Caught in between Scammers

The rain fell in a steady rhythm, drumming against the windshield of Amara Voss's old station wagon. She squinted through the blur of water, trying to read the weathered wooden sign at the side of the road. Blackwood, it read, in letters so faint they were nearly swallowed by the encroaching moss. Beneath it, another sign hung crookedly, as if barely holding on: Population: 1,452.

The road twisted sharply, forcing Amara to slow down even more. Her knuckles whitened against the steering wheel as her tires slid slightly on the slick asphalt. She muttered a curse under her breath. Moving to this remote town might have seemed like a good idea a month ago, but right now, in the middle of a storm, it felt like a mistake.

The GPS had long since lost signal, leaving her with nothing but printed directions she'd hastily scrawled on the back of a receipt. It wasn't as if she had much of a choice-she needed the job. And after everything that had happened in the city... Blackwood seemed like a place to disappear.

The headlights of her car cut through the dense fog that clung to the trees. Towering pines lined the road, their branches heavy with rain. The air was thick with the scent of earth and wet leaves, and an unsettling quiet had settled over everything, broken only by the hum of her engine and the occasional crack of thunder.

As she rounded another curve, she saw it: the faint glow of lights in the distance. Relief washed over her, though it was tinged with unease. Blackwood was exactly as the online listing had described-quaint, isolated, and utterly forgotten by time. The main street was a stretch of old brick buildings, their storefronts illuminated by dim, flickering bulbs.

Amara parked outside the only place that seemed remotely lively-a small diner with a neon sign that read The Hollow. She killed the engine and sat for a moment, watching the rain slide down the windows. The prospect of stepping into a strange town soaked to the bone wasn't appealing, but hunger outweighed her discomfort.

Inside, the diner was warm and smelled of coffee and fried food. A handful of people sat scattered among the booths, their conversations low and murmured. The waitress behind the counter looked up, her bright red hair standing out against the muted tones of the room.

"Evening," the waitress said, her voice tinged with curiosity. "You're not from around here."

Amara shook the rain from her jacket and offered a polite smile. "Just moved in today. I'm Amara. I'll be working at the veterinary clinic."

The waitress arched a brow. "You're Dr. Voss?"

"Yes... well, just Amara is fine."

The woman let out a small laugh and extended a hand. "I'm Maggie. Welcome to Blackwood, Amara. Not much happens here, but you'll get used to it."

Amara took the offered hand, noting the strength of Maggie's grip. "Thanks. I guess I'll be seeing you around."

"Oh, you'll see everyone around," Maggie replied with a smirk. "Small town, you know."

Amara slid onto a stool at the counter and ordered a coffee and a sandwich. As Maggie moved to prepare her order, Amara felt the weight of a dozen eyes on her. She glanced around subtly, catching snippets of hushed conversations and curious stares.

"New girl, huh?"

The voice came from her right. Amara turned to find a man sitting at the far end of the counter, his arms resting casually on the surface. He was tall, with a lean frame, tousled dark hair, and a rugged face that looked like it had seen its share of fights. His eyes, though, were what caught her attention-pale gray, almost silver, and uncomfortably piercing.

"Just moved in," she replied, keeping her tone light.