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**Chapter 12: Unearthed Truths**
The constable's words hung heavy in the air as Luca and Isabella exchanged uneasy glances. Without waiting for an invitation, the constable stepped inside, carrying a small, weathered box wrapped in cloth. He placed it carefully on the table, his expression unreadable.
"This was found near the remains," he said, unwrapping the cloth to reveal an ornate wooden box, its surface etched with delicate floral patterns. The air in the room seemed to thicken as Isabella reached out to touch it, her fingers grazing the worn edges.
"What's inside?" she asked softly.
The constable hesitated before lifting the lid, revealing a bundle of letters tied with a faded ribbon. The sight of them made Luca's breath hitch, his eyes narrowing as though the box had unlocked a long-forgotten memory.
"These letters," the constable said, "appear to have been written by Emilia. But there's something strange about them. They mention someone… someone she feared."
Isabella's heart quickened as the constable unfolded one of the letters, his voice steady as he read aloud. *"He watches me from the vineyard, always at dusk. I feel his presence even when he's not there. If anything happens to me, tell Luca he was right. The vineyard is cursed."*
The words sent a chill through the room, and Isabella's gaze darted to Luca, whose face had gone pale. "Do you know what she meant by that?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Luca shook his head, but his silence spoke volumes. The constable folded the letter carefully, placing it back in the box. "Whatever happened here, it's not over," he said gravely. "I suggest you both be careful. Someone might not want these truths coming to light."
As the constable left, the room plunged into silence. Isabella turned to Luca, her mind racing with questions she couldn't voice. But before she could speak, a sound outside the house caught their attention—a faint rustling, like footsteps on gravel.
Luca moved to the window, his eyes scanning the darkness. "Stay here," he whispered, grabbing a flashlight and stepping out into the night.
Isabella's heart pounded as she watched him disappear into the shadows. Minutes felt like hours as she waited, her ears straining for any sound. And then, just as she was about to follow him, the lights in the house flickered and went out, plunging her into darkness.
A single knock echoed through the silence—sharp, deliberate, and coming from the front door.
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