Chapter 19: Shadows of the Past

The morning sun had set Eldridge Falls aglow in shades of gold, stretching long shadows down its cobblestone streets. It was in her small quaint cottage that Emma stood by the window, lost to her mind. The haunting flashback enacted inside her mind happened to be from some forgotten past. She watched in horror as a girl no bigger than twelve years old jollily ran through the field of wildflowers, laughter dancing upon her lips as she chased after a butterfly, oblivious to the danger at her tail. A loud shriek tore through the air, the thunder of hooves racing across the field. She saw how she'd tripped and fallen, saw the dark figure emerge from the trees, his face twisted into a cruel grin. The girl watched as he raised a weapon, her eyes wide with terror. The scene faded out, and Emma was cold. A vision she had not experienced yet, somehow it felt so familiar, perhaps something in the past unravelled. Later that afternoon, Emma had gone to meet Olivia at the local coffee shop. Olivia was always interested in what Emma had picked up lately. "I had this weird dream last night," Emma began with a shaking voice. "It was like a memory yet I don't think I've ever experienced it." Olivia's eyes dilated. "Tell me about it." This haunting flashback was so elaborately explained that her voice quivered with both fear and fascination. "That's so cool, creepy," Olivia said. "It sounds like it's out of the history of this town or something." Emma nodded. "I think it might have to do with the family secret I've been trying to find out about." It was during this flashback speech that suddenly Emma took stock of the fact that this girl in the dream did greatly resemble herself when she was younger. Was this a memory, or a warning of what was yet to come? They were just rising to leave the coffee shop when the door creaked open and in walked a figure none of them wanted to see: the infamous seamstress, Emma's mentor. The next thing that happened, Eleanor was right at their table, that knowing glint in her eye. "I have been waiting for you, Emma," she told her. "There is something very important I have to tell you." That knowing look again passed between Emma and Olivia; they knew only too well that Eleanor was always full of surprises. Eleanor sat down opposite Emma and Olivia, deadly serious. "I've been doing some research into the history of the town," she said. "And I found something out that I don't think either of you know." Emma and Olivia both leant forward interest piqued. "There was an awful tragedy in Eldridge Falls many years ago," Eleanor continued. "A young girl was taken and murdered. The case was never solved, and the memory of the crime has haunted the town to this day." Emma's heart was racing, for she could hardly imagine she had just seen such a horrid incident reenacted. "Her name was Sarah," Eleanor said, "and she was of the same age as you are now when it happened to her." A cold chill ran down Emma's spine. That girl in her dream-she must have been Sarah. "I believe all this tragedy has something to do with something connected with your family," Eleanor continued. "There are rumours that your grandmother was somehow involved in that case." Emma's eyes were wide. She'd never heard a word said about her grandmother being implicated in the tragedy. "I have tried to get more but it's awfully hard," Eleanor said. "The records are ancient and a lot of them have been lost." Just then, just as Eleanor was going to continue, there was a mighty crash from the coffee shop. A window broke and a figure leapt inside. He was a man; his face shrouded by a shadow. He pulled out a gun and pointed it at Eleanor. "You're coming with me," he snarled. The next thing she knew, the man reached for Eleanor and was gone out the broken window. Emma and Olivia stood perfectly still, having never seen anything quite like this. And it was then, as he disappeared into the street, that Emma realized for the first time how succession on that particular day had just taken a turn toward the ominous-something from the past was going to finally unravel and with a deadly outcome.