Chapter 67: Legacy of Hope

It was the Eldridge Falls that weathered both the storms-actual and figurative-that nobody thought it would. This was one monument of resilience from what used to be a little town that stood proud. Morning suns rose on the horizon and its golden rays of sunlight bathed rooftops, stretching into long shadows reaching out for the future. They had assembled in the town square, for it was there that all the incidents had taken place. Now, fresh hope was in the air. Stirred below the surface, though, was tension to sensation almost as though everyone knew this peace was not going to last into eternity. For a change was not welcomed among the people and their lives in Eldridge Falls. She stood right in the middle of the square, her eyes roving across the multitude. The weight of the past, the present, and even the future pressed upon her shoulders. Everything she had faced, love, betrayal-and right there stood a girl trying to hold it all together. "They're all looking at us now," she muttered low under her breath as Nathaniel stood beside her. "They are," Nathaniel said, gaze nailed on the masses of people hugging, handshaking, exchanging soft smiles. "But that's what we wanted, isn't it? To make a difference." Emma nodded but felt a quiver start in that small part of herself yet. "It is only if the peace does not last? What if all the sacrifices we made weren't enough? Nathaniel leaned forward and set a comfortingly light hand on her arm. "We've done what we can. The rest… Well, we'll just have to meet as we go." It was the tone that soothed, but Emma picked up the strain buried beneath it. Nathaniel was afraid of demons too. All that he'd endured, and still he was dogged by darkness that long ago had a hold over his every step. Just then, one voice rose above the milling crowd. "Emma! Nathaniel!" A vague figure in burgundy, almost invisible amidst the swirl of white flakes dancing around her, ran towards them, her legs going at a speed that was their utmost to keep pace with while her cheeks flamed red with excitement. "They're here! They've finally arrived!" Emma's heart sprang within her. "Who?" she asked, though deep inside, she knew. "It's the delegates," she said, containing her excitement. "They are from towns around and have come to hear about our story that happened in Eldridge Falls after everything got burnt down. They want to learn from us.". She turned to Nathaniel. This was it; this was that moment when Eldridge Falls would tell the world its story: a town which almost tore itself apart was now a model of survival to others. "I think it's time we told them our story," Nathaniel whispered. Emma took a deep breath. "Let's just hope it's enough." The town hall was to the last row filled, anxious anticipation upon the faces of representatives from towns surrounding their own who had come to hear how Eldridge Falls survived their trials. Emma stood upfront, her heart racing in anticipation of speaking. Public speaking did not sit too well with her, but this was just too important to allow nerves to get in the way. She cast a sideways look at Nathaniel, who nodded his head encouragingly. "Thank you all for being here," Emma said, the evenness of her tone a jarring contrast to the trembling of her hands. "I am not standing here to say this has been easy. Eldridge Falls had battles that more often than not almost broke our backs. But we are still standing." There was a murmur of consensus among those crowded. "We have learnt that strength does not only come with fighting," she added, "it comes with standing together, belief in something greater than ourselves. And above all, it comes from sacrifice." Emma fell silent for a second to let that sink deep into the atmosphere; amidst the sea of faces before her, she could make out how some nodded in agreement and others were elsewhere. She smiled with it all and concluded in a soft tone, "We don't need to forget our history. It was both the good and bad in this town's history that moulded us together. And if we are going to keep moving ahead, then we need to remember that." She nodded to Nathaniel, who came forward to stand beside her. Some of you know I wasn't always on the right side, shall we say? Nathaniel said every word oozed with regret, smooth as silk. But people can change. I did because this town gave me a second chance. And now I am committed to seeing that what happened here will never happen again. Silence was the crowd; ears soaked in every word. That's why we're here: to share it all with you with the hope that maybe some of those mistakes could have been avoided and to show that even when all seems lost, there is hope. A wave of silence washed over the hall, and then applause rattled through. The crowd rose in recognition of that strength and resilience pulling Eldridge Falls through its darkest days. The applause finally began to die away, and Emma let her gaze fall to the rear of the room. Standing framed in the doorway was a tall man in a long coat, buttoned to his neck, his face in repose, yet with an air about him that sent the hairs of her arms rising. New, yet. Just a little bit. Off. Emma hunched forward toward Nathaniel, her voice barely more than a whisper. "You see that man?" The response was immediate-first in the furrowing of Nathaniel's brow, then a nod of the head in the man's direction. "Yeah, I don't know him. You think-" He could not get that far into his sentence before the man disappeared into the sea of people, the feeling in Emma's stomach subsiding. It wasn't until well into that night that the conference had let out and the representatives headed home Emma and Nathaniel returned to their own home. The town was quiet now, but the unease stirred in Emma earlier still lingered. "That man. He didn't seem like he came here for the learning," Emma said, lowering herself into a seat at the kitchen table. "I felt it, too," Nathaniel returned pacing about the room. "There was something about him. I cannot quite put my finger on it, but I think we are going to want to keep watch." No sooner had he uttered this than a knock at the door made its presence known. Emma turned an inquiring eye on Nathaniel, who rose to answer the door. A young woman stood upon the stoop, no older than twenty years of age, her eyes wide and anxious. Her clothes were missed, seeming to indicate she had been running for miles. "Please," she panted, her voice shaking in terror. "I need your help." Emma was at her side in an instant, beckoning her inside. "What happened? Quaking a breath deep within her lungs, she reached out for Emma's hands for support. "I… I am from one of the towns over. I came with the representatives,… but I have been following someone. I think they want to destroy everything." Whereupon Emma exclaimed, "Who?", her heart ran wild within her chest. "The man… the man in the coat. He is not what you think he is. He's dangerous. He's been… gathering people. Followers. I've seen it. He's planning something. Nathaniel bristled upright. "What do you mean? She was quivering while talking: "He belongs to a group, an ancient order, who wants a town like yours in control. Without one care given about the people, only the power. And he has begun to recruit several people from your town." Emma's blood ran cold. "How do you know this? I've tracked him for months," she said, eyes wide with terror. "I tried stopping him once but wasn't strong enough. Now. he is here. And he'll take everything." Nathaniel fisted his hands. "We won't let that happen." But deep inside, Emma knew this was going to be hard. They'd just rebuilt their town and now it was under threat again from within. She looked from one to the other in desperation. "You have to stop him before it's too late." Emma nodded, even while fear chewed in her belly. "We will. We have to." She was gone, leaving Emma and Nathaniel still standing in silence, faces brooding beneath the dark cloud which seemed to fall over them. Here comes the benefactor once more, but this time it wasn't a battle for Eldridge Falls but for its future. Lying in bed staring up at the ceiling, Emma heard footsteps outside the window-it was dead of night. Instantly she sat up, her heart going wildly. "Nathaniel!" she whispered sharply, shaking him awake. At once, he sat up straight, rigid and wakeful. "What?" "Someone is outside." Gently, they got up and went to the window to peek out behind the curtains. The full moon allowed them a clear view of a man in his coat, just at the edge of the property, standing intently and staring at their house. Emma's heart caught in her throat. "He is here." Nathiel's jaw clenched. "This ends now." But as he turned round running after him in order to catch him, él estaba desaparecido en la noche, sólo el sonido de sus pies siendo escuchados. The invisible menace was back, closer than ever.