"This is a story about a town, a small town. And the people who live in it. From a distance, it presents itself like so many other small towns all over the world, safe, decent, innocent. Get closer though- and you start to see the shadows underneath"

Duncan sat back from his computer screen, to crack his knuckles. Taking a break from writing, he looked over as the waitress poured him another coffee

"You always seem to be in here every night, you ever sleep?" the small waitress asked. Duncan ignored eye contact and grabbed his coffee

"No," he replied curtly. The lady swallowed hard and walked away without another word. Duncan took a sip of his coffee and looked at his computer screen once again, before casting a glance outside at the seemingly normal summer day.

It was the last day of summer, in fact. Friday, September 9th. Three months since the incident. Three quick, hot months since that fateful day on July 4th. Yet, it still seemed like it all happened yesterday. 

Duncan watched as a couple of kids played in a sprinkler across the street. Laughing, with such joy on their faces. Normal. Everything always seemed so normal in this town. 

If only they knew the truth. 

Duncan turned and began typing on his computer once again.

"Our story begins, with what the Blossoms twins did this summer. On the 4th of July, just after dawn, Heather and Jason Blossom drove out to Sweet Water river for a morning boat ride. The next thing we knew, a local Boy Scouts troop came across a soaked and hysterical Heather Blossom sitting on some rocks on the edge of the river. With no Jason in sight.  A search team dragged the river for Jason's body, but it was never discovered. So a week later, the Blossom family buried an empty casket. And Jason's death was ruled an accident. As the story that Heather told made the rounds, she claimed to have dropped a glove in the water, and Jason bent down to pick it up. The boat tipped, he panicked, and drowned. As for us, we were still talking about the July 4th tragedy on the last day of summer vacation. And a new mystery, rolled into town,"

Duncan clicked save, and closed his laptop with a yawn. He tipped off his coffee and slid his laptop into his bag. He slid out of his booth at the diner and walked towards the exit. 

"Did you hear?" he overheard a line cook talking with his partner "Apparently the Lodge's are moving into that new mansion on top of the hill. I guess they're loaded," 

Duncan rolled his eyes, and shoved the door sign open. He walked across the street, squinting at the bright sunlight that never failed to make an appearance in this town. The kids playing in the sprinkler paused to look at him as he walked past them on the sidewalk, but it didn't phase him. He was used to strange looks. 

He hiked his bag up on his shoulder more, and continued walking down the street. Jason's death still playing in the back of his mind. He looked towards the ominous house on top of the hill, over looking the town. Knowing the Blossom's lived there all alone. And wondered what secrets laid just beyond those walls that no one ever got to see. 

His eyes slowly locked onto the bridge up head, that crossed Sweet Water river, and noticed the hundreds of candles lit, next to pictures of Jason. And swallowed hard.  

Every town had its secrets, and those secrets were bound to come out. 

(Cover Art done by the incredibly talented Hellela)