THE HAUNTING OF WILDERS RIDGE

y, like a storm building, waiting to unleash its fury. She glanced at Samuel, her heart pounding. Betrayal and confusion churned inside her

can't escape it," it said, its voice dripping with malevolence. "The Stone calls to

med to groan in protest. The air shimmered with a strange, dark light that made her vision blur

ught it would come to this." His voice broke, and for the first time, Mara saw t

of pain and loss. " "You knew and didn't tell me." Her gaze flickered toward the hoode

she is the key," it said, its voice heavy with finality. "And Samuel knows that. He was supp

mean, 'awakened'?" she asked, fear creep

ready stirring beneath this town. The Stone's influence

ure. "No," he said, his voice hardening. "I won't let it happe

stillness of the woods. "You can't stop what has already begun.

at mean? Her mind screamed for answers, but the more she listened

king from the figure to Samuel. "Wh

.. it chooses a person to be its conduit. The one who can unlock its full potential. Your father was tryin

is. She hadn't asked for the secrets of Wilder's Ridge, for the history of her father, or for

nded, her voice breaking. "Why did

ught I could protect you. I thought you wouldn't have to face this. But I was wrong. The Sto

hat you do not understand. The Stone is not just an object. It is a force of nature.

. The whispers in the trees grew louder, and she could feel them, tugging at her thoughts,

ay, panic rising in her chest.

was t

he depths of the earth, something dark began to rise-an ancient power, long buried beneath the t

everything