บท 7: THE MISSING TRAIL

Avery and Ethan finally arrived at the hotel after a long, tense night at the old warehouse. Their bodies were exhausted, their minds reeling between fear and tension, but they were far from finished. Too much remained uncovered. They knew what they had found in the warehouse could change everything.

As soon as they entered the hotel room, Avery rushed to the desk where they had stored all the documents from their earlier search. But when she opened the drawer, something unexpected happened. It was empty.

"The documents..." Avery murmured in disbelief. "They're all gone."

Ethan, who was unpacking his bag, looked up to see Avery frozen in front of the drawer. "What do you mean gone? We put them in there this afternoon."

"There's nothing here!" Avery shot back, her tone tightening. She turned and began to search the room, opening every drawer and bag, hoping the secret documents were merely misplaced. But there was nothing.

Ethan joined her, confusion etched on his face. "This can't be. No one else knew we were keeping them here."

After a moment of silence, they both stood still. The hotel room looked the same as when they left, but something was clearly amiss. Someone had removed the crucial evidence they had gathered.

"Something's not right here," Ethan muttered, trying to think clearly. "How could someone get into this room without us knowing? The hotel might be involved."

Avery approached the window, staring out with a blank expression. "We're being watched, Ethan. There's no way someone could have taken everything without knowing exactly what they were after. And if the hotel is involved..." She bit her lower lip, her heart racing. "Maybe they're working for those behind 'Project Raven.'"

Ethan moved closer, worry etched in his features. "If that's the case, we're not safe here. We need to find out who's behind this and look for a new place. Maybe we can ask the hotel staff directly."

Avery nodded. "We need to be careful. They must already know we're suspicious."

They quickly made their way to the lobby, meeting the hotel receptionist. The woman's face appeared calm, but Avery sensed tension behind her smile.

"Can I help you?" the receptionist asked warmly.

Avery fixed her with a sharp gaze. "I left some important items in room 219, but now they're missing. Did any staff enter my room this afternoon?"

The receptionist looked momentarily confused, but only for a moment. "I'm sorry, miss, but there are no records of staff entering your room. Is it possible you mislaid your belongings?"

Ethan frowned, disbelieving her response. "We're certain the items were there. Does the hotel have security cameras?"

The receptionist appeared more tense, yet remained composed. "We have cameras in some common areas, but unfortunately not on your floor. I can check with housekeeping, but so far, there are no reports."

Avery stared at the woman, unblinking, feeling that something was being concealed. But for now, there wasn't much they could do. "Alright, thank you."

They left the receptionist feeling frustrated and confused. As they returned to their room, Ethan's phone suddenly rang. He glanced at the screen— a call from the Director of the Investigation Division, Mr. Harrison.

Ethan answered immediately, his voice slightly tense. "Yes, sir?"

Mr. Harrison's voice came through calm, but there was an urgency beneath each word. "What's the update on the investigation in Ravenshore? There are reports that you found something important."

Ethan exchanged a glance with Avery, who wore a face full of doubt. "We... found some crucial documents about experiments conducted here years ago. But everything is missing."

"Missing?" Mr. Harrison's voice sharpened. "What do you mean missing? Didn't you secure those documents?"

"We stored them in the hotel room, sir. But when we returned, they were gone. We suspect the hotel might be involved, or perhaps someone else trying to hide the truth."

Mr. Harrison fell silent for a moment, as if processing the situation. "This cannot be taken lightly. If someone is trying to conceal what you've discovered, it means you're getting too close to something dangerous."

Avery took the phone from Ethan, her tone serious. "We won't back down, sir. No matter what happens, we will uncover the truth."

Mr. Harrison sighed heavily. "Alright, but be careful. You should move from that hotel. I'll contact the police to arrange a safe place for you. Don't act recklessly. Ravenshore is more dangerous than you think."

After the call ended, Avery sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes staring blankly at the floor. "What are we up against, Ethan? This is bigger than we thought."

Ethan nodded slowly, sensing that something was closing in. "I don't know, but one thing is clear: they won't stop until we back down."

"I've taken notes on all the key points from the evidence we found; at least that might help… along with a few documents I managed to grab from the old building," Avery said.

Ethan looked at her. "Good. Let's get some rest tonight and meet Darek tomorrow." He replied, hurrying back to his room.

That night, insecurity gripped them tighter. Every footstep in the hotel corridor sounded suspicious, and each tick of the clock seemed to bring an invisible threat closer. They knew their time was running out. The unseen forces behind the scenes were beginning to move, and they had become the primary targets.

Avery and Ethan could only hope morning would bring answers. However, beneath the cover of night, the truths they sought might be more dangerous than they imagined.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Avery and Ethan stood in front of the run-down police station. Drizzle fell steadily, creating puddles on the sidewalk and enveloping the atmosphere of Ravenshore in a growing sense of dread.

They had discussed everything during their journey here: the mysterious man who had given them clues, the secret documents about Project Raven, and the feeling that something larger was at play behind the annual tragedy, as well as the evidence that had gone missing yesterday. As they were about to enter the police station, Avery glanced at Ethan, noticing doubt in his eyes.

"Are you sure this is the right move?" she asked, taking a deep breath.

"If anyone knows something, it's Derek," Ethan replied firmly. "He's the chief of police; he should have access to all the information."

Avery nodded, though she still felt uncertain. Something felt off, but she couldn't pinpoint what. When they opened the door to the station, a strange chill greeted them, as if something were lurking in the shadows.

Inside, Derek Langston sat behind his desk, looking worn and burdened. The room was sparsely furnished, just him and a neat stack of files, but his sharp gaze immediately fixed on Avery and Ethan's arrival.

"Avery, Ethan," he greeted them briefly, his tone formal. "I heard a bit from Mr. Harrison last night. You can stay at my place; it should be safe. Is there anything else?"

Ethan stepped forward, launching into a detailed account of everything they had discovered—from the strange clues given by the mysterious man, to the missing documents, and the secret files about Project Raven they had found in the old warehouse. Derek's eyes narrowed when he heard the words "Project Raven," but he remained silent, listening intently.

When they finished, a heavy silence filled the room. Derek stared at the desk in front of him, tapping his fingers softly against the surface.

"Project Raven, you say," Derek murmured slowly. "That's just a rumor... something from the past that no longer matters."

His tone was cold and controlled, as if he were holding back something. Avery noticed how he tried to avoid their gaze.

"What do you mean irrelevant?" Ethan pressed, dissatisfied with the answer. "This isn't just a rumor. We found concrete evidence. There are documents explaining government experiments, dimensional disturbances, and connections to this annual tragedy."

Derek lifted his gaze, now looking more tense as he stared at Ethan. "Look, there are many things that can't be explained in Ravenshore. But that doesn't mean everything is tied to wild conspiracy theories about alternate dimensions or secret experiments."

"Are you really sure, Derek?" Avery interjected, her tone firmer. "You seem to know more than you're letting on."

Derek flinched at Avery's question. He fell silent, his breathing heavier. The atmosphere in the room grew thick with unspoken words.

"So, what are you hiding?" Avery pressed, this time more deeply.

Derek's expression shifted, as if the walls he had built were beginning to crack. He turned his gaze toward the window, as if ensuring no one was listening to their conversation.

"Some things are better left undiscovered," he murmured finally, his voice barely audible. "You're playing with a fire that's bigger than you realize."

"We just want to know the truth," Ethan replied in frustration. "What do you know, Derek? What's really happening in Ravenshore?"

Derek stood from his chair and walked slowly to the window, staring out at the falling rain. For a brief moment, he seemed so fragile—a man caught in a monumental dilemma between duty and truth.

"There are greater forces at work here," he said, his voice low and filled with fear. "I can't tell you everything, not now. But know this: the deeper you dig, the more trapped you'll become. And when that time comes, you may not be able to escape."

Avery and Ethan exchanged glances, both sensing the same tension. They knew Derek was hiding something much bigger, something that could change everything.

"Why can't you tell us now?" Ethan asked again, seeking clarity.

Derek looked at them with eyes filled with sadness and fear. "Because if you know too much, you'll become targets. Just like I am."

"Targets?" Avery held her breath. "What do you mean, Derek?"

But before Derek could answer, the phone on his desk rang loudly, breaking the tense silence. He looked startled but quickly answered the call, speaking in a flat tone.

"We have to stop this for now," he said after hanging up. "I have other matters to attend to. Here's my home address; come by tonight."

Derek glanced at them one last time, his expression warning. "Be careful what you seek. The truth in Ravenshore... could destroy you."

With that, Derek left the room, leaving Avery and Ethan with a multitude of unanswered questions.

Outside, the rain intensified, and lightning occasionally flashed across the dark sky above Ravenshore. They stood in the cold police station, realizing that something far more dangerous was lurking, something much larger than they had previously suspected.

"I don't know what to believe anymore," Avery murmured as she stepped outside.

"He's clearly hiding something," Ethan replied, his face troubled. "But whatever it is, we need to find the answers."

They walked out of the police station, back onto the rain-slick streets. Yet, behind their footsteps, that uneasy feeling continued to linger, as if someone were watching them from the shadows. The mystery of Ravenshore was deepening, and they found themselves at its center.