Chapter 72: Beneath the Surface

The earthquake had shaken the town down to its foundations, but that was only the beginning. Emma and Ethan steadied people to their feet, staring up at something darker looming over Eldridge Falls. "That wasn't just an earthquake," Ethan said quietly, looking around him with narrowing eyes. "It felt… different." Emma couldn't shake the feeling off her back either. The tremor had been sudden, and violent, but also focused-eerily so. Almost as if something beneath the town had stirred, and it had stirred on purpose. Before she could say anything, Mayor Collins strode towards her, pale-faced. "We're getting reports of strange occurrences all over town, from power outages to equipment failures, and… some people are missing." "Missing?" Emma echoed. Her heart stuttered a beat. Collins nodded grimly. "We got people out looking, but something ain't right." Emma turned to Ethan, concerned gnawing at her gut. "We have to figure out what's going on." Just then, Marcus Caldwell appeared at their sides, the usual arrogance of his expression replaced by unease. "We've lost contact with some of the construction sites. My crew's spooked. They say they've seen shadows-strange figures. We might need to shut it all down.". The skin prickled on Emma's arms. Shadows? Figures? Sounded to her like a lot more than bad luck. Something-or someone-was behind this. And deep down, she had a really bad feeling about who it might just be. "We need to round everybody up," Ethan said in a rush. "We have to keep the town together before panic sets in." Emma nodded, her brain already racing: earthquakes, missing people, sightings-one. And memories of that mystery benefactor-that shadowy figure pulling strings behind the scenes for so very long now-were fast becoming impossible to shut out. "I'll get everyone to town hall," said Mayor Collins. "We can regroup there. They began to move toward the town hall as a crowd, but Emma hung back with Ethan. "You don't think this is the benefactor's handiwork you?" she asked softly. "I'd bet my last dollar on it," he said darkly. "This has their fingerprints all over it." "But why now?" Emma asked. "What do they want?" Ethan shook his head. "I don't know. But we have got to find out fast." Most of them went into town hall holding each other in small groups, whispering in nervousness as if the tension was in the air. Fear and uncertainty palpably hung in the air. While Mayor Collins did his best to reassure one and all, Emma's mind still strayed to all that they had heard about the benefactor: how he manipulated events from behind the scenes through the years, still unknown; how they used their influence to develop things that would pay off for them by keeping a hold on the key figures and stirred unrest in the town when it suited them. And now, it would appear, they were back with powers that had never been greater. The doors of the town hall burst open, and into the hall strode a figure flanked by a few others. Emma's breath caught in her throat. It was **Valerie Delacroix**, one of the benefactor's most devoted followers, someone Emma had hoped they would never see again. "Well, isn't this nice?" Valerie's voice was like silk mocking her as she sashayed to the front of the room. Her eyes, narrow slits, scanned the crowd as her smile pulled upwards in the corner of her lip. "I see the shakes have thrown you all together." "What do you want, Valerie?" Ethan asked tightly. Valerie giggled low in the back of her throat. "Oh, Ethan, it isn't about what I want. It's about what the benefactor wants." Emma's stomach twisted. She could feel the weight of their gazes as they all waited for her response. But Valerie there wasn't any kind of good omen; that means the benefactor is deeper than ever. "What does he want now?" Emma asked, trying to sound firm while inside her, the fear crept into her chest. Valerie smiled broader. "They want Eldridge Falls to reach its full potential. That means clearing away some… obstacles." Emma's blood ran cold. "Obstacles? Like what?" Valerie didn't answer immediately. Instead, she looked around the room as if weighing up everybody to see who was worth answering. "Let's just say there are those that hold the town back. People are too locked into the past to see the future." A discontented murmur ran through the crowd. Emma knew exactly what Valerie had insinuated: that the benefactor's vision for Eldridge Falls didn't have much to do with the preservation of history, let alone the way of life of its residents. They wanted control, pure and simple. "This town doesn't need your so-called 'vision'", Ethan snarled. "We can rebuild without tearing everything down.". Valerie leaned her head sideways, an edge of amusement dripping into her voice. "Oh, Ethan. So noble. Always so noble. But this isn't about you. It's about the greater good. And if you and your little group continue to get in the way, you'll end up like the others." The room hushed in a chill of silence. "Others?" Emma asked, her heartbeat quickening. "What have you done? Val shrugged, uncaring. "Let's just say some of your friends are in safe hands. But that could change if you don't cooperate ." Gasps sounded across the room, followed by angry murmurs. People began shifting uncomfortably, the fear spreading like wildfire among them. "You've gone too far, Valerie, " Ethan growled, stepping forward. "This isn't a game." Valerie's eyes flashed, and in an instant, the mask of calm arrogance fell. "You think you can stop what's coming? You think you can stop *us*?" she spat. "You have no idea what the benefactor is capable of." The room had spiralled completely out of control, and with the town already on edge, Valerie's veiled threats had them teetering over the edge. She knew she had to act fast. "There is no need for any of this," Emma said, loudly and clearly, stepping forward. "We can work our way around it all." Valerie laughed then, sharp and cold. "Work together? Do you think that's possible? You're more naive than I thought. Emma would not back down. "Perhaps. But I know this town, and I know its people. And we won't let you or the benefactor destroy everything we've built." For a moment, it would have seemed that Valerie picked her words. That smile was back, but more insidious than before. "You don't get it, do you?" she whispered. "The benefactor isn't some kind of puppeteer behind the scenes. They're here. Among you. And they have been watching and waiting for that magic moment to take complete control over everything." Emma's heart was racing. Amongst them? The benefactor, someone they knew, someone close? Rarely had she been able to fully wrap her mind around the meaning of that before Valerie spun on her heel and marched toward the door. Her followers trailed after her-their very presence sending a shiver down into the spines of their enemies. "This isn't over," Valerie called over her shoulder. "It's only just beginning." The door slammed shut behind her, and the room was left in stunned silence. A chill traced Emma's spine. Closer than they'd ever known, the town was more vulnerable than ever. She looked at people around the room, and in their eyes was written just about as much fear as uncertainty. Still deeper inside, however, lay something else spark of resolve. "We can't let them win," Ethan whispered, all but on cue with her thoughts. "No, " Emma agreed. "But if the benefactor is here… we have to find him. Now." The general object of an action plan in the room was nervous energy, but right behind her mind, Emma knew that nagging feeling of running out of time. And that just whoever the benefactor was, he was already ahead.