Chapter 6 – Digging Graves

Alex and Elle, old childhood friends, walked side by side down the deserted streets of Shepherd's Glen. Despite everything, despite the missing people, their conversation was filled with laughter, the chatting you could only get from reconnecting with someone after years of their absence. Alex was telling tales of his adventure overseas.

"So, there we were." Alex said with amusement, "stuck in the desert, and Padilla, poor guy, is trying to shoo the camel away from our truck. The thing bites him right on the hand. Hard. We're all standing there, dying of laughter. Watching it all like a cartoon and Padilla's yelling at the camel in Spanish."

Elle burst out laughing. She had to put a hand to cover her mouth, but it was not good. Alex's story had hit her in the right spot. "No way! A camel? Did it break the skin?"

"Oh yeah," Alex grinned. "Left a nasty bruise. The medic had a field day with him. I told him straight up he'd need a rabies shot. Padilla was convinced it had a vendetta on him. For the rest of our deployment, he gave the camels a wide range. Didn't trust any of them."

Elle clutched her stomach as she was choking from all the laughter. "I can't believe that! That's amazing! So much for "Don't fraternize with the locals."

Alex smirked, he enjoyed seeing Elle laugh like that. It felt as though the years between them were melting away. "That's not even the best part." He continued for her. "Anderson, this big kid from Minnesota, got knocked flat on his ass by a goat. We're all getting geared up and all and this goat comes out of nowhere and charges him. Poor guy was out for a minute."

Elle almost doubled over, tears from laughing so hard like she hadn't done in forever. "Oh my God, Alex. So out of all that crazy war stuff, the biggest threats came from camels and goats?"

"Pretty much," Alex said with a grin. "You'd probably be surprised what can take you down out there."

"I missed this," Elle said wiping her eyes, still giggling. "It's been too long."

"Yeah," Alex replied. "It has."

The two had a brief pause for a moment, quiet settling again. They both felt something, something left unsaid for years. But neither quite were ready to dive into that just yet. For now, it was just good to be here side by side.

Elle took a deep breath. "I've got stories of my own too, you know."

"Oh yeah?" Alex asked intrigued.

"Yeah, but mine are less dangerous and just weird," Elle admitted. "Like this one time I go out for my early morning jog and who do I see? Mayor Bartlett, drunk and stumbling around. It had to have been 7 am. That man could barely stand, let alone function. I'm thinking 'This can't be real,' right? But I felt bad and brought him my water bottle."

Alex chuckled. "Classic Bartlett. That guy's been the mayor for as long as I can remember. And people still keep voting him into office?"

"Right?" Elle grinned. "It's funny but sad at the same time. Like we know what the man's like, but somehow keeps getting elected."

"Well, it's either him or nobody," Alex replied, shaking his head. "Guess no one else wants the job. But at least you're still out here helping people."

"I try," Elle replied, half joking and half serious. "Even if it means I have to play a babysitter to the town drunk. I just… I felt bad for him. He might be kind of a joke, but he's still a person."

"I get that," Alex agreed. "Sometimes with people, you can't tell what's going on with them. Everyone has their stuff to deal with. But whether you can see it or not."

Elle nodded. They both knew they felt something deeper for one another, something left unspoken. Neither of them wanted to acknowledge it yet. There was a mutual crush building for years, but they just didn't act on it. It hovered around them again, in the way they walked closer together now, the way Elle stole little glances at Alex when she thought he wasn't looking. The way Alex would gaze at her just a tad bit too long when she laughed.

But now just didn't feel like the best time for any of that. Not yet. Not with everything in town.

"Maybe once we figure this out…" Alex said after almost reading her mind

Elle looked back at him, a blush finding its way to her cheeks. "Yeah. Maybe then."

The two of them shared a smile and walked on. Laughter and conversation break the silence in town.

"So, what have you been up to during all this time?" Alex asked, keeping his tone casual, but he was genuinely curious.

Elle laughed and shrugged. "Oh… you know. A bit of everything."

"Yeah?" Alex raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"

"Well... I kind of flip-flopped between majors for a while." She admitted. "Like I just couldn't decide what I wanted to do. Like for one semester I'd take theater to be an actress. The next I'd be in biology, dissecting frogs and wondering if I wanted to be a doctor."

"Really? Theater to biology?" Alex chuckled. "That's a leap."

Elle sighed dramatically. "I know! Tell me about it. I was all over the place like I couldn't stick to anything. 'Maybe this is it' or 'No, this is what I want'. It just drove my mom crazy."

"Yeah, I bet," Alex had always remembered Margaret Holloway as a stern woman. He could almost picture in his mind what looks she'd given Elle every time she changed major.

"Eventually," Elle said while rolling her eyes, "Mom threatened to cut me off if I didn't pick something. She gave me this whole speech about responsibility and committing to something. The whole 'Wasting your potential' speech. You know how my mom is."

"Yeah, I can imagine that." Alex nodded. "So what did you end up picking?"

Elle paused, then gave him a playful grin. "Well, you're looking at a journalist."

"Seriously?" Alex was genuinely impressed. Elle had always been a bit of a ditz for as long as he knew her. "Congrats, Elle."

"Thanks." She said. "It's just… it's just that I didn't expect to use it like this. Covering missing persons in our hometown isn't what I had in mind."

"Yeah, I get that," Alex said. "Still, you should be proud. You're doing important work now."

"I guess." Elle nodded, though her smile faltered. "It just feels... strange, being back here, trying to put the pieces together."

. "You'll figure it out, Elle. You always do."

She smiled at that. The conversation had given them a brief escape. But they both knew they'd have to face the facts soon.

. "And what about you, soldier boy?" she said giving Alex a playful nudge as the two walked side by side. She eyed him up and down. "Guess the army did you favor, huh?"

Alex couldn't help but laugh at that. "Oh, come on."

"Hey, it fits." She grinned. Elle had to admit to herself that while Alex had boyish good looks back in their younger years had become something else. There was an edge to him now, a ruggedness she liked that came from his time overseas. She had always been a bit attracted to him back then. But now? Something about the man he had become tugged at her even more. "You've changed in a good way, I mean."

"I don't know," he said running a hand through his hair. "Everything feels so different now. I just got out of the army, and I'm not sure what comes next."

"What do you mean?" Elle asked as she caught a certain seriousness in his voice.

"I mean, I spent all this time being a soldier," Alex said. "It became who I am. Now I'm back in Shepherd's Glen and I don't know where to fit in anymore. I thought coming back home would help. But now the whole place is different. The town, my family… me."

"I can imagine it's hard." She said, softly. "But hey, you don't have to figure it out now. One step at a time, right?"

"Yeah… I guess you're right. It's just-"

"Different?" she finished for him.

"Yeah."

They continued walking in silence for a few moments, Shepherd's Glen was quiet, letting them catch their thoughts.

"You know," Elle said after a while. "You're still the same Alex Shepherd to me. Soldier or not."

"Thanks, Elle." That made him smile.

As they continued walking, Elle couldn't help but let her mind wander again. If she were honest, truly honest with herself, she wouldn't mind getting her feet swept off by him, and the two running off together. Under better circumstances of course. Part of her longed for that, an escape. From missing people to the town, and the worry for his missing sister, Nora. If things were different, they could have had something more.

"What're you thinking about?" Alex asked with a warm smile. Almost as though he knew what she was thinking.

Elle snapped herself back to reality. She didn't say anything, just hoped to hide her thoughts. "Nothing important,"

Alex couldn't help but bring up old memories.

Remember when you tried to outbike me?" Alex teased. "Back when you were more tomboy than anything else."

"Oh please," she nudged him with her elbow. "I beat you half the time. You were just too stubborn to admit it."

Alex laughed. "Whatever helps you sleep at night, Holloway. I was just going easy on you because you were too busy being one of the guys."

"One of the guys?" She smirked and crossed her arms. "You're just made I could ride circles around you."

"Tomboy."

"Soldier boy" she retorted back at him. "But it looks like the army did you good. You don't look half bad now."

"Oh?"

Elle rolled her eyes but blushed as they kept walking. "Don't get ahead of yourself, Shepherd."

The two of them continued to banter just like old times. But as they reached the edge of the park, something pulled them away from the conversation. Soft, grunting noises from the cemetery.

"What's that?" Elle asked

"No idea," Alex replied, shifting his previously light-hearted tone to something more serious as they moved closer to the e noise. The two of them peeked and saw Mayor Bartlett hunched over a freshly dug grave. He was shoveling into the dirt with an intensity that unsettled the two of them.

"What the hell?' Alex muttered. "Hey!" he finally called out. "What are you doing?"

Bartlett stopped digging, hands tightening around his shovel. He turned to them, eyes bloodshot and wild, filled with a sense of loss, panic, and fear.

"Mind your own goddamn business!" Bartlett growled. His voice was slurred, part by inebriation and part by something else. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, leaving a streak of mud on his face. "You have nothing to see here!"

"What the hell, Mayor Bartlett?" Elle stepped forward. "You're grave robbing in broad daylight?! What are you thinking?"

Bartlett just glared at her. "I said, this is none of your goddamn business! Get out of here!"

"Mayor, do you need help or something?" Alex asked. "What's going on?"

"Just leave me alone!" Bartlett's voice cracked now. "You don't have any idea what's happening to this town!"

Elle tugged at Alex's arm. "Alex, let's just go. Mayor Bartlett is having a breakdown."

Alex hesitated. He just watched Bartlett continue digging. Finally, he gave Elle a nod. "Yeah… we'll deal with this later."

The two of them walked away, leaving Bartlett to continue digging. That was an unsettling sight for the two of them. Watching their town's Mayor digging furiously like a man possessed.

"Can you believe that guy?" she asked, voice still full of shock. "Just digging up people's graves like it's no big deal? I should've brought my camera and taken a picture. We'd put it on the front page newspaper 'Mayor Gone Wild'". She tried putting humor into it, but she was anxious.

"What was his problem?" Alex asked, shaking his head. "I mean, he's always been a drunk. But… grave robbing? That's one hell of a leap."

"I've seen him wasted before… but. That was something else. Like he's finally lost it or something." Elle said as she rubbed a hand through her hair.

"It's not just him though, is it? This whole town feels like it lost it."

The two of them went silent. First the fog, then missing people, and now their Mayor digging graves. It was like Shepherd's Glen had gone insane.

The air had gone chilly now, and Elle began to shiver. Her thin jogger's outfit had done little to keep her warm. She hugged her arms and looked at Alex who seemed more prepared for the weather than she was.

"I really should've dressed for more than a jog," Elle muttered, wrapping her jacket tighter.

Alex gave her a smirk. "I don't know, you were always a track star. Thought you'd be used to running in any weather."

"Says the guy who thought running laps was a punishment back in high school. I could lap you twice on a bad day."

"Yeah, yeah." Alex chuckled "But at least I never got winded. Remember the last time you tried to race me on your bike and I beat you on foot?"

Elle snorted. "Oh please, Shepherd. We both know you were dying at the end. Don't pretend you were a speed demon." She gave him a playful punch on the shoulder. "Still think you're tough?"

"Hey, careful!" Alex rubbed his arm dramatically, feigning being in pain. "You're going to break me. Don't make me tell everyone this tomboy still has a strong arm."

Elle laughed. "Knock it off, soldier boy."

The two of them walked in silence before Elle spoke up again, her breath caught in the cold air. "Let's head back to my place. I'm too cold out there. Plus I could use some coffee after that Bartlett creep show."

"You sure about that?" Alex asked incuriously. "What about your mom?"

Elle waved it off, dismissively. "It's not like she comes around anymore. She has her own thing going on, and I have mine. It's not like having friends over ever stopped me before."

"Fair point." Alex chuckled.

"Honestly, Alex, I'm just glad we're finally getting to catch up. This town is going to hell, but… it's nice having a friend to talk to."

Alex gave her another soft smile. "Then lead the way."

They walked back to Elle's home, the Holloway house. It was one of the oldest homes in Shepherd's Glen. Fit for someone like Judge Margaret Holloway, but it felt empty to Alex, more a courthouse than where a family lived.

"You sure your mom's not going to freak out if I'm there?" Alex asked, half joking and half serious.

Elle shook her head. "Alex, please, she's barely around these days. Off doing God knows what. Besides." She added with a smile. "It's not like she ever cared when our friend group used to hang out there back in the day. You'd think she cares now?"

"Good point," Alex chuckled. But a part of him felt uneasy about Margaret Holloway. She was a tough, sharp woman. Too sharp for his liking, easily putting two and two together before he had a chance to explain himself. Always judging him, even before she became the town judge. Still, it didn't bother Elle much.

"Guess some things never change." Elle continued. "Still worrying about getting in trouble?"

"Old habits die hard." He smirked.

Before long, they had reached the Holloway home. The large house loomed in the fog, dark windows like judging eyes watching their approach. Elle unlocked the front door and gestured to Alex inside.

The interior was just as Alex remembered, tidy, too tidy, and cold. The walls were adorned with plaques, framed certificates, and old family photos of Elle and Nora. But still, the hose felt empty, like everywhere else in town.

"Make yourself at home, Alex," Elle said, slipping out of her jacket. "I'll get the coffee going. Is instant coffee ok? It's all we've got."

Alex chuckled. "Instant sounds great compared to the MRE stuff we had. Let's just say... It's an acquired taste."

Elle laughed as she headed to the kitchen. "I'm sure it's not that bad. I'll get the kettle started then I'm going to change into something warm. I'll be right back."

"Take your time," Alex called after her as she walked down the hallway.

Left alone, he wandered the house, his eyes saw Margaret's law library that stretched the whole room. Her influence was unmistakable, the room was filled with volumes, legal texts, and others.

As he glanced back into the kitchen, Alex couldn't help but smile at the memory of him and Elle sneaking a bottle of alcohol from Margaret Holloway's liquor cabinet when they were younger. He, Elle, and friends were laughing like rebellious idiots as they all took turns sipping the contraband, and a bottle of gin. It had been Elle's idea, a little rebellion, but Alex was more than happy to play along. Even back then, Elle was a rebel, always pushing the limits.

Alex made his way to the living room. His eyes landed on an older photograph of the Holloway family on the mantel, Margaret, stern expression was rarely softened by a rare smile, standing beside Elle and Nora, who at the time looked younger, and so carefree.

"Things never changed with her mother," Alex muttered under his breath, Margaret was strict and never really approved of Alex.

Everything in the house in the house felt so stiff. It was unlike the warmth he associated with Elle. The house felt more like an institution than a home so it made sense that Elle would prefer to spend her time out in the world with Alex and his group than under the stifling presence of her mother.

"I can't believe it's been so long," Alex muttered to himself, the memories of their childhood came back in waves.

Finally, Elle returned, and in her hands, she carried two mugs of Coffee. She gave one to Alex who took it gratefully.

"Here you go, figured we needed something warm after the walk. Hope you didn't get too bored without me." She said as she took a seat on the couch across from him.

"Thanks." Alex took a sip, letting the coffee warm himself up. "So, this place hasn't changed much."

Elle shrugged. "Mom's not the decorating type. Nora and I hated it here. It always felt more like a museum than a home."

"Yeah…" Alex muttered. "It always felt too formal. Especially for your mom."

Elle let out a laugh. "Yeah... She's always been strict. But these days, she's barely around. Too busy with the town."

"You okay?' Alex asked gently as he looked at her. It was clear Elle was carrying her burdens.

Elle gave another nonchalant shrug, trying to just play it off. "It's just... everything. This town. Missing people. It feels like a ghost town." She glanced back at her coffee. "And Nora…. She's out there somewhere. I know I can't think straight until I find her."

"We'll find her," Alex answered. "I promise."

"I hope you're right.

For a moment, the two just sat on the couches in silence, sipping from their mugs of coffee.

"You know," Elle said. "I never really thought you'd come back."

"Neither did I," Alex admitted to her. "But I couldn't stay away. Not after everything. But honestly, Elle, it's good to see you again."

Elle grew a warm smile. "Yeah. It's good to see you again too, soldier boy."

They shared a brief quiet laugh, and for a moment, it felt as though their burdens were lifted and they were back to old times again. Just two friends, catching up, forgetting about the troubles looming over the town.

But the truth was always there, lurking beneath the surface. The town wasn't the same, and neither were they.

"Remember the times we stole booze from my mom?"

"Well, maybe just a little."

The two of them shared a laugh. The two of them shifted and sat closer than they had in years. The warmth of the coffee matched the hat that was building between them. The conversation was slowing down now, moving from playful banter to something more meaningful. Something they have been avoiding for the longest time.

"I've missed you, Alex," Elle said locking her eyes with his.

Alex felt his heart skip a beat. He had missed her too, more than either of them realized. The distance was closing in now, and without a word, he reached his hand out and brushed a strand of hair from her face. Their eyes lingered got a long time.

Slowly, instinctively, the two leaned in. But before anything could happen, the front door opened, ruining the moment.

"Elle, I'm home! I brought you breakfast-"Judge Holloway yelled out but she stopped abruptly as she noticed Alex sitting there, in her living room. The air in the house turned cold as she took the sight in.

"Oh." Judge Holloway said, keeping her tone sharp. "I see you're here."

Alex quickly pulled back, and Elle sat up straight, clearing her throat.

"Hi, Mom," Elle said, trying to sound casual, but failing. "We were just... Catching up."

Judge Holloway looked disapprovingly at Alex. Then she silently walked to the kitchen and placed the bags on the counter, not bothering to hide discomfort.

"Don't overstay your welcome, Alex." She said, then pulled out her now-ringing cell phone. "I need to take this call."

Alex turned to Elle giving her a nervous chuckle. "She's still not a fan of me, huh?"

Elle shrugged with a smirk. "I doubt it's about breaking into her liquor cabinet. But if she knew, she never told me."

Alex still felt awkward. It was clear to him that Judge Holloway wasn't keen on having him around.

Judge Holloway moved into another room to take her call. Alex then glanced at Elle, who gave him an apologetic look.

"Elle, I should probably head out." He muttered, standing up. He didn't want to add to Elle and her mother's tension.

"Yeah, probably better for now," Elle said with disappointment.

Meanwhile in the other room. Judge Holloway quickly locked the door behind her and answered the phone with her customary cold, professional tone. It was the right-hand man of the Order, Curtis.

"What is it, Curtis?" she asked sharply.

Curtis was a quiet, tinkering type of man. He rarely spoke unless it had to do with tinkering on a machine, or the business of the Order. He wasn't the man for idle chit-chat. "Just got a tip from one of my eyes and ears. Adam's making moves. Looks like he's rallying support against us."

Judge Holloway tapped her hands on the table as she listened. "I see. And the man he suspects that may be a Federal Agent?"

"He's still with them," Curtis confirmed. "Middle-aged guy. Seems like they're laying low for now. But they're getting ready for something. If they've got someone from the Federal Government on their side-"

"Then we cut the power to the town." Holloway interrupted, already thinking ahead. "And all outside communications. Nothing gets in or out without my approval. That should slow them down, and buy us time. Take care of it, Curtis."

Curtis hesitated "Are you sure? Cutting the power is going to cause a panic."

"We're beyond that point. We cannot afford to be weak. That was Dahlia's mistake..." Holloway kept her voice cold as ice. "If Adam is making moves against the Order, we have to act now. Cut the power, cut the lines of communication. Do whatever it takes."

"Understood, Holloway," Curtis said. "I'll get right on it."

Holloway hung up the phone. Lost in thought, her expression was unreadable. The line was drawn. Adam had made his choice and she would make hers. After the fall of the Silent Hill branch of the Order, she had seen to it that remnants of Dahlia and the followers of Claudia were purged. The heresies of the Order were to be stamped out. Burned alive, the Order would continue through Holloway or not at all. Adam was just another apostate that needed to be dealt with, painfully.

Leaving her home office, she returned to the living room where Alex was preparing to leave and talking to Elle. "Be on your way Alex," Margaret demanded. "I have important matters to attend to."

Alex glanced one last time at Elle. "See you around?"

"Definitely," Elle replied.

Alex nodded and left the house, leaving the tension between him and Judge Holloway behind. He couldn't shake the feeling that things in Shepherd's Glen were beginning to spiral out of control