Chapter 2: Under the Light of the Crescent Moon

As Y took another step forward, the figure slowly began to take shape in the dim light. It was a woman, dressed in a long, black coat that seemed to swallow her whole. Her face was hidden behind a veil of shadows, making it impossible for Y to discern any features. The woman's eyes, however, gleamed with an intensity that made Y's skin prickle. "Who are you?" Y repeated, trying to keep her voice steady. The woman remained silent, but instead took a step closer to Y. Her movements were deliberate and calculated, as if she was savoring the moment. Y could feel the air thickening with tension as the woman reached into her coat and pulled out a small, leather-bound notebook. "Recognize this?" the woman asked, her voice low and husky. Y's eyes widened as she took in the familiar symbol embossed on the cover - the same crescent moon that adorned the wax seal on the letter. She shook her head, trying to play it cool, but her mind was racing with possibilities. The woman flipped open the notebook, revealing pages filled with scribbled notes and newspaper clippings. Y's eyes scanned the pages, and her heart skipped a beat as she saw the headlines - all related to the Blackwood case. "This is the work of the killer," the woman said, her voice dripping with conviction. "Or at least, someone who knows the killer's secrets." Y's journalistic instincts kicked in, and she reached for her own notebook, but the woman was too quick. She snapped the book shut, and Y saw a glimmer of fear in her eyes. "Not here," the woman whispered, her voice urgent. "Not now. But I will give you a name. Are you ready to hear it?" Y nodded, her pencil poised over her notebook. The woman leaned in, her voice barely audible over the rustling of the wind. "Ashwood," she whispered. "Look into Ashwood. But be careful, Y. The truth is not for the faint of heart." As suddenly as she appeared, the woman vanished into the night, leaving Y stunned and bewildered. The old oak tree seemed to loom over her, its branches creaking ominously in the wind. Y took a deep breath, her mind reeling with questions. Who was this mysterious woman, and what did she mean by Ashwood? And what secrets lay hidden in the shadows, waiting to be uncovered?