We can't blame him.

It's 1850-something, and our villain is entering Summeridge, a small western town in...well, it's probably in Iowa. Our villain is so weary and ready to be done with traveling that he's lost track of where exactly he is. But he is tired of sitting on a horse all day, so he's leading his tired old animal along as he walks. Anyone can tell he's had a hard life - from the way he walks to the way his shoulders slump further down with every depressing thought that flits across his mind. His eyes are always downcast; he hasn't looked anyone in the eyes for...oh, too long for him to remember. Every so often, he stops to glance at the names of shops that he passes. When he comes across an inn, he stops and checks the amount of money in his worn pockets. His appearance changes dramatically.

After tying his horse to the post outside, our villain enters Summeridge Inn. Gone are the shuffling steps of the weary. In their place is a saunter with a such a lazy grace that anyone would be fooled into thinking he's got an overinflated ego. Our villain's disposition has been completely transformed.

"I'd like to stay here for a month," he says, slapping his money down onto the counter. 

The innkeeper counts the money. Satisfied, he retrieves a key from a set of drawers and motions for our villain to follow. 

Our villain is quite satisfied with his room. There's a single bed, upon which he flings his dusty bag of possessions; a chest of drawers, into which he places his coat; a nightstand, upon which he sets his hat; and a window, through which the last sunlight of the day streams.

With a nod to the innkeeper, our villain mutters, "This'll do" and sits down upon the bed. As soon as the innkeeper has shut the door behind himself, saying "I'll put your horse in the stable," our villain pulls a blank-paged book from his bag, along with a pen and a bottle of ink. 

"Arrive in Summeridge - check," he murmurs under his breath. "Secure an unsuspicious-looking room - check." He taps the edge of the pen against his chin, thinking. 

"Deceive, steal from, and ransack Summeridge - to be completed."

He chuckles.

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Author guidance for This story

*Dedicated to LouisaJo*

Much crime is afoot in Summeridge, a small, close-knit town in 1850-something. But this is crime that you've never heard of...until now. "Deathly Secrets" is overall a story of triumph, tragedy, romance, and redemption.

NOTE:
Because it's been called to my attention that the tense changes are a bit confusing, I'll warn you now that the tense changes from past tense to present tense when the villain is the focus. Call me crazy, but I consider it a bit of dramatic flair. ;D

ALINA BRYANT
Age: 24
Appearance: Light brown hair, inquisitive grey eyes, short-ish, slender, a slight smattering of freckles across her nose
Personality: Quiet, innocent, conpassionate, unassuming, gentle, with a streak of courage
Other facts: Moved to Summeridge to escape an abusive family; owns a tailor shoppe; Christian; tries to see the good in others

VILLAIN (to be identified later in the story):
Age: mid- to late-twenties
Appearance: Dark brown hair, stormy grey-green eyes, very tall, lean, has a cocky yet somehow dissatisfied air about him
Personality: Supposedly ruthless and heartless, but he is actually vulnerable, ashamed, and desperate to feel fulfilled and respected
Other facts: Hides a very troubled past; tormented by his own guilt

CONNER O'BREEN (minor character):
Age: 30
Appearance: Dark blonde hair, dark brown eyes that never look anyone else in the eyes, medium height (for a man), strong features
Personality: Outspoken and boisterous around friends and customers of his tavern, but extremely and almost painfully shy around women; a kind heart with walls built around it so as to keep from being hurt
Other facts: Owner of the O'Breen Saloon; parents died of a fever when he was 23

updated Jan 25 by cassandramorrow