Chapter Eleven: Revelations in the Ledger

The next morning, the sky was a dull gray, casting an overcast shadow across the town of Bellhollow. Inside Pip's cozy room at the bed-and-breakfast, the atmosphere was anything but calm. Pip sat cross-legged on the bed, the second ledger open before her, while Wednesday leaned against the headboard, her sharp eyes scanning the pages as they worked in tandem.

"This is worse than we thought," Pip murmured, her fingers tracing the faded words on the page. "It's all here—rituals, sacrifices, meetings. The Order of the Black Oak has been planning this for generations."

Wednesday remained silent, her focus razor-sharp. The weight of their discovery pressed down on them both. They had spent hours poring over the ledger, uncovering secrets that stretched back over a century. The deeper they dug, the clearer it became that the Order's influence had woven its way through every corner of Bellhollow—and the Thorne family was at its heart.

"There's more," Wednesday said, flipping to another page. Her voice was low but steady. "Look at this."

Pip shifted closer, reading the passage. It described a final ritual—the culmination of the Order's long-standing goals. According to the ledger, the ritual was meant to harness an ancient power that would grant the Order control over the town and, potentially, far beyond. But the price was steep: a human sacrifice.

Pip's breath caught in her throat. "It's just like what happened to Violet."

"Exactly," Wednesday replied, her eyes darkening. "The ritual demands a chosen sacrifice. Someone young, someone innocent. Just like Violet. And according to this—" she pointed to a passage near the bottom of the page "—the ritual was delayed when Rowan's ancestor refused to carry it out."

Pip's mind raced, connecting the dots. "That's why the ritual didn't happen back then. But they've been planning to complete it ever since."

Wednesday nodded grimly. "And now it looks like they're finally ready to finish what they started."

The room fell into a heavy silence as the weight of the situation settled over them. Pip's hands shook as she closed the ledger, her thoughts swirling with fear and urgency. If the Order was preparing to carry out the ritual now, it meant someone else in Bellhollow was in danger—and they didn't have much time.

"We need to figure out when and where they're planning to do this," Pip said, her voice tight. "There has to be more in the ledger that tells us."

Wednesday's eyes scanned the room as if searching for answers. "We'll find it. But we're running out of time. We need to move fast."

The two of them resumed their search, flipping through the ledger's pages with increasing urgency. The ancient text was filled with cryptic symbols and references to the Thorne estate, but the details of the final ritual were scattered throughout.

Finally, Pip stopped on a page near the back of the book. "Here—this looks like it."

Wednesday leaned in, reading over her shoulder. The passage described a hidden chamber beneath the Thorne estate, a place where the Order had performed its darkest rites. It was there, according to the text, that the final ritual would take place.

Pip's heart raced. "The Thorne estate. That's where they're planning to do it."

Wednesday's eyes narrowed. "But when?"

Pip scanned the page frantically, looking for any mention of a time. And then she saw it—carved into the margins of the page, barely legible beneath the faded ink, were the words midnight, the next full moon.

"Tonight," Pip whispered, her voice shaking. "They're going to do it tonight."

The realization hit them both like a punch to the gut. The ritual was hours away, and if they didn't act fast, someone else would be sacrificed—just like Violet.

"We have to stop them," Pip said, her voice filled with determination. "We can't let this happen again."

Wednesday nodded, her expression resolute. "We need help."

Pip paused, thinking quickly. There was one person who knew more about the Thorne estate than anyone—and who might be willing to help them stop the Order.

"Rowan," Pip said suddenly. "We need to talk to Rowan."


The wind whipped through the trees as Pip and Wednesday made their way toward the Thorne estate. The sky had darkened, clouds hanging low and heavy as if foreshadowing the storm ahead. Every step felt more urgent than the last, the weight of the impending ritual pressing down on them.

As they approached the estate, Pip's heart pounded in her chest. The mansion loomed before them, its gothic architecture casting long shadows across the overgrown grounds. They hadn't been here since their last encounter with Rowan, but now they had no choice. If they were going to stop the Order, they needed his help.

They knocked on the door, and after what felt like an eternity, it creaked open. Rowan stood in the doorway, his face pale and drawn. His usual air of arrogance had vanished, replaced by something closer to fear.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice tense.

"We need to talk," Pip said, stepping forward. "It's about the Order—and the ritual they're planning tonight."

Rowan's eyes widened slightly, but he quickly tried to compose himself. "I told you before, I don't want anything to do with that."

"This isn't just about what you want, Rowan," Wednesday said, her voice cold and sharp. "The Order is planning to complete the ritual tonight. Someone is going to die, just like Violet."

Rowan flinched at the mention of Violet's name, his hand gripping the edge of the doorframe. For a moment, Pip thought he might slam the door in their faces. But then, with a heavy sigh, he stepped back and gestured for them to come inside.

"Fine," he muttered. "But I don't know how much I can help."


They sat in the dimly lit sitting room, the weight of the conversation hanging heavy in the air. Rowan looked more conflicted than ever as Pip and Wednesday explained what they had found in the ledger, laying out the full scope of the Order's plans. The more they talked, the more Rowan's expression darkened.

"Like I said before, my family was heavily involved with the Order. My grandfather, Rowan Sr. was the most obsessed. I hate to say this but I was glad when he passed away a few years back. When my dad passed less than a year ago, I thought I was free of this."

"And yet, you're the last Thorne left," Wednesday said pointedly. "Which means you're the one who can help us stop this."

Rowan's jaw clenched, his eyes flicking between Pip and Wednesday. "And what do you expect me to do? My family's legacy is built on the Order. I can't just walk away from that."

"You don't have to walk away," Pip said, her voice steady. "You can end it."

Rowan hesitated, the weight of his family's dark history pressing down on him. Finally, he let out a long breath. "Alright. I'll help you. But you need to know that this won't be easy. The Order won't let us stop them without a fight."

"We're ready for that," Wednesday said, her gaze unflinching. "Tell us everything you know about the ritual."

Rowan nodded slowly, his expression grim. "The ritual is set to take place in a hidden chamber beneath the estate. It's been sealed off for years, but my family still has the keys. If we can get inside before the ritual starts, we might be able to stop them."

Pip's heart raced as Rowan stood and retrieved a set of old, rusted keys from a drawer. "We'll need to move fast," Rowan said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Once the ritual starts, there's no turning back."


As the sun began to set, casting long shadows over the estate, Pip, Wednesday, and Rowan prepared to face the Order. The ritual was hours away, and they were running out of time. But now, with Rowan on their side, they had a chance—a slim one, but a chance nonetheless—to stop the ritual before it claimed another life.

They exchanged a final glance, the tension between them thick as they stood at the entrance to the underground chamber. Pip's heart pounded in her chest, but she felt a flicker of hope as they descended into the darkness.

Whatever lay ahead, they would face it together.

End of Chapter 11


This work of fiction is in conjunction with ChatGPT. I wanted a story with Wednesday (Jenna) and Pip (Emma) solving murder mysteries together. I personally do not have the time nor the patience to write something but I really wanted to have their story happen. Just discovering ChatGPT for myself, I asked it to create this murder mystery. I've enjoyed it so far and hopefully you will too.