Grief is like an earthquake. The first one hits you, and the world falls apart. Even after you put the world together again, there are aftershocks, and you never know when those will come. - Unknown

I sat in my room, surrounded by the memories of a life once full of joy and laughter. The walls echoed with the sound of silence, a stark reminder of the absence that now lingered in every corner.

The room was filled with memories of him—photographs on the walls, his old motorcycle helmet perched on a shelf, and the sound of his laughter echoing in my mind.

My dad's favourite leather jacket hung on the chair, untouched since the day he left us in a tragic motorcycle accident.

As I traced my fingers over the worn fabric, memories flooded my mind like a raging river. The way he would rev up his bike before taking me for a ride, the wind whipping through our hair as we raced down winding roads. His infectious laughter filled our home with warmth and love. Or, late-night talks about life and dreams shared over cups of hot cocoa.

My mom bustled around the house, her hands moving with practiced ease as she baked batch after batch of pastries. The sweet scent wafted through the air, mingling with memories of happier times spent together as a family.

Each day was a struggle to find meaning in a world that felt so empty without him. But as I looked around at the remnants of his life scattered throughout our home—his favourite books on the shelf, his tools in the garage—I knew that he was still here with us in spirit.

Ever since my dad passed away, she threw herself into work as a coping mechanism. But now, for the first time in years, she was taking a break to spend time with us.

I missed him every day—his infectious laughter, his warm embrace, and his unwavering love. But I knew he was watching over us from above, watching as we navigated life's challenges.

Now all I have left are the memories of the thirteen beautiful years we had together.

I felt a breeze on my cheek, even though no windows were open.

It's him. I know it is.

With tears glistening in my eyes, I whispered softly into the air, "I love you, dad."

For love never truly dies; it simply transforms into something eternal—an unbreakable bond forged in loss and tempered by resilience. And as long as we held onto each other and cherished those precious memories etched into our hearts like tattoos of remembrance, we would always find solace amidst the shadows cast by grief's heavy veil.

"What are you thinking so hard about?" Jon's voice broke through the silence that enveloped us like a heavy blanket.

I sighed before meeting his gaze. "I'm just missing my dad. He always knew what to do in times like these. I wish I had inherited more of his strength and wisdom."

Jon leaned forward, placing a reassuring hand on mine. "Harley, you are just like him. You have his resilience and determination running through your veins. He would be so proud of the person you've become."

Tears welled up in my eyes as memories of my father flooded back to me—his warm smile, his strong embrace, and the sound of his laughter echoing through our home. It had been years since he passed away in a tragic motorcycle accident, but the pain still lingered deep within me.

"I wish he was here," I whispered hoarsely. "To see how far I've come. To have our talks where he'd tease me about not getting married until I was fifty, unless it was to you."

Jon's expression softened as he reached out to wipe away a stray tear that escaped down my cheek. "He may not be physically here, but he is always watching over you. And I promise to always be here for you, too."

A bittersweet smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I thought about all the times Jon had been by my side, supporting me through every challenge life threw our way. My mother often joked that she considered him her second son because of how much he cared for us.

"You know," Jon began hesitantly, breaking the sombre mood that hung between us. "Your dad once told me that if anything ever happened to him, he trusted me to look after you and your mom."

My heart swelled with gratitude as I realized just how much Jon meant to both me and my family. His unwavering loyalty and love were truly priceless gifts that I could never repay.

"Thank you," I whispered.

"Hey. We never looked at that CD, remember? I really think we should see what's on it. It may crack this case wide open," he urged.

His words sparked a flicker of hope within me. Perhaps this mysterious CD held the key to unravelling the mysteries that had plagued our town for so long.

"You're right," I agreed, determination coursing through me. "I'm going to go get it." I made my way to the bookshelf, where my titanium box was cleverly disguised among rows of novels and memoirs. After a moment of searching, I retrieved it and returned to Jon's side on my bed.

"Okay, I got it. Now let's see what's on here," I announced as I slid the CD into my laptop's drive.

Placing the CD into my laptop's drive, we both leaned in closer as the screen flickered to life. A hooded figure materialized before us in a dimly lit room, his voice sending shivers down our spines.

"I know you have been looking into the disappearances of young women and girls in this town," he began cryptically. "But to truly understand, you must go back to the beginning."

Jon let out an exasperated sigh beside me, but I silenced him with a glance as we both turned our attention back to the screen.

As we watched intently, the figure revealed a chilling tale that traced back to England, where five brothers sought to keep their family bloodline pure by marrying their own cousins. The consequences were dire: children born with birth defects and a need to expand beyond their family circle.

"Back in England... incest? This is getting creepier by the minute," Jon whispered incredulously.

The video then shifted its focus to William Haggerty, a descendant of these troubled brothers who founded our town, Willow Creek.

He lured families to settle on this untouched land, promising them prosperity and honour as founding members of the town. But behind the facade of respectability lay a sinister truth: the Haggerty's insatiable desire for young women to bear their offspring.

"The Haggerty's lured families here under false pretences," I mused aloud. "They wanted young girls for breeding purposes."

The hooded figure confirmed my suspicions, detailing how young girls were married off early and pressured to start families immediately.

"The Haggerty's had their choices of women... even if they had husbands," the hooded figure revealed ominously.

Those who resisted faced dire consequences, as marriages were annulled and men were banished from the community.

"Sounds like a cult more than a founding family," Jon remarked grimly.

As we listened intently to the story unravelling before us, it became clear that Willow Creek held more than just quaint charm and picturesque landscapes. It bore witness to generations tainted by ancestral sins and haunted by ghosts of their own making.

As the hooded figure on the screen continued to recount the dark history of Willow Creek, my mind was left reeling. The tale they had painted of the Haggerty family's twisted traditions and sinister motives continued to send shivers down my spine.

"So, what happened to these women?" Jon finally broke the heavy silence, his voice filled with concern.

"Many of these women disappeared without a trace. Some were never seen again, while others were rumoured to have met tragic ends."

The family clearly saw this as an opportunity for expansion and power. They encouraged marriages within their own bloodline, often marrying off young girls to members of the family at a young age.

But what truly shocked us was how they would send out young men to seduce girls from outside families into joining them.

These girls would then mysteriously disappear, only to resurface as new members of the family. It was a twisted scheme to ensure their bloodline remained strong and untainted.

Though the leaders quickly grew fearful of being discovered by outsiders and persecuted for their actions.

Their fears were justified as the many disappearances began to sound alarms in town.

Parents attempted to take precautionary measures to ensure their daughters were not the next to go missing.

Of course, this forced the Haggerty's to temporarily halt their recruitment, at least until the "hear" died down.

As Jon and I listened intently to every detail, it dawned on me: could my stalker be connected to this cult-like family? The thought sent shivers down my spine. It seemed like a far-fetched idea, but considering everything we had just learned, nothing seemed impossible anymore.

Jon scribbled down notes furiously as we listened to the voice narrating over the video, detailing how new members were encouraged to cut ties with their families and dedicate themselves fully to the family's cause.

"The Haggerty's, as the founding family, owned plenty of land, much of which they own to this day. For a period of time, they stopped collecting new members and focused on building their own town within the town. They built a school, a garden, and parks for the children. They developed places where people whom they trusted could help run the family and ensure its survival."

"They're like a hidden society within our town," I whispered.

Jon nodded grimly, his eyes glued to the screen as he took notes on every detail revealed in the footage.

"Everyone was sorted into categories based on their abilities or presumed value to the cult. Many women wore green, which signified their fertility in their efforts to populate the family.

The more we learned about this secretive group, the more it seemed like something out of a dystopian novel rather than reality.

"Divergent type sh*t," as Jon so eloquently put it.

I couldn't help but chuckle at his comment, despite the seriousness of what we were witnessing. This was unlike any case we had encountered before; it was like stepping into an alternate reality where conformity was key and individuality was frowned upon.

I couldn't tear my eyes away from the screen as images flashed before us—women clad in green garments symbolizing fertility, children playing in meticulously maintained parks, and men overseeing various aspects of daily life within this closed-off community. It all seemed too perfect, too orchestrated.

And it was. It was a carefully orchestrated system designed to ensure their survival and growth within the confines of their secluded community.

"Check for a disruption in the timeline," I whispered to Jon, urging him to dig deeper into this dark web of secrets.

"They formed a group of men who would run surveillance on the town and look for potential members to join," the voice revealed. "Men and boys charmed these girls away from their families under false pretences."

"This is sickening," Jon muttered under his breath, his face contorted with disgust.

But just as we thought we couldn't handle any more revelations, there was one final twist that left us speechless.

"In addition to sending members out to recruit new members, they managed to infiltrate other aspects of our town—including law enforcement," the voice disclosed. "They used fake identities to infiltrate the police department and tip off their comrades about impending raids."

My jaw dropped in disbelief as I processed this information. The very people who were supposed to protect us had been compromised by this insidious cult operating right under our noses.

The most harrowing revelation came when it was disclosed that some of these abducted women met tragic ends when they tried to escape or spoke out against their captors. The thought of innocent lives being snuffed out sent shivers down my spine.

"So they killed them?" I gasped in disbelief.

"These women were given chances to repent and be allowed to remain a part of the family. While some did, others did not. At that point, they were considered liabilities. They could not have them leave and spread the secrets of what was going on. Instead, they were killed and their children raised by their fathers or other close family members."

"Oh, my God. That is awful. How could they do that? Who knows how many mothers they've robbed of seeing their kids grow up?"

I felt him rub my shoulder.

How could such evil exist within our seemingly peaceful town? How many more lives would be at risk if we didn't act fast?

"We need to bring this information to light," Jon declared firmly.

I nodded in agreement. This wasn't just about solving a mystery anymore; it was about justice for those who had suffered at the hands of these monsters.

"Enclosed in the envelope was a letter, which I hope you have since destroyed, but I hope this gets you the answers you need."

The hooded figure stood up and walked towards the camera before the picture cut out.

It was quickly replaced by a grainy video.

"Oh my God! Is that...?"

"Elena."