Chapter 10 - The Dawn
Six months later.
The fallout from the "Oakridge Monster" files was catastrophic and unprecedented. The Mayor, Judge Hayes, the Chief of Police, and over forty other high-profile individuals were indicted on federal charges ranging from racketeering to child endangerment. The sprawling network of abuse and blackmail that had poisoned the town for generations was ripped out by its roots.
Sarah Jenkins was promoted to Detective, leading a newly reformed, federally overseen task force in the county. David Cho was her partner.
It was a bright, crisp Sunday morning. Jenkins pulled her unmarked SUV into the driveway of a beautiful, modest home in the suburbs of Chicago, far away from the dark woods of Oakridge.
She walked to the backyard, where a young boy was laughing, chasing a golden retriever puppy across the grass.
Lucas looked up and smiled widely. He looked healthy, vibrant, and, most importantly, safe. He dropped the tennis ball and ran over, hugging Jenkins tightly.
“Hey, buddy,” Jenkins smiled, ruffling his hair. “How’s the new house?”
“It’s awesome! David is building a treehouse!”
Cho emerged from the back porch, carrying a toolbox and wearing a tool belt, looking completely out of his element but deeply happy. He and his wife had finalized the adoption of Lucas three weeks prior.
“I have no idea what I’m doing,” Cho laughed, gesturing to the pile of lumber. “I think I built the ladder upside down.”
Jenkins laughed, taking a sip of the lemonade Cho’s wife handed her. She watched Lucas play, the heavy burden of the past six months finally lifting from her shoulders. The darkness would always exist in the world, waiting in the shadows. But they had proven that it could be fought. It could be beaten.
May you like
Before leaving, Jenkins walked back to her car. She opened the glove compartment and looked at the small, silver compass she kept there. The needle pointed true north.
She smiled, closed the compartment, and drove away into the bright morning light.
