Chapter 18: A Choice of Destiny

Emma was pacing around her small cottage, her mind racing a mile a minute. Eleanor's kidnapping had left her feeling so lost and alone. She knew she must find a way to rescue her friend, but how? A knock on the door startled her. Upon the doorstep was Olivia, a look of concern etched upon her features. "Have you heard anything?" she asked. Emma shook her head. "Nothing. The police are still looking, but they have no leads." Olivia sighed. "I'm just so worried about Eleanor. She's like a sister to me." Emma nodded. "I know. I'm concerned about her too." As days ran into weeks, Emma grew more and more anxious. Without question, she had become bogged down in some kind of awful dream from which she couldn't wake up. One evening, she came back home with some strange letter. Unsigned, inside, there was some incomprehensible message: "Meet me at the old mill tonight. Bring a torch." Emma was taken aback: She didn't know either who had sent that letter, or what he wanted. Simultaneously, she felt the urge to go. There and then, Emma found herself on the way to the old mill that cold night. The wind blowing in through the abandoned building promised her, without doubt, that something unwanted was inside. Taking her torch, she stepped inside. The old mill was dark and full of dust. Emma could make out in the shade a figure that stood in the dark. As she approached, he stepped forward into the light. It was Nathaniel. "I've been waiting for you," he said. Her heart beat in rapid palpitations since she hadn't seen Nathaniel since Eleanor's kidnapping. "I know about the letter," he said. "I sent it." Emma's eyes went wide. "Why? "Because I want to help you," Nathaniel said. "I know that you're worried for Eleanor, and I will do whatever it takes to get her back." A wave of gratitude washed over Emma. She had never doubted that Nathaniel loved her, but solid support meant so much more than she could say. "I don't know what to do," Emma said. "I feel like I am being pulled in a million directions." Nathaniel took her hand in his. "You are not alone, Emma. Whatever is going on, I'm here for you." Standing in that old mill the wave of peace washed over Emma together they stood and whatever might come her way, as long as Nathaniel was at her side she knew she could face it. But in that same moment, that first thread of hope began to dent her mind as one realization ran cold down her spine- that this person knew she would come to the mill and thus, in that sense, they would be following her every step. A cold shiver went down Emma's spine as suddenly the realization came that it was far from over, the danger had just begun. Yet, it was far from Eleanor, and the dark nemesis in the back wasn't it either, so their future wasn't safe at all. What next? Were they to save Eldridge Falls from the looming darkness of the town?