The Night the Lights Went Out

The Blackout

It was 9:42 p.m. when every light in Willow Creek went out.

No warning, no flicker — just complete darkness.

Most folks assumed it was another one of the town’s usual outages. But Detective Claire Dawson knew better. She had lived here long enough to sense when something was off.

From her porch, she could see the empty street, shadows swallowing every corner. Then she saw it — a single flashlight beam flickering in the distance near the abandoned sawmill.

Chapter 2 — The Sawmill

The sawmill had been closed for years, ever since the fire that killed two workers. Kids dared each other to go inside, but no one stayed long — the creaking floors and stale air gave even the bravest chills.

Claire grabbed her jacket and gun, making her way toward the light. She moved quietly, boots crunching against the gravel road.

When she reached the mill, the flashlight was gone. The main door, chained for years, hung open.

Chapter 3 — The Body

Inside, the air was damp and smelled faintly of gasoline. Claire’s eyes adjusted slowly to the moonlight pouring through broken windows.

Then she saw it — a man lying on the floor, his shirt soaked in blood. He was in his forties, face pale, eyes wide open in a frozen expression of shock.

Next to him was a piece of paper, torn and stained. Claire bent down and read the single sentence:

“It wasn’t supposed to be you.”

Chapter 4 — The Trail

The sound of footsteps echoed from the far end of the mill. Claire ran toward them, but whoever it was slipped into the shadows.

She followed a trail of muddy prints leading out the back door and into the woods. The prints ended abruptly at the riverbank — no boat, no sign of where they’d gone.

Chapter 5 — The Clues

By morning, the power was back on. The town woke to the news of the killing, and rumors spread fast.

The victim was identified as David Miller, a local handyman. He had no known enemies — at least not public ones. But Claire found something interesting in his phone records: a series of late-night calls to an unknown number.

Chapter 6 — The Confession That Wasn’t

Claire traced the number to a woman named Laura Jameson, a waitress at the diner. When questioned, Laura swore she hadn’t seen David in months.

But when Claire mentioned the sawmill, Laura’s hands shook. “I can’t talk about this,” she whispered. “They’re watching.”

Before Claire could press further, Laura stood up and left the station — and by nightfall, she was gone. Her apartment was empty.

Chapter 7 — The Real Target

Two days later, a letter arrived at the station addressed to Claire. Inside was a Polaroid of her own house, taken at night.

On the back were the words:

“You were the one we came for. He got in the way.”

Claire realized the killer’s note — It wasn’t supposed to be you — had a different meaning. David had been in the wrong place at the wrong time… and had died for it.

Chapter 8 — The Hunt Continues

The case remains unsolved, but Claire hasn’t stopped looking. She patrols the streets at night, never forgetting that someone out there is still watching — and waiting for their real target.

Because sometimes, in Willow Creek, the lights don’t go out by accident

Because most people quit right before the breakthrough — and they never realize how close they were to winning. / / . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .

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