Hi everyone, I'm Dhansh!
Welcome to my first book, Elena: Shadows of Riverstrom. This is a Dark Fantasy mystery filled with ancient powers, academy secrets, and a darkness that refuses to stay buried.
The good news: The entire book is already finished! I will be posting new chapters every 48 hours to keep the momentum going.
If you enjoy the atmosphere of Riverstrom, please consider adding this story to your Follow list and leaving a rating. Your support helps a new author more than you can imagine.
Enjoy the journey into the shadows!
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There are days when the sun shines so bright, it’s almost easy to forget that darkness can exist, even beneath blue skies.
On this day, sunlight spilled through the tangled branches as John and Jenny trekked deeper into the forest. The world was alive with sound—the distant call of birds, the rustle of leaves, the crunch of their boots on the earth. The forest air was crisp, tinged with the scent of pine and damp soil. Jenny walked a few paces ahead, her eyes scanning the undergrowth, a smile lingering on her lips. “Isn’t this beautiful?” she called back, her voice light with excitement.
John grinned, admiring the way sunlight danced in her hair. “I’m glad you like adventure as much as I do. This place feels untouched.” They pressed on, laughter echoing between the trunks, hearts buoyed by the thrill of exploration. By midday, they found a small clearing, sunlight pouring down in golden shafts. John dropped his backpack with a satisfied sigh. “Let’s set up camp here. I’ll handle the tent if you start collecting wood for the fire.”
Jenny nodded, already scanning the ground for dry sticks and moss. The two worked in easy silence, each lost in the gentle rhythm of their task. The hours slipped by, filled with the simple pleasure of being alive, together, in the wild. When the camp was finally ready, Jenny wiped a bead of sweat from her brow. “We’re out of water,” she said, glancing at their empty bottle. John slung the bottle over his shoulder. “There must be a stream nearby. I’ll go look for one. Stay close to camp and finish getting the fire ready.”
“Be careful,” Jenny called after him, watching as he vanished into the trees, sunlight dappling across his retreating form. For a while, all was quiet except for the crackle of twigs as Jenny built the fire. She hummed to herself, letting the warmth of the sun and the gentle hush of the forest fill her with peace. Then, suddenly, the peace was shattered. A scream tore through the woods. Sharp, raw, and desperate. Jenny’s head jerked up, heart thundering in her chest. “John?” Her voice trembled, swallowed by the silence that followed. Without a second thought, she sprinted toward the sound, branches whipping at her arms as she ran.
The world narrowed to the frantic beat of her heart, the harsh rasp of her breath. She burst through the trees and stumbled to a halt at the riverbank. The sunlight here seemed colder, the air thick with dread. She saw him—or what was left of him—lying sprawled among the rocks and weeds. John’s body was torn, broken, and almost unrecognizable. Blood stained the grass, pooling in the dirt. His face… his face was a ruined mask, its features twisted, and almost erased. His clothes hung in tatters, shredded as if by claws. The bottle he’d carried rolled a few feet away, its contents lost to the earth.
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Jenny fell to her knees, the world spinning around her. The scream that escaped her lips was raw, animal—grief and terror twisted into a single, endless note. She reached out with shaking hands, but there was nothing to be done. The forest, so bright only moments before, now pressed in around her, heavy with secrets and shadow. The sunlight felt colder; the world forever changed.
Elsewhere… The story of John and Jenny would not remain hidden for long. Miles away, in a crowded city coffee shop, Detective Harsh sat alone, lost in thought, oblivious to the world outside. The door opened, and a tall man entered—his black coat stark against the midday light, dark glasses hiding his eyes, a cane tapping an uneven rhythm on the floor. He took a seat across from Harsh, whose jaw tightened at the sight. “To what do I owe this reunion?” Harsh asked, voice clipped.
The man—Columbus—offered a thin, almost apologetic smile. “I just wanted to see you today. Waiter, a hot coffee, please.” Harsh stood, barely containing his bitterness. “I don’t have time for this, not after what happened between us.” Columbus’s reply was soft, regretful. “I was wrong then. I see that now.” Harsh shook his head, turning to leave. “Your coffee’s on me,” he muttered. As he stepped out into the harsh daylight, his phone rang. “Sir, we have a new case. New Borden Lake. Please come immediately.” Harsh’s reply was all business. “I’ll be there.”
***
At New Borden Lake, police tape fluttered in the breeze, and officers moved with grim faces. A young officer met Harsh, voice strained. “Sir. It’s… bad. A boy’s dead. Torn apart. His face is… It’s gone.” Harsh moved closer, every sense sharpened. The body lay in grotesque disarray—one leg floating in the shallows, a hand hanging from a tree. Carved into the boy’s chest, in jagged, furious letters:
WAIT FOR
The message was no clue—it was a warning. And as Harsh stared at those two words, a chill swept through him. Whatever had started here was far from over. Darkness wasn’t just coming—it was already here.
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Thank you so much for reading the first chapter of Elena: Shadows Of Riverstrom! This is just the beginning of a deep, dark mystery, and I can't wait to show you what else is hiding in the woods.
If you enjoyed this introduction, please consider adding the story to your Follow list and leaving a Rating. Your support means the world to a new author.
Chapter 2 is coming up very soon. Stay tuned!
