On a quiet, rain-soaked morning in the small town of Black Hollow, Officer Eli Mercer began his shift expecting nothing more than routine patrol. The streets were nearly empty, glistening under a steady drizzle that softened every sound and blurred the edges of buildings.
Rain tapped gently against windows, and the town moved slowly, as if still half-asleep. Eli drove past familiar storefronts and narrow alleys, his mind focused but calm, ready for another uneventful day. In a place like Black Hollow, emergencies were rare, and most mornings passed without incident.
Yet something about the air felt different, heavier somehow, though he could not yet explain why. As Eli turned into a quiet alley near Main Street, a faint sound reached…
CONTINUE READING…
