MYSTIC RECKONING VOL.1

Twenty-two years ago, in the quiet town of Meadowbrook, a tragic event unfolded that would forever alter the lives of the Martin family.

On a crisp autumn evening, Sarah Martin cradled her two-year-old daughter, Jessica, in her arms as they approached the nursery. The room was softly illuminated by a nightlight shaped like a crescent moon, casting gentle shadows on the walls. Inside the crib, baby Anabel lay sleeping, her tiny chest rising and falling with each breath. Sarah bent down, her face softened by the dim light, and kissed Anabel's forehead. "Sleep tight, my little angel," she whispered. She then turned to Jessica, who was holding a stuffed bear tightly. "Give your sister a kiss goodnight, Jessica."

Jessica, with her innocent eyes and curly locks, leaned over the crib and planted a gentle kiss on Anabel's forehead. Her giggle echoed softly in the room. Just as Sarah turned to leave the room, she saw her husband, Charles, standing in the doorway. His broad shoulders framed the doorway, and his warm smile crinkled the corners of his eyes. He walked in, his heavy footsteps muffled by the carpet, and kissed Anabel on the head, his eyes filled with pride and love for his family. He wrapped his arms around Sarah and Jessica, pulling them close. They left the room together, not knowing the darkness that would soon descend upon their home.

It was just past midnight when Sarah was abruptly awakened by the crackling sound of a walkie-talkie, which Charles kept on his bedside table. She reached out to touch his side of the bed, only to find it empty. "Charles?" she called softly, but there was no response. The faint glow of the walkie-talkie cast eerie shadows on the walls, heightening her sense of unease.

Feeling a sense of foreboding, Sarah got up to check on the children. The hallway was dim, the only light coming from the moonlight filtering through the windows. As she approached Anabel's room, she saw a figure standing by the crib, silhouetted in the faint light from the hallway. "Charles?" she called again, her voice trembling. The figure tilted its head and whispered, "Shush."

With sleepy eyes and a clouded mind, Sarah turned away, assuming it was Charles, and headed downstairs. The flickering light of the television caught her attention, and she saw Charles, fast asleep on the couch. Her heart dropped. "Anabel!" she screamed, turning and racing back up the stairs.

Her scream pierced the silence of the night, waking Charles. "Sarah!" he shouted as he bolted upright and ran after her. He reached Anabel's room, only to find everything seemingly in order. He let out a sigh of relief as he saw his baby girl smiling up at him from her crib. He stretched out his hand to touch her head when a drop of something wet landed on his skin. He glanced down to see blood on his hand. Panic surged through him as another drop fell. He slowly raised his head, and his blood ran cold. Hanging from the ceiling was Sarah, her legs broken, her face ghostly pale, her eyes wide with terror. A scream of horror tore from his throat as he realized the full extent of the nightmare.

Suddenly, flames erupted, consuming Sarah's body. Charles acted on pure instinct, grabbing Anabel from the crib and thrusting her into Jessica's arms. "Run, Jessica. Don't look back. Run!" Jessica, clutching Anabel, dashed out of the house, her heart pounding, the heat of the fire scorching her back. She stood in the yard, watching in shock as the house was engulfed in flames. Moments later, Charles emerged out of the house, coughing and covered in soot. He gathered his daughters and held them tightly as they watched their home burn.

An hour later, the fire trucks arrived, but it was too late. The house was a smoldering ruin. Charles stood there, holding Jessica and Anabel, mourning the loss of his beloved wife. The once happy family was now broken, their lives irrevocably changed by the malevolent force that had taken Sarah from them.

It was the present day in Meadowbrook university. The autumn air at Meadowbrook University was crisp and cool, filled with the unmistakable scent of fallen leaves and the distant laughter of students. The campus was alive with the spirit of Halloween, jack-o'-lanterns lining the walkways and cobwebs draped over every surface. Students roamed the grounds in costumes, their excitement palpable as they headed to various parties and events.

"Anabel! Come on, you were supposed to be ready like 15 minutes ago. You coming or what?" Jonathan called from the living room, his voice carrying a mix of impatience and amusement.

Anabel sighed from her bedroom, reluctant to leave the comfort of her cozy space. "Ugh, do I really have to go?" she replied, adjusting the oversized sweater she had chosen instead of a costume.

Jonathan poked his head into her room, a playful grin on his face. "Yes, of course. It'll be fun. And where is your costume?"

"You know how I feel about Halloween," Anabel said, rolling her eyes.

Jonathan, dressed as a swashbuckling pirate, stepped into the room and extended his hand to her. "Come on, it'll be fun. Besides, I promise there will be plenty of non-spooky activities."

Reluctantly, Anabel took his hand and let him lead her out of the apartment. The town's local bar was their destination, a hotspot known for its extravagant Halloween celebrations. The place was packed with revelers in an array of costumes, from classic monsters to pop culture icons. The sound of laughter and music filled the air as people danced and mingled.

Anabel and Jonathan found a spot at the bar and ordered a round of shots. The bartender, dressed as a vampire, slid the glasses toward them with a flourish. "To Halloween!" Jonathan cheered, clinking his glass against Anabel's.

"To Halloween," Anabel echoed half-heartedly, but she couldn't help but smile at Jonathan's infectious enthusiasm.

As the night wore on, Anabel found herself relaxing and enjoying the festive atmosphere. She was deep in conversation with Jonathan and her friend, Lisa, who had joined them at the bar.

"So, Anabel, how's everything going with your med school applications?" Lisa asked, taking a sip of her cocktail.

Anabel's eyes lit up. "Actually, I have an interview on Monday. It's for my top choice, Meadowbrook Medical School. If I get in, it could finally be my chance to study medicine."

"That's amazing!" Lisa exclaimed. "You're going to do great, Anabel."

Jonathan nodded in agreement, wrapping an arm around Anabel's shoulders. "Absolutely. You've got this. You're going to be an incredible doctor."

Anabel smiled, feeling a wave of gratitude for the support of her friends. "What would I do without you?" she asked, looking at Jonathan.

"Hmmm, crash and burn," he teased, leaning in to give her a kiss.

Their evening continued with laughter, dancing, and more rounds of drinks. The bar buzzed with energy, the perfect distraction from the pressures of everyday life.

Late that night, Anabel and Jonathan stumbled back to their apartment, the effects of the evening's festivities evident in their sleepy smiles and the slight sway in their steps. They collapsed into bed, falling into a deep, alcohol-induced sleep almost immediately.

Somewhere in the stillness of the night, a loud noise shattered the tranquility. Anabel awoke with a start, her senses immediately on high alert. She sat up, straining to hear any other sounds. There it was again, a thump, as if someone had jumped through a window.

Heart pounding, Anabel slipped out of bed and moved silently toward the living room. She saw a shadowy figure dart past the hallway. Pressing her back against the wall, she took deep breaths, trying to steady herself. She waited for the figure to pass again, then sprang into action, grabbing the intruder by the neck.

They exchanged blows in a flurry of movement, each one trying to gain the upper hand. Anabel was fierce, her training kicking in, but the figure was skilled and managed to pin her to the ground, a hand firmly on her neck.

"Whoa! Easy, tigress," the intruder said with a chuckle.

"Jessica?" Anabel gasped, recognizing her sister's voice. "You scared the crap out of me."

"That's because you're out of practice," Jessica replied, a grin spreading across her face.

Anabel freed herself from Jessica's grasp and flipped her sister onto the ground, pinning her in return. "Or not. Get off me," Jessica said, laughing and struggling to breathe.

"What the hell are you doing here, Jessica?" Anabel demanded, helping her sister to her feet.

"I came to grab a drink," Jessica said, tapping her sister's shoulders playfully.

"What the hell are you really doing here?" Anabel asked, her tone more serious now.

"We've got a situation. We need to talk," Jessica said, her expression turning grave.

"Uhh, what happened to the phone?" Anabel asked, crossing her arms.

"Would you have answered if I had called?" Jessica shot back, raising an eyebrow.

"Anabel?" Jonathan's voice called from the bedroom as he turned on the lights, illuminating the scene. "Hey, what's going on?"

"Hey, Jonathan," Jessica said casually.

"Uhh, Jonathan, this is my sister, Jessica," Anabel explained.

"Wait, your sister Jessica?" Jonathan asked, eyes widening. "Nice abs. You know, I got to tell you, you are completely out of my sister's league." Jessica smirked. "Just let me put something on," Jonathan said, feeling slightly awkward.

Jessica smirked. "No no, I wouldn't dream of it. Seriously. But well, I got to borrow your girlfriend, we want to talk about some family business... but it's nice meeting you."

Anabel intervened quickly, "No! No whatever you want to say, you can say it in front of her."

Jessica hesitated but then relented, "Well, Dad hasn't been home in a few days."

"So he's probably working overtime on a project. He'll stumble back in sooner or later," Anabel said, though a look of concern crossed her face.

Jessica's expression remained serious. "Dad is on a hunting trip. And he hasn't been home in a few days."

Anabel's eyes widened in shock. "Sorry Jonathan, you'll have to excuse us. We'll need to go outside."

Once outside, Anabel turned to Jessica, her frustration evident. "What. You can't just break into my apartment in the middle of the night and expect me to hit the road with you."

"Maybe you are not hearing me, Anny. Dad hasn't been home and I need your help to find him," Jessica said, her tone urgent.

Anabel tried to rationalize, "You remember during the Ridgewood Incident? He was missing then too. He's always missing, always fine."

"Not for this long. Now, are you going to come with me or not?" Jessica's tone was insistent.

"I'm not," Anabel replied sharply.

"Why not?" Jessica asked, frustration seeping into her voice. "I swore I was done hunting. For good."

"Come on, it wasn't easy but it wasn't that bad either," Jessica countered.

"Jessica, I can't go with you. You seriously think Mum would have wanted this for us?" Anabel's voice softened, trying to appeal to her sister's reason.

Jessica banged the door open, her anger evident. "Was that why you ran away?" she asked Anabel.

"I was going to go to college. It was Dad who said if I wanted to go I should stay gone. And that's exactly what I'm doing," Anabel replied, her voice filled with old hurt.

"And Dad's in trouble now and he needs us. If he's not dead already, I can feel it. I can't do this alone, Anny," Jessica said, her voice breaking slightly.

"Yes, you can," Anabel admitted, her resolve wavering.

"Well, I don't want to," Jessica replied, her eyes pleading with her sister.

Anabel stared into her sister's eyes before letting out a sigh. "What was he hunting?" she asked.

Jessica opened up the boot of her car, revealing an arsenal of weapons and equipment. "So when Dad left why didn't you go with him?" Anabel asked, inspecting the gear.

"Well, I was working my own gig," Jessica replied.

"Dad let you go on a hunting trip all by yourself?" Anabel asked, surprised.

"I'm 23, girl," Jessica said with a smirk. "Here we go," she said, pulling out a map. "About 2 days ago, Dad sent me a voicemail." She brought out a walkie-talkie and played it.

"Hey baby girl. It's me. Something is happening and I need to find out. Be careful, Jessy. We're all in danger," came their father's voice.

Right after that, another voice played, a woman's voice, filled with terror. "I CAN NEVER GO HOME." The tape ended.

"Can never go home? What does that even mean?" Anabel asked, her confusion mirroring Jessica's.

"Let's go find out why," Jessica said with determination.

Anabel let out a sigh. "I'll go with you. I'll help you find him but I have to be back before Monday."

Jessica looked at her curiously. "What's happening on Monday?"

"I've got a job interview,"

Anabel replied. "Skip it," Jessica said nonchalantly.

"I can't. It's a Medical school and it's my whole future on a plate," Anabel responded firmly.

"Medical school?" Jessica asked, a mix of surprise and admiration in her voice.

"So we got a deal or not?" Anabel asked

"Deal," Jessica answered with a nod.

Anabel walked back to her apartment to pack some things.

"You're leaving already?" Jonathan asked as she entered the room.

"Yeah. I have to help my sister out with something, but I promise I'll be back before Monday," Anabel assured him.

"Alright then. Be safe out there," Jonathan said, leaning in to give her a kiss.

Anabel smiled, returning the kiss before heading out. She met Jessica outside, and the two sisters zoomed off into the night.

The hum of the car engine echoed in the silence of the deserted town as Ethan cruised along the dark, empty streets. His phone buzzed with an incoming call, and he glanced at the screen. A smile spread across his face as he answered, "Hey, babe."

"Hey, Ethan. What are you up to?" Lily's voice was warm and familiar, a comforting presence in the eeriness of the night.

"Just driving around. Couldn't sleep, so I thought a late-night drive might help," Ethan replied, his tone casual. "What about you?"

"I was just about to go to bed but couldn't resist calling you. I miss you."

Ethan chuckled softly. "I miss you too, Lil. We should plan something fun for the weekend. Maybe a hike or a picnic?"

"That sounds perfect. I can't wait," she said, a smile evident in her voice. "So, where are you now?"

"Just passing through the old part of town. It's so quiet, almost spooky," Ethan remarked, his eyes scanning the dimly lit streets.

"Spooky, huh? Don't let