Chapter 2: The Red Signal

Night fell over Blackwood Bay with a heavy, suffocating silence. Julian sat in the corner of the local tavern, watching the townsfolk. They spoke in hushed whispers, their eyes darting to the windows every few minutes. No one would speak to him about Claire Sterling. When he mentioned her name, the bartender simply shook his head and wiped the counter with renewed vigor.

At exactly eight o'clock, the wind died down. A thick, milky fog rolled in from the sea, swallowing the docks and the narrow cobblestone streets. From the window, Julian watched the fog climb the walls. Suddenly, a collective gasp went through the tavern.

He turned his gaze toward the sea. The beacon of the Blackwood Lighthouse had flared to life. But it was not the warm, white light that guided ships to safety. It was a deep, blood-red glow, cutting through the fog like an open wound. The patrons immediately began locking the doors and drawing the shutters, their faces pale with terror.