Prologue

January 16th, 2010

White light bobbed before the pair, barely illuminating the outline of the path against the overgrown woods and inky black darkness. The embattled beams did their best against the omnipresent shadows of the seemingly sentient forest, but the fight would have proved futile if it not for the expertise of the two—the leader in particular.

With sure steps, she navigated over errant roots and set the soles of her Sorels against the most stable-looking rocks for better traction when the ground gave way to mud. She pushed away the branches that barred the way and continued at a relentless pace through the trees. 

Her best friend knew better than to question whether or not they were going in the right direction. Somehow, beyond all logic and reason, Riley always seemed to know the way. As though she had some sort of preternatural compass buried deep in the recesses of her consciousness.

When the mutilated carcasses were first discovered at the outskirts of Inverness, whispers once again haunted the stone archways of their famed university, levitating in the foggy fingertips crawling up the cliffs from the waves below. It was then that Morgan knew it would only be a matter of time before her best friend pulled them into their next adventure.

Morgan was aware Riley had been trying to give it up—the blog, the searching—all of it. Despite the fact that they attended the most infamous, urban legend-riddled higher institution in the country and intrepid Riley had spent the better part of her undergraduate career in pursuit of the truth that lay behind Inverness University and Fell’s Hollow’s many-layered shadows, she knew her ever-curious best friend was finally done.

For the past three years, Riley had chased down every ghost, creature, and cryptid rumored to haunt their wild coastline, gothic university, and charming seaside town. And despite never finding any real answers in the dark unknown, she had managed to turn her misadventures into a rather entertaining blog with a sizable following.

But as graduation loomed nearer, Morgan knew Riley was beginning to lose hope.  Because without finding the truth behind the many urban legends that lingered around their otherwise idyllic school and town, Riley had nothing. Nothing juicy enough to launch her career as a writer. Nothing solid enough to prevent her love for adventure and gift for the written word from being absorbed into the mundane abyss of responsibility and obligation that was the real world.

Translation—Riley would have to give up her passion and start considering a serious career, like all of the rest of them. And that broke Morgan’s heart.

Which is why she failed to put up a fight when Riley announced their adventure for the evening. In fact, despite the recent stomach-churning discoveries of dismembered and disemboweled bunnies and coyotes, Morgan couldn’t help but feel her spirits rise. Because she knew it was only a matter of time before the rumors started again. The same style of murmurings that had traveled across the green lawns and stone corridors of Inverness for hundreds of years. 

Sacrifice…

The occult…

Satanism… 

The Tower…

And yet at first, Riley refused the bait. She had been steadfast in her resolve to let her dreams die out, which both impressed and depressed Morgan. 

But then, Coach went missing.

Morgan shivered as the ice-cold wind funneled from the crashing waves and made its way through the trees. She readjusted her scarf to protect any trace of bare skin. Riley zipped up her coat and pulled the beanie closer around her ears. The few trees that had turned gold in the fall were more akin to skeletal husks now, but the majority that existed as evergreens provided the girls at least some form of protection against the assault of the sea breeze. 

“Riley, how much further are we going? We’re going to freeze to death out—“

“Shh!” Her friend cut her off abruptly, but even without the hush, Morgan’s words might as well have died on her lips. Because out of nowhere, a glow rose out of the darkness. A golden tinge accompanied by an inexplicable yet much-appreciated warmth. 

Appreciated, that is, until the pair peered through the trees, and discovered the source of the change in light and heat. As they crept closer to the heart-stopping vision beyond the illuminated trees, Morgan held her breath and looked to her friend for guidance. But Riley’s eyes remained fixed on the dozens of cloaked figures holding up unnecessary lanterns given the ferocity of the flames at the center of the circle. 

“Coach!” Riley exclaimed, the worry and pain evident in her hushed voice. Morgan’s heart stood still when she heard the whimpers and her vision was drawn to the kenneled form of Coach.

The normally plucky if slightly overweight black lab cowered in the back of the cage, and his fearful whines ripped through the hearts of both girls. Something white-hot blazed in Riley’s eyes that was more than a mere reflection of the flames.

When someone opened the cage and hauled out the terrified creature, his cries turned panicked and he lost his bowels. Riley bit down in reflexive anger but didn’t realize the damage she had inflicted until she tasted metal. 

One of the cloaked figures held an ancient-looking tome while another assembled a series of objects that clanged against each other. The light from the fire reflected menacingly off the sharp instruments of torture.

The hooded beast dragged the poor creature forward, wrenching him the last bit of the way to land in front of the devices of torment, as the one with the book began to read. The language was harsh and guttural—nothing that either of the girls recognized, not even Riley. A shadowed hand reached down and drew the large butcher’s knife before approaching the terrified animal.

“Hey!” shouted Riley, rising from her hiding spot and entering the clearing without bothering to think about the weapons that might be concealed in the cloaks before her. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Morgan sighed, but followed in her friend’s wake. She was never as good at this part as Riley, but she always had her back. Moreover, no matter her fear, she knew they’d both be damned before they let someone so much as harm a hair on that poor, innocent animal’s head—much less gut it before their very eyes.

Riley and Morgan’s breach of the circle resulted in silence befalling the scene, save for the sound of the crackling fire and Coach’s relentless whines. As the two girls stared down the sea of cloaked figures, a shiver ran down Morgan’s spine. But if Riley felt any fear, she didn’t show it. Instead, she moved in the direction of the dog. His whimpers took on a hopeful edge when he recognized her. Morgan shook off the chill and stood beside Riley as they faced down the figures surrounding the captive.

Riley’s frozen hands disappeared into her pocket before pulling out the small knife she always kept on her. She flipped it open and held it out.

“Give me the dog,” Riley growled, menace coated the edges of her voice. Despite being shorter than the cloaked figures—not to mention outnumbered—Riley leveled a chilling glare on the foursome.

Heads and fabric bobbed as the four hooded figures exchanged whispers. Taking advantage of the distraction, Riley lunged forward and wrenched the leash away from the hand that held it.

“Hey!” The tell-tale masculine voice was indignant and he grasped at the rope in an effort to keep his hold. But Riley already had the position of power. She passed the lead to Morgan and held up the knife—the threat obvious should he or anyone else attempt to reclaim the dog. 

To be continued…