The village did not sleep.

Elara realized that before the sun had even risen.

She had spent the entire night sitting beside her mother in the old Veyne house, listening to sounds that should not have existed.

Footsteps above them.

Whispers beneath the floor.

Children laughing somewhere outside.

And every few hours…

The church bell rang.

There was no rope attached to it.

No one stood inside the tower.

Yet it continued to ring.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Elara sat on the floor beside the fireplace with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders.

Her mother sat across from her.

Mara had not slept.

Neither had Elara.

A small oil lamp burned between them.

Its flame moved strangely.

There was no wind.

Yet the flame kept leaning toward the hallway.

As if something was standing there.

Something invisible.

Elara looked at the darkness.

“Mom.”

Mara’s eyes immediately moved toward her.

“What?”

“Is something there?”

“Where?”

“The hallway.”

Mara stared.

“No.”

“You didn’t even look.”

“I don’t need to.”

Elara swallowed.

“What does that mean?”

Mara didn’t answer.

Elara pulled the blanket tighter around herself.

For the last six hours, she had asked questions.

Mara had answered only a few.

The rest…

She had ignored.

But now Elara couldn’t stay silent.

“Tell me about the Hollow Woman.”

Mara’s face changed.

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want you to know about her.”

“She already knows about me.”

Mara looked at her.

“That’s different.”

“How?”

“Because knowing about her makes her stronger.”

Elara frowned.

“That’s impossible.”

“Is it?”

Mara leaned forward.

“Listen to me carefully.”

Elara waited.

“The things in Blackthorn survive because people remember them.”

“Ghosts?”

“Not exactly.”

“Then what?”

“Something worse.”

Mara looked toward the windows.

“Some things die.”

She paused.

“Some things refuse to.”

Elara felt a chill move through her.

“And the Hollow Woman?”

Mara whispered,

“She refused.”

The lamp flickered.

Elara looked toward the hallway.

“Why does she want me?”

Mara didn’t answer.

“Mom.”

“Stop.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re asking questions I can’t answer.”

“Or you don’t want to answer.”

Mara stood.

“Elara.”

“No.”

Her voice became stronger.

“You brought me here.”

“I didn’t have a choice.”

“You always say that.”

“Because it’s true.”

“Then tell me the truth!”

Mara suddenly turned toward her.

“I AM TRYING TO KEEP YOU ALIVE!”

The room went silent.

Elara stared at her.

Mara’s breathing became uneven.

Tears filled her eyes.

“I’m sorry.”

Elara looked down.

“I’m scared.”

Mara sat beside her.

“I know.”

“I don’t understand anything.”

“I know.”

“Something called my name.”

“I know.”

“I saw a woman without eyes.”

“I know.”

“You said my grandmother is alive.”

Mara closed her eyes.

“I know.”

“Then why are you still hiding things from me?”

Mara opened her eyes.

“Because some truths…”

She touched Elara’s face.

“…are more dangerous than lies.”

---

At sunrise…

The village became silent.

Too silent.

Elara stood at the upstairs window.

The fog had disappeared.

She could finally see Blackthorn.

In daylight…

It looked almost normal.

Almost.

People were outside now.

Old women carried baskets.

Men walked along the road.

Children stood near the church.

But no one spoke.

No one laughed.

No one looked happy.

Every person in the village wore black.

Elara turned.

“Mom.”

Mara was packing a bag.

“What?”

“People are outside.”

“Don’t look at them.”

“Why?”

“Because they will look back.”

Elara frowned.

“That’s not scary.”

Mara stopped.

“Elara.”

“What?”

“You don’t understand.”

She walked toward the window.

“People in Blackthorn don’t look at strangers.”

“Then why are they looking at me?”

Mara froze.

Elara looked outside.

Every person in the village had turned toward the house.

Every single one.

The old women.

The men.

The children.

All of them.

Looking directly at the window.

At Elara.

She stepped backward.

Mara grabbed her.

“Get away from there.”

“Why?”

“NOW!”

Mara pulled the curtains shut.

Elara’s heart raced.

“What’s happening?”

Mara locked the window.

Then another.

Then another.

“Mom.”

“Don’t ask.”

“Why are they staring at me?”

Mara’s hands trembled.

“Because they know.”

“Know what?”

“That you’re here.”

“Everyone knows that.”

“No.”

Mara looked at her.

“They know who you are.”

---

Someone knocked on the front door.

Mara froze.

Elara stared toward the hallway.

Three knocks.

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

Mara whispered,

“Stay here.”

She moved toward the door.

Elara followed.

“Mom.”

“Stay.”

“I’m coming.”

“No.”

“I’m not staying alone.”

Mara stopped.

Then nodded.

They walked together.

The knocking came again.

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

Mara looked through the small window.

Her face changed.

“Who is it?”

An old woman’s voice answered.

“Agnes.”

Mara stepped backward.

Elara whispered,

“Who?”

Mara didn’t answer.

The woman knocked again.

“Mara.”

Her voice was calm.

“Open the door.”

Mara shook her head.

“Go away.”

A pause.

Then the woman laughed softly.

“You always were a rude child.”

Elara stared at her mother.

Mara looked terrified.

“Who is she?”

“Old Mother Agnes.”

“Who?”

“The oldest woman in Blackthorn.”

“Why won’t you open the door?”

“Because she’s dangerous.”

Agnes laughed outside.

“Still telling your daughter lies?”

Mara’s face became pale.

Elara moved closer to the door.

“She knows me.”

“Don’t.”

“How?”

“Elara!”

Agnes spoke again.

“Little Elara.”

Elara froze.

“She knows my name.”

Mara grabbed her arm.

“Don’t answer.”

Agnes whispered,

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

Elara’s heart pounded.

“Why?”

Mara covered her mouth.

Too late.

Silence.

Then…

Agnes laughed.

“Ah.”

Mara’s eyes filled with fear.

“You answered.”

Elara looked at her.

“What did I do?”

Agnes whispered,

“Now the village knows your voice.”

The knocking stopped.

Mara immediately pulled Elara away.

“What does that mean?”

Mara looked at her daughter.

“We have to leave.”

“But you said we can’t.”

“We have to try.”

---

They waited until noon.

Then Mara opened the front door.

The village was empty.

No people.

No birds.

No animals.

Nothing.

Elara stepped outside.

The air was cold.

Too cold.

“Where did everyone go?”

Mara looked toward the church.

“Inside.”

“Why?”

“They always go inside at noon.”

“Why?”

Mara grabbed her hand.

“Because that’s when the dead wake up.”

Elara stared.

“What?”

“Walk.”

They moved quickly.

Elara looked at the houses.

Every door was locked.

Every window covered.

But she could hear breathing.

From inside.

People were hiding.

Watching.

Waiting.

Then Elara saw something.

A little girl.

Standing in front of a house.

The same girl from the night before.

The girl who looked like Mara as a child.

Elara stopped.

“Mom.”

Mara turned.

“Don’t.”

“She’s there.”

“Don’t look.”

“But—”

The girl smiled.

Elara stared.

The little girl lifted her hand.

She pointed toward the upstairs window.

Elara looked.

A woman stood there.

Tall.

Thin.

Her face hidden behind wet hair.

The Hollow Woman.

Elara couldn’t move.

The creature slowly raised one hand.

Then…

It pointed directly at Elara.

Mara pulled her daughter away.

“RUN!”

They ran.

Behind them…

The little girl began laughing.

---

They reached the church.

The doors were closed.

Mara stopped.

Elara stared at the huge wooden entrance.

“Why did we come here?”

Mara didn’t answer.

“Mom?”

“We need to find something.”

“What?”

“The well.”

Elara remembered.

The warning.

Never go near the well.

“You said not to go near it.”

“I know.”

“Then why are we here?”

“Because your grandmother left something.”

“What?”

Mara looked at the church.

“The truth.”

The doors opened by themselves.

Elara stepped backward.

“Mom.”

“I know.”

“Let’s go.”

“We can’t.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s already too late.”

Inside…

The church was dark.

Hundreds of candles burned along the walls.

But no one had lit them.

The smell of incense filled the air.

At the center stood a statue.

A woman holding a baby.

Elara stared.

“Who is that?”

Mara stopped.

“Don’t look at her.”

Elara looked anyway.

The statue’s face was covered with black cloth.

But something moved beneath it.

Like breathing.

Elara whispered,

“Mom…”

Mara pulled her away.

“Don’t.”

They walked deeper into the church.

Then Elara heard something.

A child crying.

She stopped.

“Do you hear that?”

Mara kept walking.

“Mom.”

“Don’t listen.”

“It’s a child.”

“Elara.”

“Someone is crying.”

Mara turned.

“That’s not a child.”

The crying became louder.

Then another voice joined it.

Then another.

Soon…

The church was filled with children crying.

Hundreds.

Elara covered her ears.

“Make them stop!”

Mara grabbed her.

“Don’t listen!”

“Who are they?”

“The children.”

“What children?”

“The ones who were given to the village.”

Elara stared at her.

“Given?”

Mara didn’t answer.

The crying suddenly stopped.

Silence.

Then…

A small voice spoke behind them.

“Mother.”

Elara turned.

A little boy stood in the aisle.

His skin was pale.

His clothes were soaked.

Water dripped from his hair.

Elara stared.

The boy smiled.

“Are you my mother?”

“No.”

Mara stepped between them.

The boy looked at Mara.

“Not yet.”

His mouth opened.

Black water poured from it.

Elara screamed.

Mara pulled her toward the altar.

“RUN!”

They ran through a side door.

Behind them…

The children began laughing.

---

The tunnel beneath the church was narrow.

Dark.

Wet.

Mara carried an old lantern.

Elara followed.

“Where are we going?”

“The well.”

“Mom!”

“I know.”

“You said never go there.”

“I know.”

“Then why?”

“Because your grandmother hid something there.”

“What?”

Mara stopped.

She looked at her daughter.

“A book.”

“What book?”

“The Book of Names.”

Elara felt a chill.

“What does it do?”

“It contains the names of every person the village has taken.”

“And?”

Mara’s eyes filled with fear.

“If your name is written inside…”

She paused.

“…the village owns you.”

Elara swallowed.

“Is my name there?”

Mara didn’t answer.

“Mom.”

“I don’t know.”

“You do.”

Mara looked away.

“You know.”

Mara whispered,

“Yes.”

Elara’s heart stopped.

“My name is there.”

“Yes.”

“How?”

Mara’s voice broke.

“Because I saw it.”

“When?”

“Before you were born.”

Elara stared.

“What?”

Mara continued walking.

“I was seventeen.”

She looked back.

“I had escaped Blackthorn.”

“I thought I was free.”

“Then I discovered I was pregnant.”

Elara’s breath caught.

“You.”

Mara nodded.

“I came back.”

“Why?”

“Because I knew.”

“Knew what?”

Mara’s eyes filled with tears.

“The village had marked you.”

Elara couldn’t speak.

“I returned to destroy the mark.”

“Did you?”

Mara looked at her.

“No.”

“Then why am I alive?”

“Because I made a deal.”

Elara stopped.

“What deal?”

Mara closed her eyes.

“I promised the village…”

She whispered,

“…I would bring you back when you turned sixteen.”

Elara felt the ground disappear beneath her.

“You promised me?”

“I was trying to save you.”

“You promised to give me to them?”

“No!”

Mara grabbed her.

“I promised to bring you here.”

“Why?”

“Because if I didn’t…”

Mara began crying.

“They would have come for you.”

Elara stepped away.

“Maybe they should have.”

“Elara.”

“You lied to me.”

“I was trying to protect you.”

“Everyone says that!”

Elara screamed.

Her voice echoed through the tunnel.

Then…

Something whispered from behind them.

“Elara.”

Mara froze.

Elara turned.

Nothing.

Then…

“Elara.”

Closer.

Mara grabbed her daughter.

“Run.”

They ran.

The tunnel seemed endless.

The walls moved.

The floor became wet.

Water rose around their ankles.

Then their knees.

Elara screamed.

“Mom!”

Mara pulled her forward.

“Keep moving!”

Something grabbed Elara’s foot.

She fell.

“Mom!”

Mara turned.

A pale hand was wrapped around Elara’s ankle.

Mara grabbed her daughter.

“LET HER GO!”

The hand pulled harder.

Elara screamed.

Mara took the lantern.

She smashed it against the wall.

Fire exploded.

The hand disappeared.

The water began boiling.

Something screamed beneath them.

Mara pulled Elara up.

“RUN!”

They reached a door.

Mara opened it.

They fell into a large underground chamber.

At the center…

Was a well.

An ancient stone well.

Black water filled it.

Hundreds of names were carved into the walls.

Elara looked.

“Mom.”

Mara stopped.

Elara stepped closer.

There were names everywhere.

Men.

Women.

Children.

Some had dates.

Some had no dates.

Some names had been scratched out.

Elara moved closer.

Then she saw it.

Her name.

ELARA VEYNE.

Below it…

A date.

Tomorrow.

Elara stopped breathing.

“Mom.”

Mara looked.

She screamed.

“No.”

Elara stepped backward.

“What does that mean?”

Mara ran to the well.

“NO!”

The black water began moving.

Something was rising.

A hand appeared.

Then another.

Then a head.

The Hollow Woman climbed out of the well.

But now…

Elara could see her face.

It was not empty.

It was familiar.

Too familiar.

Elara stared.

“Mom…”

Mara was crying.

“No.”

The creature looked at Elara.

And Elara realized…

The Hollow Woman had the same eyes as her.

The same eyes.

The same face.

Older.

Twisted.

Dead.

Elara whispered,

“Who is she?”

Mara could barely speak.

“Your grandmother.”

The creature smiled.

“Hello, Elara.”

Elara screamed.

The woman stepped forward.

“I’ve waited sixteen years.”

Mara grabbed her daughter.

“Stay away from her!”

The Hollow Woman laughed.

“You promised.”

Mara shook her head.

“I changed my mind.”

“You don’t get to.”

“Leave my daughter alone!”

“You gave her to me.”

“No!”

“You signed the book.”

Mara froze.

Elara looked at her.

“You did what?”

The Hollow Woman smiled.

“Your mother signed your name.”

Elara’s heart shattered.

“Mom?”

Mara turned.

“I had no choice.”

“You signed my name.”

“I was trying to save you.”

“You promised me.”

“No.”

The Hollow Woman moved closer.

“She promised.”

Mara screamed,

“TAKE ME INSTEAD!”

Silence.

Elara stared at her mother.

The Hollow Woman tilted her head.

“Interesting.”

Mara stepped forward.

“Take me.”

“No.”

“Please.”

“You are already mine.”

Mara froze.

“What?”

The creature pointed at Elara.

“But she…”

Its smile widened.

“…belongs to the village.”

Elara grabbed her mother’s hand.

“We’re leaving.”

The Hollow Woman laughed.

“You can’t.”

“Watch me.”

Elara pulled Mara toward the tunnel.

The creature screamed.

The entire chamber shook.

The walls cracked.

The black water rose.

Mara grabbed Elara.

“RUN!”

They ran.

Behind them…

The Hollow Woman screamed.

“ELARA!”

Elara didn’t stop.

The tunnel collapsed behind them.

They escaped into the church.

The doors slammed shut.

The bell began ringing.

One.

Two.

Three.

Mara pulled Elara outside.

The village was still empty.

But now…

Every house had its lights on.

Every window was open.

And behind every window…

Children stood.

Watching.

Elara looked at them.

Every child was soaking wet.

Every child had black eyes.

And every child was smiling.

Then…

They all whispered together.

“Tomorrow.”

Elara grabbed her mother’s hand.

“Tomorrow what?”

Mara didn’t answer.

“Mom!”

Mara looked at her.

Her face was filled with terror.

“Tomorrow is your birthday.”

Elara froze.

The children began laughing.

Mara pulled her daughter toward the house.

“We have one day.”

“One day for what?”

“To break the curse.”

“How?”

Mara looked toward the church.

“Your grandmother left the answer.”

“Where?”

Mara whispered,

“Inside the Book of Names.”

Elara stared.

“But it’s in the well.”

Mara nodded.

“Yes.”

“And the Hollow Woman is guarding it.”

“Yes.”

“Then how do we get it?”

Mara looked at her daughter.

“We go back.”

Elara stared.

“Back into the well?”

Mara nodded.

“Tonight.”

A bell rang.

The village became silent.

Then a voice came from the darkness.

Not the Hollow Woman.

Not Agnes.

Not one of the children.

A man’s voice.

Deep.

Cold.

“Don’t go into the well.”

Mara froze.

Elara looked around.

“Who said that?”

The voice came again.

“You don’t know what lives beneath it.”

Mara whispered,

“Your grandfather.”

Elara’s blood turned cold.

“My grandfather is dead.”

Mara looked at her.

“No.”

The voice laughed.

“He’s not.”

A shadow appeared at the end of the road.

A tall man.

Standing in the fog.

Elara couldn’t see his face.

But she could see one thing.

His eyes.

Black.

Completely black.

Mara pulled Elara behind her.

The man smiled.

“Happy birthday, little one.”

Elara screamed.

The shadow disappeared.

And somewhere beneath the village…

Something began climbing out of the earth.

Something that had been waiting for sixteen years.

Something that knew Elara’s name.

Something that wanted her soul.

Mara looked at her daughter.

“We have until midnight.”

“Until midnight for what?”

Mara whispered,

“To save you.”

Behind them…

The church bell began ringing.

Thirteen times.

And from the well beneath the church…

A woman’s voice whispered:

“Tomorrow, she belongs to us.”

To be continued…