Chapter 1

The bitter odor of tobacco and something far more sinister filled Alex's nostrils. His heart pounded against his ribs as he navigated the twisted corridors of his childhood home, now a nightmarish labyrinth. Sweat beaded on his forehead, his breath coming in short, sharp gasps.

"Emily! Jack!" The names tore from his throat, leaving a taste of ash in his mouth. The walls seemed to vibrate with a low, guttural growl that made Alex's skin prickle with goosebumps.

As he rounded the corner, his stomach lurched. There they were – Emily and Jack, their eyes wide with terror. Above them loomed a massive shadow, its crimson eyes boring into Alex's soul. Rows of razor-sharp teeth glinted in the darkness.

Alex's muscles screamed as he tried to move, but his feet remained rooted to the floor. He could only watch, helpless, as the demon's claws descended upon his family.

The screech of tires jolted Alex awake. His shirt clung to his body, damp with cold sweat. The steady hum of the engine and the familiar smell of his car's interior slowly brought him back to reality. Emily and Jack were gone, had been for years, but the ache in his chest felt as fresh as ever.

Alex blinked hard, forcing the nightmare's remnants from his mind. His headlights illuminated a weathered sign: "Welcome to Havenwood - Where History Comes Alive!" A humorless chuckle escaped his lips. If only they knew.

The quaint charm of Havenwood unfolded before him as he drove into town. Warm light from old-fashioned streetlamps spilled onto the sidewalks, casting long shadows behind the few hurrying pedestrians. Even at this distance, Alex could see the tension in their hurried steps, the way they glanced over their shoulders.

The silence of the night engulfed Alex as he pulled into the Pinewood Motel's parking lot. He took a deep breath, his hand unconsciously moving to the comforting weight of the gun at his hip. Another town, another mystery, another chance to face the darkness that had shattered his world.

The motel clerk barely looked up as Alex entered the office. Her eyes were tired, her voice flat. "Just passing through?"

"Not exactly," Alex replied, leaning against the counter. "I'm here to investigate the recent... incidents."

The clerk's eyes snapped to his face, fear and suspicion battling in her gaze. "You a cop?"

"Used to be." Alex's voice was gruff. "Now I'm more of a specialist. Name's Alex Thorn."

"Marie," the clerk muttered, sliding a key across the counter with trembling fingers. "Room 7. It's quiet, away from the road."

As Alex turned to leave, Marie called out, "Mr. Thorn?" Her voice quavered. "Whatever you're here for, be careful. This town... it's not right anymore."

Alex nodded grimly. "That's why I'm here."

In the sparse motel room, Alex pulled out a battered leather journal. The scratch of pen on paper filled the silence as he jotted down his initial observations: Marie's fearful eyes, the deserted streets, the palpable dread that seemed to blanket Havenwood.

As he sat there, attempting to recall what he had seen, his gaze shifted away from his journal. Alex struggled to sleep, and when he did, his nightmares would return. The only way he could really sleep was at the bottom of a bottle.

A soft knock startled Alex from his thoughts. His hand instinctively moved to his holstered gun. "Who is it?"

"Sarah Evans," a woman's voice replied. "I heard there was someone new in town asking questions. Thought I might be able to help."

Alex opened the door cautiously, revealing a petite blonde woman with sharp green eyes. She clutched a book tightly to her chest, her posture a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

"Mind if I come in?" Sarah asked, glancing nervously over her shoulder.

Alex hesitated before stepping aside. As Sarah entered, he noticed the book she held – a local history of Havenwood.

"So," Alex leaned against the wall, "what can you tell me about what's been happening here?"

Sarah's knuckles whitened around the book. "It started about two months ago. People just... vanishing. No traces, no warnings. At first, we thought they'd just left town. But then..."

She trailed off. Alex waited, knowing that pushing too hard rarely yielded results.

"Then the stories started," Sarah continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "People seeing things in the woods. Hearing noises that shouldn't be there. And the nightmares..." A shudder ran through her. "Everyone's been having these terrible nightmares."

Alex's mind flashed to his own recurring nightmare; the demon's eyes boring into him. He pushed the memory aside. "You're a local historian?" he asked, nodding at the book.

Sarah nodded. "Amateur, really. But I've always been fascinated by Havenwood's past. There's so much we don't know, so many gaps. I can't help thinking..." She hesitated.

"That the past might have something to do with what's happening now?" Alex finished.

"You must think I'm crazy," Sarah said with a self-deprecating laugh.

"Trust me," Alex's lips quirked in a wry smile, "I've seen enough to know that the craziest explanations are sometimes the right ones."

They lapsed into silence. Alex mulled over this new information. Sarah seemed genuinely concerned, and her knowledge of local history could prove valuable.

"Listen," Alex broke the silence, "I need someone who knows the area and the people. Would you be willing to help me with my investigation?"

Sarah's eyes lit up with a mix of excitement and fear. "You really think you can figure out what's going on?"

Alex's expression hardened. "I'm damn well going to try. But I must warn you – this could get dangerous. The things I deal with... they're not always easy to explain or understand."

Sarah squared her shoulders, determination etched on her face. "Mr. Thorn, people are disappearing from my town. If there's anything I can do to help, count me in."

As if to punctuate her words, a distant scream pierced the night, sending a cold chill through the room. He moved to the window, scanning the dark streets. The cry didn't repeat, but the silence that followed was oppressive.

"It's starting again," Sarah whispered, her face pale in the dim light of the motel room.

Alex turned to her, his blue eyes fierce and determined. "Then we'd better get to work. Whatever's haunting Havenwood, whatever's taking these people – we're going to find it and stop it."

As they began to plan their first moves, Alex couldn't shake the feeling that this case was different. The echoes from his past, the weight of his guilt, the memories of Emily and Jack – all seemed to converge on this quiet town with its terrible secret.

Welcome to Havenwood, indeed. Where history comes alive, and nightmares step into the waking world.

If you would like to read the full novella. It can be found on Amazon in both Paperback and eBook format