Chapter 14 Present
I had completely lost track of time—buried under piles and piles of old news articles. I was supposed to be gathering material for a heartfelt piece, something soft and nostalgic. But instead, I was compiling what felt a lot more like evidence.
I always knew Shay was full of secrets—but this was something else entirely.
I used to think Mrs. Sarah slipping a check to the pie contest judges so she could win again was as deep as it went. But this felt bigger. Heavier. Like something people wanted forgotten.
For every cheerful headline painting Shay as the picture-perfect southern town, there was a quieter blurb tucked in the margins—something darker.
One article from the spring of ’62 stopped me cold. The former sheriff had died in a boating accident. It sounded serious, like the kind of thing that would’ve made the front page. But it wasn’t. It was tucked behind the classified ads, like an afterthought.
And it wasn’t the only one. Anything that didn’t cast Shay in a flattering light seemed buried—half-sized, hidden. Like someone didn’t want them seen.
I wasn’t sure what to do with it all. I could’ve easily shoved the file back and pretended I hadn’t seen any of it—but that felt just as wrong as whatever this was. My chest tightened. I felt the pull.
The noise rattled my teeth as the door burst open with a bang, and I jumped—as if I’d just been caught doing something wrong.
It was Sadie. “Sorry! Didn’t mean to scare ya,” she laughed. “We’re gettin’ ready to head out, and I didn’t think you’d wanna be locked in with all of Shay’s ghost.
She was right. I didn’t want to be in that room anymore. These stories weren’t just history—they were haunting.
I got to my feet quickly, trying not to let her see what I’d been reading. I tucked the articles back into a file folder, just behind a cover story about Shay’s new kindergarten building.
“Do you mind if I take these for the night? I’ll bring them back tomorrow,” I asked, trying to sound casual.
She didn’t seem to notice how uneasy I was. “Of course. Nobody’ll even know it’s missing.”
As I stepped out of the room, the heavy archive door slammed shut behind me. I jumped again. I was still shaken but tried to play it off.
We passed the newsroom—empty desks, stale coffee, and that quiet hum of nothing.
At the front desk, Sadie grabbed her bag, and we both stepped outside. The sun was low now, but still bright enough to sting my eyes. Six hours in a dimly lit archive room will do that to you.
I squinted toward the lot, searching for my car.
“Did you find what you were looking for?” Sadie asked as we walked.
“Yeah… I found a lot, actually,” I replied, forcing a small smile.
“That’s good. I can’t wait to read your article,” she said, rummaging through her purse for her keys.
“Guess I’ll see you later?” I asked, trying to keep it friendly. But my head was somewhere else entirely.
“Yep. I’ll be here.” She said with a smile as she dipped into her car.
She waved as she drove off.
I slid into my car but didn’t start it. I just sat there, staring past the windshield toward the boat ramp, my thoughts spinning. My fingers tightened around the wheel.
As much as I didn’t want to pursue this… I knew I had to.
And for the first time since arriving in Shay, I wasn’t looking for a reason to leave.
I was hoping for more time.
And I couldn’t wait for tomorrow.
I drove down the familiar streets, feeling numb.
Every turn came out of habit—I wasn’t even sure how I’d made it back to my parents’ house. My mind was somewhere else entirely.
I glanced over at the passenger seat, at the file folder resting there like it was holding Shay’s darkest secrets.
When I finally pulled into the driveway, I felt a flicker of relief.
I must’ve sat in the car longer than I realized, because my mom had made her way onto the porch. She was saying something, waving me in.
Before I got out, I hesitated—then grabbed the folder.
As I reached the steps, a loud crash of thunder rumbled overhead.
I hadn’t even noticed the storm clouds creeping in.
Back in my old room, I set my bag and the file folder on the desk.
I took a long breath, then walked to the bed. I sat on the edge for a moment before finally lying back, willing my mind to slow down.
But I couldn’t fight it anymore—Shay had its hold on me again.