ed in the small, creaky bed, her mind racing with questions she couldn't answer. Declan's words echoed i

e room. Outside, the growls from the forest had stopped, but the stillness felt more u

d floor. She stood slowly, her body stiff from hours of restless movement

d to be

rom her grandmother seemed to beckon her. The answers you seek are in Black Hol

the door ma

ickly looked toward the door. The

the handle. Her mind raced-was it Declan? Or

The voice was

who ran the boarding house. She quickly placed t

n standing on the other side, a

t?" she asked, pee

mask the anxiety she felt. "Yes

own is restless." She glanced down the hallway, as though checking to make sure no one was listening. Then, in a quieter vo

er curiosity flare. "What

o out. The forest isn't the only thing you should fear in this town." She gave Aurora a pointed loo

ily in her chest. Stay inside. Was Miss Jensen warning her about D

questions. There was no way she was staying insid

on. She glanced at the window, where the dark forest stood, silent and myste

, save for the occasional creak of the floorboards. As she reached the front door, she paused and list

tepped outside. The town was quiet, almost too quiet. The street lamps cast a pale light on

scanning the darkness. She had to get closer to the forest. She had to kn

he finally reached the forest's edge, she stopped. The trees were tall and imposing, their branches twisted lik

est was

stronger now, like a magnetic force she couldn't resist. She crossed the boundary,

, but she felt as though the forest was watching her, as if it knew she was there. S

topped her dead

rom the shadows ahead. Aurora's breath caught in her throat. It was

n, but she couldn't move. The growl grew louder,

cl

he dark like twin beacons. His face was set in a

s voice was sharp, but there

ad to know. What's happening in

narrowing. "You shouldn't have com

d, her voice trembling. "Tell

ng whether or not to speak. Finally, he exhaled slow

, Aurora. But if you really want t

hen she nodded. There w

to close in around them. The air was thick with the scent of pine,

her into the heart of the woods. Whatever secret