories she'd tried to bury.

She quickened her pace, her heart racing with every step. The letter was just a prank, she told herself. But the doubt lingered, like a shadow in the corner of her mind.

As she approached the local café, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee enveloped her, offering a comforting distraction. Maya pushed open the door, and the warm glow of the café embraced her, chasing away the chill of the morning.

Inside, the familiar faces of the townspeople greeted her, their smiles and nods a reminder of the life she'd built in Ravenswood. But Maya's gaze drifted to the stranger sitting in the corner, his eyes fixed on her with an intensity that made her skin prickle.

Who was he? And why did she feel like he could see right through her?