The Hearth's Unholy Secret

My best friend Chloe and I were drawn to The Hearth, a mountain valley sanctuary promising peace and belonging.

We sought healing, desperate for a new start, believing in its vision of harmony and finding our true selves.

But The Hearth was a gilded cage.

After a decade of apparent bliss, I accidentally overheard a chilling conversation between Marcus, my husband and leader, and Julian, his second-in-command.

They were discussing how they had orchestrated the brutal "cleansing" I endured years ago, merely to "test" me for Seraphina, the community's revered oracle.

My world shattered.