Whispers in the Shadows

Whispers in the Shadows

Catie Barnett

308.8k Words / Completed
50
Hot
504
Views

Introduction

Dark Romance in Blackthorne Hollow


C
Title: Whispers in the Shadows
Genre: Dark Romance
Synopsis:
In the desolate town of Blackthorne Hollow, secrets are buried deep, entwined with lust, betrayal, and forbidden love. Clara, a brilliant but introverted college student, returns to her hometown after her mother’s sudden death, haunted by memories and an overwhelming sense of loss. As she unravels truths about her family and her mother’s hidden past, she encounters Adrian, a charismatic yet enigmatic figure who walks the line between darkness and light.

Fated to cross paths, Clara and Adrian are drawn to each other while battling the ghosts of their pasts. Their connection ignites a flame that challenges societal norms, morality, and ultimately, Clara’s sense of self. As they spiral deeper into their desire, chilling enigmas surface, revealing secrets that could tear them apart—stories of obsession, power play, and a love that asks: how far will you go for the one you love?
Read More

Share the book to

facebooktwitterpinterestwhatsappreddit

About Author

Catie Barnett

Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Homecoming

The ancient pines of Blackthorne Hollow loomed over Clara's car as she navigated the winding road, their branches stretching like gnarled fingers across the overcast sky. Each curve brought a flood of memories, some warm and comforting, others sharp enough to steal her breath. The weather-beaten sign welcoming her to her hometown came into view, and Clara's grip tightened on the steering wheel.

She hadn't been back in five years, not since she'd left for college, eager to escape the suffocating smallness of the town. Now, at twenty-three, she was returning under the weight of grief, her mother's sudden passing dragging her back to the place she'd tried so hard to leave behind.

As Clara drove down Main Street, she noted how little had changed. The same peeling paint adorned the general store, and Mrs. Holloway still sat in her rocking chair on the porch of the bed and breakfast, her rheumy eyes following Clara's car as it passed. The familiarity was both comforting and unsettling, like a favorite sweater that no longer quite fit.

She turned onto Willow Lane, her childhood street, and felt her heart constrict. There, at the end of the road, stood her family home – a Victorian beauty that had seen better days. The white paint was faded and chipped, the garden her mother had so lovingly tended now overgrown with weeds. Clara parked in the driveway and sat for a moment, steeling herself for what lay ahead.

The creak of the car door seemed unnaturally loud in the quiet afternoon. Clara stepped out, the gravel crunching beneath her feet, and made her way to the trunk to retrieve her suitcase. As she did, a voice called out from across the street.

"Clara? Clara Montgomery, is that you?"

She turned to see Mrs. Abernathy, her former next-door neighbor, hurrying over with a plate covered in tin foil. The older woman's face was a mixture of sympathy and curiosity.

"Mrs. Abernathy," Clara greeted, forcing a small smile. "It's good to see you."

"Oh, honey," Mrs. Abernathy said, pulling Clara into an unexpected hug. "I'm so sorry about your mother. We're all just devastated. Elizabeth was such a dear friend to so many of us."

Clara stiffened slightly at the embrace but managed to pat Mrs. Abernathy's back awkwardly. "Thank you," she murmured, stepping back. "It's been... difficult."

Mrs. Abernathy nodded, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "Of course, of course. I can't imagine what you're going through. I brought you a casserole – figured you wouldn't want to worry about cooking right now."

Clara accepted the plate, touched by the gesture despite her discomfort. "That's very kind of you. I appreciate it."

"It's the least I could do," Mrs. Abernathy insisted. She hesitated for a moment before adding, "You know, if you need anything at all – someone to talk to, help with arrangements – I'm just across the street."

"Thank you," Clara repeated, her throat tight. "I should probably get inside and start... sorting things out."

Mrs. Abernathy nodded understandingly. "Of course, dear. Don't hesitate to reach out, day or night."

As the older woman retreated across the street, Clara turned back to face the house. She took a deep breath, grabbed her suitcase, and made her way up the creaking porch steps. The key felt heavy in her hand as she inserted it into the lock, the tumblers groaning in protest as if the house itself was reluctant to let her in.

The door swung open with a mournful sigh, revealing the dim interior. Clara stepped inside, the scent of dust and stale air mingling with the faint traces of her mother's perfume. She set down the casserole and her suitcase, her eyes adjusting to the gloom as she took in the familiar surroundings.

Everything was just as she remembered, yet somehow fundamentally changed. The absence of her mother's vibrant presence left a palpable void, as if the very walls were holding their breath in anticipation of her return.

Clara moved through the house, trailing her fingers along the worn furniture. In the living room, she paused before the mantel, her gaze drawn to the collection of framed photographs. There was her high school graduation, her parents beaming proudly on either side of her. Another showed a much younger Clara, gap-toothed and grinning, perched on her father's shoulders at the county fair. And there, in the center, was a photo of her parents on their wedding day, young and radiant with hope.

Her father's face brought a fresh wave of complicated emotions. He'd left when Clara was twelve, disappearing without explanation and leaving her mother to pick up the pieces. Clara had never forgiven him for the pain he'd caused, the way he'd shattered their family without a backward glance.

A sudden, irrational anger surged through her. Why wasn't he here now? Why hadn't he reached out when her mother died? She snatched up the wedding photo, intending to turn it face-down, but something made her pause. Her mother's smile, frozen in time, seemed to plead with her. With a sigh, Clara gently replaced the frame, leaving the ghosts of the past undisturbed.

She made her way upstairs, each step creaking a familiar tune. The door to her old bedroom stood slightly ajar, and she pushed it open with trepidation. To her surprise, it was exactly as she'd left it five years ago – posters of long-forgotten bands adorning the walls, her collection of dog-eared books lining the shelves, even her old stuffed bear still perched on the neatly made bed.

Clara sat down heavily on the edge of the mattress, overcome by a wave of nostalgia and grief. She picked up the bear – Mr. Fluffles, she remembered with a sad smile – and hugged it to her chest, inhaling the scent of childhood and simpler times.

A knock at the front door startled her from her reverie. Hastily wiping her eyes, Clara set Mr. Fluffles back on the bed and made her way downstairs. She opened the door to find a tall, broad-shouldered man with kind eyes and salt-and-pepper hair standing on the porch.

"Clara," he said warmly, "I thought I saw your car pull up earlier. Welcome home."

"Sheriff Cooper," Clara greeted, recognizing her mother's longtime friend and the town's chief law enforcement officer. "Thank you."

The sheriff's expression softened with sympathy. "I'm so sorry about Elizabeth, Clara. She was a wonderful woman, and a dear friend. The whole town is mourning her loss."

Clara nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Sheriff Cooper seemed to understand, filling the silence with gentle concern.

"I know this must be overwhelming for you," he continued. "I wanted to stop by and see if there's anything you need. Anything at all."

"That's very kind of you," Clara managed. "I'm... I'm not sure what I need right now. Everything feels a bit surreal."

Sheriff Cooper nodded. "That's perfectly understandable. Listen, why don't you come down to the station tomorrow? There are some matters we need to discuss regarding your mother's... passing."

A chill ran down Clara's spine at his hesitation. "What do you mean? I thought it was a heart attack."

The sheriff's expression grew guarded. "It's probably nothing to worry about, but there are a few details we should go over in person. Nothing that can't wait until tomorrow, though. You've had a long journey – get some rest, and we'll talk in the morning."

Clara wanted to press him for more information, but exhaustion was quickly overtaking her curiosity. She nodded, promising to stop by the station the next day.

As Sheriff Cooper turned to leave, he paused and looked back at her. "Clara, I know you've been away for a while, but Blackthorne Hollow has a way of holding onto its secrets. Be careful, and don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it."

With that cryptic warning, he descended the porch steps and made his way to his patrol car. Clara watched him drive away, a sense of unease settling in her stomach. What secrets could a small town like Blackthorne Hollow possibly hold? And what did they have to do with her mother's death?

Closing the door, Clara leaned against it, suddenly feeling the weight of the day pressing down on her. She made her way to the kitchen, her footsteps echoing in the empty house. Opening the refrigerator, she found it mostly bare save for a few containers of expired yogurt and a half-empty bottle of white wine.

Clara grabbed the wine and a glass from the cupboard, then settled onto the worn couch in the living room. As she poured herself a generous serving, her eyes were drawn to a leather-bound book on the coffee table. Curious, she set down her glass and picked it up.

The cover was unmarked, but when she opened it, she recognized her mother's elegant handwriting. It was a journal, dated just a few months prior. Clara's heart raced as she debated whether to read it. On one hand, it felt like an invasion of privacy. On the other, it might provide some insight into her mother's final days.

Guilt warred with curiosity as Clara traced her fingers over the first entry. Finally, with a deep breath, she began to read:

"April 15th – The dreams have returned, more vivid than ever. I see his face in the shadows, hear his voice on the wind. Am I losing my mind, or is the past finally catching up with me? I fear for Clara. She doesn't know the truth, and I pray she never has to."

Clara's breath caught in her throat. What truth? What had her mother been afraid of? She flipped through the pages, her wine forgotten as she immersed herself in her mother's private thoughts.

As she read, a picture began to emerge – one of fear, secrets, and a looming threat that seemed to have haunted Elizabeth Montgomery for years. There were veiled references to mistakes made long ago, to a darkness that had never truly left Blackthorne Hollow. And woven throughout was a desperate love for Clara, a fierce desire to protect her from... something.

The final entry, dated just days before her mother's death, sent a chill down Clara's spine:

"He's here. I've seen him in town, watching, waiting. I don't know how he found us after all these years, but I won't let him hurt Clara. I'll do whatever it takes to keep her safe, even if it means facing the shadows one last time. God forgive me for what I've done, and what I may have to do."

Clara closed the journal, her mind reeling. Who was the mysterious "he" her mother had been so afraid of? What secrets had Elizabeth taken to her grave? And most pressingly – was Clara herself in danger?

A sudden gust of wind rattled the windows, making Clara jump. She looked up, startled to realize that night had fallen while she'd been lost in her mother's words. The shadows in the corners of the room seemed to deepen, and Clara couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched.

She stood abruptly, gathering the journal and her barely-touched wine. As she climbed the stairs to her bedroom, Clara's mind raced with questions. She'd come to Blackthorne Hollow seeking closure, but instead, she'd stumbled upon a mystery that threatened to unravel everything she thought she knew about her mother, her past, and perhaps even herself.

Settling into her childhood bed, Clara clutched the journal to her chest. Sleep would not come easily tonight, she knew. But tomorrow... tomorrow she would begin to uncover the truth, no matter where it led. As she drifted off into an uneasy slumber, one thought echoed in her mind:

What secrets did Blackthorne Hollow hold, and how far would she have to descend into the shadows to find them?

Comments

  • BlondeVixon

    so is Adrian her brother if his dad is her dad?

    01/03/2025 15:08
  • Rachel Kullman

    I’m confused is Aidrin her dad than?

    11/19/2024 23:50

You Might Like 😍

The Badass Mafia Princess and Family

The Badass Mafia Princess and Family

Ongoing · Tonje Unosen
Betty have been living a lie for as long as she can remember. She have been abused by her parents her whole life, even though she is a broken and abused girl in her own home. Outside of those four walls she is a force to be reckoned with! She is not afraid to do what she need to stay alive!
276.8k Views
The Mafia's Sugar Queen

The Mafia's Sugar Queen

Ongoing · Gregory Ellington
In a world of debt, desperation, and dangerous desires, Hannah never imagined her survival would lead her into the arms of a powerful and mysterious man.

Struggling to save her ailing mother and escape crushing financial ruin, Hannah enters a high-stakes arrangement that promises to solve her problems—but at what cost? Leonardo, a man with shadows darker than night and power beyond imagination, offers her everything she needs. Luxury. Security. Protection.

But in the treacherous landscape of wealth and power, nothing is as simple as it seems.

As Hannah navigates a complex web of sugar dating, corporate warfare, and unexpected emotions, she discovers that some bargains come with strings that can either save you or destroy you completely.

When lines between transaction and passion blur, and enemies circle like sharks, Hannah must decide: Is survival worth the price of her soul?
The Wrong Alpha  - A Twist of Fate?

The Wrong Alpha - A Twist of Fate?

Completed · Beth Jackson
Delilah can’t wait for her boyfriend to turn 17, for him to meet his Alpha wolf, and finally sense his fated mate. She has long since been predicted as his fated mate by all in their pack having been childhood sweethearts. They make a perfect couple so this would be the perfect love story for them. Surely fate couldn’t take an unexpected twist sending her on a painful path she didn’t expect? That painful path could change the person she once was but may bring an unexpected ally……could it be in a bitter twist of fate Delilah all along had held her hopes on the wrong Alpha?
The Devil's Bride

The Devil's Bride

Completed · KeyKirita
!! Mature Content 18+ Novel!!

He leaned down, taking my chin in his hand, forcing me to look up into his blood-red eyes. His fangs were showing, dripping with the blood of my boyfriend who lay on the ground, lifeless.

"You are mine, Bast. You'd do well to remember that." He purred, as he licked the blood off his lips. "No other man make take your innocence, but me." he said, looking down at my nearly naked form, the lust in his eyes making me squirm.

"Yes, Damien." I whispered in response, covering myself in the sheet, and looking over at the body of Jacob with a whimper.


My name is Bast, I'm seventeen years old, soon to be eighteen. When I was twelve, my parents sold me to the devil. On my eighteenth birthday, he will come back for me.

New Chapters Daily
3.2m Views
The Prison Project

The Prison Project

Ongoing · Bethany Donaghy
The government's newest experiment in criminal rehabilitation - sending thousands of young women to live alongside some of the most dangerous men held behind bars...

Can love tame the untouchable? Or will it only fuel the fire and cause chaos amongst the inmates?

Fresh out of high school and suffocating in her dead-end hometown, Margot longs for her escape. Her reckless best friend, Cara, thinks she's found the perfect way out for them both - The Prisoner Project - a controversial program offering a life-changing sum of money in exchange for time spent with maximum-security inmates.

Without hesitation, Cara rushes to sign them up.

Their reward? A one-way ticket into the depths of a prison ruled by gang leaders, mob bosses, and men the guards wouldn't even dare to cross...

At the centre of it all, meets Coban Santorelli - a man colder than ice, darker than midnight, and as deadly as the fire that fuels his inner rage. He knows that the project may very well be his only ticket to freedom - his only ticket to revenge on the one who managed to lock him up and so he must prove that he can learn to love…

Will Margot be the lucky one chosen to help reform him?

Will Coban be capable of bringing something to the table other than just sex?

What starts off as denial may very well grow in to obsession which could then fester in to becoming true love…

A temperamental romance novel.
The CEO's Contractual Wife

The CEO's Contractual Wife

Ongoing · Gregory Ellington
Olivia Morgan’s world is turned upside down when she walks in on her boyfriend betraying her with her friend. Devastated and drowning in debt, she’s thrust into an unlikely arrangement with Alexander Carter, the cold and calculating CEO of Carter Enterprises. In exchange for a year-long marriage of convenience, Olivia receives the money she desperately needs—and a promotion she never expected. But as their fake relationship blurs the lines between business and pleasure, Olivia finds herself torn between the man who offers her everything and the business rival who wants her heart. In a world where betrayal is just a step away and desire burns hot, Olivia must navigate her emotions, her career, and a dangerous game of power, passion, and secrets. Can she keep her heart guarded while falling deeper into a billionaire’s web of lust and love? Or will Alexander’s cold heart melt in the heat of their undeniable chemistry?
Mr. Ryan

Mr. Ryan

Completed · Mary D. Sant
"What things are not under your control tonight?" I gave my best smile, leaning against the wall.
He came closer with a dark and hungry expression,
so close,
his hands reached for my face, and he pressed his body against mine.
His mouth took mine eagerly, a little rudely.
His tongue left me breathless.
“If you don't go with me, I'll fuck you right here.” He whispered.


Katherine kept her virginity for years even after she turned 18. But one day, she met an extremely sexual man Nathan Ryan in the club. He had the most seductive blue eyes she has ever seen, a well-defined chin, almost golden blonde hair, full lips, perfectly drawn, and the most amazing smile, with perfect teeth and those damn dimples. Incredibly sexy.

She and he had a beautiful and hot one-night stand...
Katherine thought she might not meet the man again.
But fate has another plan

Katherine is about to take on the job of assistant to a billionaire who owns one of the biggest companies in the country and is known to be a conquering, authoritative and completely irresistible man. He is Nathan Ryan!

Will Kate be able to resist the charms of this attractive, powerful and seductive man?
Read to know a relationship torn between anger and the uncontrollable desire for pleasure.

Warning: R18+, Only for mature readers.
Strings of Fate

Strings of Fate

Completed · Kit Bryan
I'm an ordinary waiter, but I can see people's fate, including Shifters.
Like all children, I was tested for magic when I was only a few days old. Since my specific bloodline is unknown and my magic is unidentifiable, I was marked with a delicate swirling pattern around my upper right arm.

I do have magic, just as the tests showed, but it has never lined up with any known Magic species.

I can't breathe fire like a dragon Shifter, or hex people who piss me off like Witches. I can't make potions like an Alchemist or seduce people like a Succubus. Now I don't mean to be unappreciative of the power I do have, it's interesting and all, but it just really doesn't pack much of a punch and most of the time it is just pretty much useless. My special magical skill is the ability to see threads of fate.

Most of life is annoying enough for me, and what never occurred to me is that my mate is a rude, pompous nuisance. He's an Alpha and my friend's twin brother.

“What are you doing? This is my home, you can't just let yourself in!” I try and keep my voice firm but when he turns and fixes me with his golden eyes I shrink back. The look he gives me is imperious and I automatically drop my eyes to the floor as is my habit. Then I force myself to look back up again. He doesn't notice me looking up because he's already looked away from me. He's being rude, I refuse to show that he's scaring me, even though he most definitely is. He glances around and after realising that the only place to sit is the little table with its two chairs he points to it.

“Sit.” he orders. I glare at him. Who is he to order me around like this? How can someone this obnoxious possibly be my soul mate? Maybe I'm still asleep. I pinch my arm and my eyes water a little from the sting of pain.
My Possessive Alpha Twins For Mate

My Possessive Alpha Twins For Mate

Completed · Veejay
"No... You can't do this to me..." I almost squeezed the words through my teeth, my voice trembling.
My drunk stepfather remained indifferent, his weight suffocating, making it hard to breathe as my heart raced.
Suddenly, the door slammed open, and two figures burst in.
"Get off her!" a deafening roar echoed.
I didn't expect the twin brothers who'd bullied me at school to come charging in like gods to save me.
After my grandmother passed, I had to move in with my mom and stepdad, who treated me like a servant. I prayed every day for my 18th birthday to come, so l could leave and escape this broken home.
However, on my first day at my new school, l encountered the legendary twins everyone feared.
To make matters worse, the Moon Goddess revealed they were both my mates!
After helping me out with my stepdad, my twin mate cornered me, played with my hair, and whispered possessively, "You belong to us, our little mate..."
767.7k Views
“Burn those who burned me!”

“Burn those who burned me!”

Ongoing · Toddria Holiday
Follow several different stories of betrayal and revenge as the main characters finally seek justice and payback of those who betrayed them!

Burn those who burned me is an anthology book circulated on truth; justice; and REVENGE!

Story #1 The Ballad of Rabena Price.
Story #2 The rebirth of Clara Granger
Story #3 The violin of Graceland Teague
Story #4 The list for Josie Taylor

Story #5 COMING SOON!
213.8k Views
The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Completed · Caroline Above Story
(Sequel of Accidental Surrogate For Alpha. Can be read alone. ) Ariel was looking forward to her arranged marriage as the perfect princess, only to discover that she was being seen merely as a surrogate. Determined to escape the impending wedding, Ariel found herself with nowhere to turn. Her brothers helped her disguise as a boy, and she entered the mysterious and formidable Alpha Academy. To her surprise, Ariel stumbled upon her mate within its walls, and not just one … but more? However, her outward identity remained that of a young man… Will her true identity be uncovered, and can Ariel survive the harsh trials of Alpha Academy?
Violent Little Thing.

Violent Little Thing.

Ongoing · sheridan.hartin
Fuck off? I lent over to her side of the car, grabbed her hips and ripped her over to straddle my lap. This girl was something else, I knew it from the start. Now I needed her to know just who I am and what I am capable of. I held one hand firmly on her waist and the other to her throat. It wasn’t tight enough to hurt her, but it would keep her in place for now.
“Angel, you have a filthy fucking mouth”, I whispered low into her ear.
“Luciano…” Finally, an expression on her face. A real one she wasn’t hiding from me. It wasn’t fear though. It was lust. My girl likes this. I pulled her down further so she could feel just how much I was liking it too and the most enchanting gasp came from her mouth while her eyes rolled back for a moment.
————————————————
Do you enjoy a damsel in distress and a knight in shining armour? If so, then this book is not for you. This five foot nothing, FMC, Ariana Salvatore is a ruthless assassin, trained and tortured to be the most deadly weapon. She's got a heart of gold, a filthy mouth and a will to survive. She's on the run from her father's heavy hand and deadly demands. What happens when not one but three powerful mafia men pine for her? Will they be able to share? Will her past catch up to her? And what about her ex fiance? The ruthless, beast of a man her father had arranged for her to marry? This book is a whirlwind of events, violent, spicy and not for the faint hearted.
619.3k Views
Take you Fall into Fantasy.

Download AnyStories App to discover more Fantasy Stories.