Chapter 1: Unveiling Shadows

I had always been a woman fueled by ambition. For years, I had immersed myself in the bustling streets of New York City, thriving on the fast-paced lifestyle and the relentless pursuit of success.

My job in the pharmaceutical company FutureMedicine fulfilled my need for achievement, and I worked tirelessly to earn my position as the business development manager. It was rough, but at just 27 years old, I was the youngest to achieve this goal in the history of the company.

'I am exhausted', it shot through my head after a long day at the company. I was on my way home.

I entered through the door of my apartment building in the Upper East Side. After waking up two floors, I unlocked the door to my apartment and threw a whole bag of groceries on the kitchen countertop.

Of course, I loved this city. I was mesmerized by the buzzing vibe, the rich culture, and the versatility. However, as time passed, I began to feel the weight of it all bearing down on me. After college, I decided to move to the Big Apple and fully immerse myself in work. My friends from college with whom I was so close had moved on with their lives. By now, many were married, had children, and lived the typical small-town life. They seemed happy, though.

I sighed heavily at the thought and took a big sip from my glass of red wine that I had just poured, sitting in front of my laptop on the couch in my fancy apartment that my company was paying for. I raised my head and looked over the city's skyline. Beautiful.

´Oh, how I will miss this…´

The concrete jungle had been my home for years but this wasn't a lifestyle I wanted for the rest of my life. I longed for something else, a respite from the relentless demands of my career.

In the corner of the screen, a mail image popped up. I clicked on the icon. It was an email from Alysha Waynes, who worked in upper management.

"Dear Emma,

Attached, you will find your flight tickets to Helena, Montana. A taxi will pick you up tomorrow at 8 AM and take you to the airport. From there, head right to the bus terminal and take bus number 17 to Missoula. Once you arrive, a driver will pick you up and take you to your hotel in Ravenwood.

I am currently waiting for the exact time and location for your meeting with Mr. Black. In the meantime, please study the second attachment, which is the material for the planned location and business plan, as well as Mr. Black´s background and experience. It´s on you to settle the deal, so good luck! We´re counting on you.

Best,

Alysha"

"No pressure…" I mumbled sarcastically to myself and played with one of my long golden-blonde curls. Tomorrow I would travel to Ravenwood, a remote town in Montana that had the potential of becoming my company´s new branch location.

When the opportunity to settle a monumental deal had presented itself, I seized it as my chance for independence. The pharmaceutical company I worked for had set its sights on expanding to a serene and untouched location, and I had been tasked with finalizing the deal. If it worked out, it would greatly benefit my career. This was my opportunity to secure my position at FutureMedicine and, above all, to escape the confines of the city that had started to suffocate me.

My destination was Ravenwood, a town nestled in the middle of Montana's wide nature. If the deal got sealed, I would be able to spend several months in the town to help organize the preparations and manage the building of the new branch. This was one of the most exciting tasks I had ever gotten – and probably the biggest one.

With one big gulp, I finished my wine glass and headed to bed. It was already late, and I had a big day ahead of me. My luggage was standing in the corner, ready for an adventure. I hoped I was ready for it, too.

Before falling into my well-deserved sleep, I decided to look up some key facts about the town of Ravenwood on my phone. When I entered the name on the web, nothing showed up at first. It took me a solid five minutes of scrolling and clicking before I finally found a website that showed pictures of the town and talked about its environment.

"Ravenwood is a quaint town nestled in the heart of Montana, boasting a rich history that dates back to the late 19th century. The town was established in 1884 by a group of British settlers who sought a new beginning in the vast and untamed landscapes of the American West.

Originally, the area where Ravenwood now stands was Native American territory, inhabited by the indigenous peoples who had cultivated a deep connection with the land for centuries. As pioneers pushed westward during the late 1800s, British settlers arrived in the region, drawn by the promise of fertile soil and abundant resources."

I scrolled through the website entry and studied the pictures. There weren't many, but all of them showed a small strip-like town with a few cozy shops. It looked just like the perfect retreat and as I kept on scrolling, my excitement and anticipation surged. Despite its serene and peaceful scenery and rich nature, the town did not seem to be a touristy spot as there weren't many pictures or reviews online.

I went back to the main page and looked over the other entries about Ravenwood. One entry particularly stood out.

"MISSING PERSON!

On Nov. 17th, 2019, at approximately 6 PM, Jameson McCarthy went missing while hiking in the Ravenwood Hills State Forest. McCarthy was last seen on Summerville St at 5:50 PM and disappeared into the woods shortly after. Please call the Ravenwood police department if you can assist with any information about the location of the missing person."

'I guess that can happen in the wild', I thought. 'I'll better make sure I pack my pepper spray in case I encounter any bears.'

I closed my laptop and was about to turn off the lights on my nightstand when my phone vibrated. I picked it up and saw a message from my mom.

"Emma, your father is driving me crazy. He is worried about you. Call him when you leave for Montana. I miss you. Love, Mom"

I smiled. "I miss you too, Mom", I whispered to myself.

I loved my parents with all of my heart. The fact that I was adopted did not change that. My parents raised me and gave me every opportunity in life, to the point that my father sold his classic Porsche Turbo 994 to afford my college tuition. Two years after I had started at FutureMedicine I had saved enough money to buy it back for him. I remember he was in tears the day that he found it safe and sound back in his garage.

When I was younger, there was a time when I tried to find out who my birth parents were but I never got far. After a few months of searching, I gave up. After all, these people had given me away, even though I would never know what made them do it. Financial problems? An abusive relationship? Lack of responsibility? I was content with the thought that I would never find out.

I opened the chat with my mother and began typing.

"Tell him I'm fine. I miss you both. Plane leaves at 10 AM."

My Mom had always been there for me. Even during my teenage years when my hallucinations started and I had to go to therapy, she had never given up on me. 

'Speaking of which...', I thought to myself and opened the drawer to get my medication. I grabbed the orange pill case that had "OLANZAPINE" written on it and grabbed the glass of water on my nightstand. With one big gulp, I washed it down. 'That should keep the dreams away.'

Then I silenced my phone, set an alarm for the morning, and put it aside. I turned the light off and yawned. 'One last night in my own, warm bed. Starting tomorrow I'm off for an adventure', I thought. Only minutes later, I fell into a tranquil dream of calm fields and a warm breeze making my blond hair dance in the wind - the calm before the storm...