The wind in Cedar Hollow was different. Not the kind that swirled playfully around you, inviting a crisp breath. No, this wind carried something heavier—an oppressive weight. Sophie Rivers could feel it as soon as she drove past the dilapidated town sign. “Welcome to Cedar Hollow,” it read, the words faded and chipped, as though the town itself had been waiting to die for a long time. The trees lining the roads, dark and twisted, leaned toward her car like silent sentinels. The fog rolled in thick from the forest, encircling the town like a cloak, swallowing everything in its path. Sophie had heard of Cedar Hollow, of course. Everyone in the city had heard of it—the strange town on the edge of the state, forgotten by time and the outside world. It was the kind of place people drove through on their way to somewhere else, but never stayed. And for good reason. Its reputation preceded it, woven into the threads of old local legends and whispered rumors that only the brave, or the fooli

The air was thick with the scent of earth and damp leaves as Sophie followed Elliot through the narrow, winding paths of the old cemetery. The fog had lifted slightly, but the eerie mist still clung to the trees, swirling like an ancient spirit reluctant to leave. The world felt muffled here, as though the very land had been holding its breath for centuries.Sophie’s footsteps faltered as she caught a glimpse of the gravestones that lined the cemetery. Most were faded and weathered beyond recognition, but there were others—newer ones, carefully maintained, as though someone still visited them regularly. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as she realized that this place, this town, was not as abandoned as it appeared. Cedar Hollow had its ghosts—both living and dead—and they were far from silent.Elliot’s footsteps were quiet, measured, as he led her to the back of the cemetery, where a large stone archway loomed in the distance. Sophie hadn’t noticed it before, hidden by t

Sophie couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. As she stepped out of the mausoleum, the damp morning air felt colder than before, biting at her skin like unseen hands. The fog had returned in full force, thick and suffocating, clinging to the trees like a shroud that refused to lift. It felt as though the world had grown smaller, more confined, as if the town itself were closing in on her.Elliot followed her out of the mausoleum, his eyes scanning the surroundings with a tension Sophie hadn’t noticed before. He seemed on edge, his jaw clenched tight, his gaze darting to the shadows between the gravestones. It was as though he, too, could feel the curse tightening its grip around the town, watching, waiting for them to make the wrong move.For a moment, Sophie didn’t know what to say. The weight of everything they had learned hung heavy between them—the pact, the curse, the sacrifices. And yet, despite all the horror she had uncovered, there was still a part of her that refused t

The darkness had swallowed the town whole.Sophie stood at the edge of Cedar Hollow, her fingers still tingling from the touch of the ancient stone altar. The Hollow God’s presence, which had been just a whisper in her mind, was now a heavy weight in the air—alive, watching, waiting. She could feel it pressing against her chest, pushing against her heart. Whatever this thing was, it was ancient. Older than anything she had imagined, and certainly far more dangerous.Her breath came in shallow gasps, the air thick and unnaturally still. She couldn’t remember the last time the woods had felt this quiet. Even the wind seemed afraid to stir the leaves. It was as if the trees themselves were holding their breath, anticipating the next move. Sophie glanced at Elliot, whose face was shadowed, his jaw tight as he surveyed the forest around them.“Is it here?” Sophie whispered, though she wasn’t sure if she was asking him or herself. The Hollow God was everywhere, and nowhere at the same time.

The rain returned to Cedar Hollow like a curse renewed.Sophie stood at the edge of the Caldwell family property, the once-charming house now loomed before her like a forgotten mausoleum. The shutters clattered in the wind, and the paint peeled in jagged streaks across the siding. She hadn’t been back here since Nathan disappeared, not really. She’d driven by a few times, unable to make herself stop, but tonight something was different.She had dreamed of this place. In the dream, the house bled.Sophie’s fingers trembled as she fitted the old key into the front door. A familiar click echoed through the silence, but the resistance behind the knob sent a chill through her. It was as if the house didn’t want her back.Inside, the air was thick with the scent of mildew, wood rot, and something else—something metallic and sour. Dust coated the floor like skin. A quick scan of the foyer brought back memories she didn’t want: Nathan dancing in socks on the hardwood, her father cursing about