Veil of Secretes

Chapter 5

[Serene's POV]

The next morning, a sense of purpose propelled me out of bed. The sun's golden rays streamed through the window, casting a warm glow that seemed to infuse the room with newfound energy. As I moved through the motions of my morning routine, my mind kept drifting back to Ember, the girl whose name held a captivating promise of answers.

I decided to start by cleaning my room. The act of tidying up felt like a small step towards regaining control over the chaos that had enveloped my life. As I sorted through my belongings, my fingers brushed against the spine of an old, weathered book tucked away on a dusty shelf. Its title, "Whispers of Everwood's Past," caught my eye, and I felt an inexplicable pull to dive into its contents.

The book seemed ancient, its pages brittle and yellowed with time. As I flipped through the worn pages, I was met with an investigation report. Everwood, it seemed, was not just any ordinary town. It had a history that stretched back decades, a history woven with tales of forbidden love, unexplained disappearances, and eerie occurrences.

I dove hungrily into the book's fragile pages, eager to consume their revelations. The initial investigation report gave way to what appeared to be a firsthand account from an early Everwood resident, a woman named Maggie living in the late 1800s. Her ornate cursive reflected both feminine grace and sharp wit.

"Our fair town of Everwood continues to experience unsettling incidents, yet the authorities demonstrate little urgency in pursuing solutions. Just this week, young Timothy vanished from his family cottage near the woods. He returned two days later, wandering dazedly a mile into the forest—yet he retains no recollection of his absence! This marks the third such disappearance this season.

Equally disturbing are the ongoing nocturnal disturbances. On certain nights when the moon glows full and heavy, bloodcurdling screams echo from the ruins west of town. My beloved John shrugs them off as wild animals or inebriated wanderers. But Marie and I know in our bones that something far more sinister plagues our community.

I shivered reading Maggie's elegant scrawl, visions of a cursed history plaguing Everwood flickering through my mind. What malevolent force lurked here even centuries ago, driving people mad and snatching innocents? A growing unease stirred in my core—had I fallen prey to the same lingering darkness?

Footsteps sounded outside, followed by a gentle rapping at my door as Diane's kind voice floated in, "Serene dear, breakfast is ready whenever you'd like to join us!" I carefully tucked the eerie book under my pillow for later consumption. 

My alleged family welcomed me to the table with patient smiles that barely veiled a simmering tension. Little affection seemed to pass between Dylan and his supposed parents, their interactions formal and restrained. Only vivacious Amelia grinning through mouthfuls of pancake brought a genuine glow to the scene. 

As I silently picked at my food, Jimmy cleared his throat. "I must catch up on work affairs today, but I was hoping you might join me, Serene." He studied my reaction. "Revisiting the office could help jog your memory."

I hesitated. Something in Jimmy's guileless expression rang false. Before I could respond, Dylan's scowl deepened. "You can't mean to bring her there..." he growled. "It's madness!" Jimmy held up a hand, his gaze never leaving mine. Amelia and Diane watched our standoff warily.

My pulse quickened at the promise of glimpsing my alleged workplace. Any clues to my past self seemed precious, even if unease stirred at Jimmy's slippery candor. "I'll join you," I finally replied. Dylan shoved back his chair and stormed off as Jimmy smiled.

The drive into Everwood proper passed in tense quiet. Jimmy navigated the route by rote, not pointing out any personal landmarks that should've sparked nostalgia. It seemed suspiciously deliberate. The deeper we penetrated the town's commercial center, the stronger my inner disquiet grew. We pulled up beside an imposing three-story structure identified only by a tasteful plaque reading "Patmos Enterprises."

Jimmy ushered me wordlessly inside the sleek lobby furnished more like a luxury retreat than place of business. Behind an elegant reception desk, an attractive brunette greeted me with evident recognition - and unconcealed shock. "Serene...you've recovered! We had feared the worst..." She fumbled over her polite words, clearly thrown. Jimmy avoided meeting my puzzled stare.

Down a gleaming marble hallway, Jimmy tapped a code into a discrete keypad granting access to a wing branching off the main building. As the reinforced door clicked open, the atmosphere palpably shifted from corporate sterility to imposing austerity. Our footsteps echoed across the cold stone floors, rows of metal doors visible along shadowy corridors. The place felt more like a remote bunker than office space.

Nervous energy thrummed through me. What kind of company was Patmos Enterprises that needed this level of security? How had I fit into their mysterious operation? Diane, Jimmy and Dylan were clearly tangled up in activities they didn't want exposed... My feverish speculations were interrupted when Jimmy halted before a formidable black door differentiated only by a small golden nameplate reading "S. Matthews." 

My breath caught as Jimmy turned the handle. "Your personal office," he revealed, gesturing me inside. I stepped warily across the threshold into a spacious corner suite decorated in elegant neutrals. Floor-to-ceiling windows peered out over Everwood proper, the entire south wall consisting of shelves laden with leather-bound books and curios. 

One entire wall held framed pictures of global landmarks - Parisian cafes, Machu Picchu, Siberian vistas. Their significance eluded me. I drifted toward the sleek glass-topped desk and upright leather chair, sensationally out-of-place objects in the otherwise richly furnished stronghold room. They belonged in a stylish CEO's metropolis office, not...whatever this place represented.

My fingers brushed the cold desktop, sparks flying through my psyche. Flashes burst behind my eyelids - stacks of old texts...strange artifacts...a silver blade glinting in firelight. I swayed unsteadily as Jimmy grasped my shoulders, concern flickering over his usually impassive features. 

"Steady now. I know this is overwhelming." His tone wavered between command and contrition. My temples throbbed as chaotic visions receded like a retreating tide. I pulled away from Jimmy's touch, new wariness rising. There was more mystery here than I'd imagined. I intended to discover everything.