A few days before Emily's death,
Calm winds were hushed drafts everywhere. Emily walked alone on the road with her handbag, feeling happy after spending time with her best friend. But a thought still creeped her out.
"Why do the locals say that a devil stays in that place? I didn't see anything when I went there," Emily questioned herself, Then a rapid flash of her recollections began to rewind in her mind.
"This place is amazing, don't you think?" Alice exclaimed, dropping her travel bag in the room. Emily screamed with joy, grateful for her week-long break from work. Now she could fully enjoy Lumina Hills.
"Let's freshen up. I'll go first," Alice said, heading into the bathroom. "Okay," Emily replied, sitting on the bed.
A few hours later, the once bright yellow sun had turned into a dark red hue as it disappeared behind the massive hills. Emily and Alice walked towards a local man and his wife.
As they approached, the couple turned to face them. The man, in his forties, and his wife, in her thirties, wore traditional clothes and greeted them warmly.
"Hello, are you both enjoying your stay here?" the man asked with a smile.
"We're having a great time here. By the way, if you don't mind, can we ask you something?" Emily hesitated.
"Yes, of course," the lady replied.
"Why do people begin to disappear from the forest?" Emily asked curiously, with Alice nodding in agreement.
The couple's expressions went pale, exchanging nervous glances. The lady tried to hold back her unease before finally saying, "I'm not sure how you'll react to what I'm about to tell you."
Emily and Alice were confused, exchanging chaotic looks. The lady stepped closer and whispered, "In this village, people believe that after 7:30 pm, the devil named Damon Shadowcast emerges in the forest."
"What?.. Damon Shadowcast?.." Alice trembled with fear. Emily, feeling bewildered, thought to herself, "Maybe they believe in rumours. Alice seems inclined to believe this."
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Alice glanced at her wristwatch, glanced back at Emily with a frightened expression, and said, "There's only an hour and a half left until 7:30 pm. Let's explore the mountain a bit more and then go back to our room."
Annoyed by Alice's fear, Emily whispered in her ear, "Do you seriously believe this rumour?" Alice raised an eyebrow and replied, "Emily, this isn't just a rumour. I came across Damon Shadowcast during my research for a report."
"I've even seen that episode about that story, but I still think it's just a rumour," Emily sighed.
"Alright, let's not argue about it," Alice agreed, changing the subject to ask about their meal. The lady informed them that she had arranged a whole traditional meal for them. Emily's mood brightened upon hearing about the traditional food.
Cackle!
Suddenly, a cackling sound pierced through Emily's ears, snapping her back to reality. She turned around, searching for the source of the sound, but found no one.
"I don't think I imagined that," she thought, feeling confused. Amid her confusion, she remembered the book in her handbag and quickly retrieved it. A warm smile danced on her lips as she held the book titled 'A Silent Killer Of The Motel'.
"Even though I've read this book thoroughly once, I still can't figure out who the main killer is in the story. But I'll give it a second read because it's so intriguing," Emily said to herself.
After marvelling at the book, she returned it to her handbag and continued her journey toward home.
Little did Emily know, an indescribable shadow was stalking the edge of her awareness, making its way through her world. This mysterious entity followed her every step of the way, its presence felt without even being seen.
The strange dance of fate entangles Emily in the intricate web of her unknown plans, leading to a tale of unexpected encounters and untold revelations.
To be continued...