The Lantern Murders

 Welcome back to RajabsReads & Reviews! If you've been here before, you know I love diving deep into thrilling reads and dissecting stories that leave us on the edge of our seats. But today, I'm flipping the script.

What if I told you the story you're about to read hasn’t been reviewed anywhere because it doesn’t exist yet? That’s right—this is my own creation, a chilling thriller just in time for the spooky season: The Lantern Murders by Awali Rajab.

"Step into the eerie town of Hollow’s End, where traditions hide secrets, and no one is safe from the glow of the lantern’s grin. Join Awali "Raj" and Gloria “Nabweteme” as they unravel a mystery steeped in blood, betrayal, and something far more sinister."

This is just the starting pages of a gripping series that I’ll be posting exclusively on this blog. Follow along as the story unfolds, one chapter at a time. Don’t miss it—subscribe, bookmark, or share with your friends!

Are you ready to uncover the truth behind The Lantern Murders? Let’s begin.

The Lantern Murders

Hollow’s End wasn’t a town; it was a trap. That’s what Awali “Raj” thought as he stood in the middle of the bustling Halloween festival, the faint smell of roasted chestnuts and pumpkin spice drifting through the cold October air. He adjusted his scarf and glanced at the lanterns glowing along the cobblestone streets. They hung like ominous sentinels, their jagged grins carved into the wood by hands too eager to forget the blood they once witnessed.

Raj didn’t want to be here. He’d spent fifteen years running from this place, burying memories that never stayed buried. But the letter had dragged him back—a single sheet of paper with one line scrawled in messy ink: “They will rise again beneath the lantern’s grin.”

“Raj?” a voice broke through his thoughts, soft yet laced with surprise.

He turned and froze. Gloria “Nabweteme” Winters stood a few feet away, wrapped in a thick coat, her auburn hair tumbling out from under her woolen cap. Her sharp, brown eyes locked onto his, filled with questions he wasn’t ready to answer.

“I didn’t think you’d come back,” she said, stepping closer.

“Neither did I,” he replied, shoving the letter deeper into his coat pocket.

For a moment, silence hung between them, heavy and awkward. Their shared history lay unspoken, a wound neither had dared touch. Gloria tilted her head, studying him.

“Let me guess,” she said finally. “The lanterns brought you back.”

“Something like that,” Raj muttered.

Before she could press him further, a scream cut through the festival's cheerful hum, sharp and piercing. Every head turned toward the town square, where the largest lantern stood on its pedestal, glowing brighter than the rest.

Raj and Gloria pushed through the crowd, their footsteps quick and frantic. The festive atmosphere dissolved as whispers rippled through the gathering.

Then they saw it.

Beneath the massive lantern, a body lay sprawled on the cobblestones. Blood trickled from a deep wound in the chest, pooling around the victim like an offering to the lantern above. The face was obscured by shadow, but the message carved into the chest was unmistakable:

“One down. Thirty-nine to go.”

Raj’s heart thundered in his chest as Gloria gripped his arm, her nails digging into his coat. Around them, the crowd murmured in horror. The Lantern Murders had returned, and Raj knew this was no coincidence. "Someone wanted him back?"

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The festival dissolved into chaos. Parents clutched their children, vendors abandoned their stalls, and a murmur of fear rippled through the crowd like a slow-building storm.

Raj felt Gloria’s grip tighten on his arm, her nails digging into his coat as if grounding herself. His own heart was pounding, not from the scene before him but from the realization blooming in his mind: this was no random murder.

“It’s happening again,” Gloria whispered, her voice trembling.

Raj nodded, his jaw tightening. “And they knew I’d come back.”

The sheriff arrived moments later, his booming voice trying to restore order. Sheriff Hayes hadn’t changed much in fifteen years—same grizzled beard, same weary eyes that suggested he’d seen too much. His gaze swept over the crowd and landed on Raj.

“Awali?” Hayes barked, pushing his way through. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Raj didn’t answer. Instead, he pointed at the body, the bloodied chest with its grim message. “It’s not about me,” Raj said coldly. “It’s about them.”

Hayes followed his gaze, and for a fleeting moment, his tough exterior cracked. The sheriff’s shoulders sagged as he let out a heavy sigh. “Dammit.”

“You knew this could happen,” Raj said, his voice low but sharp.

Hayes didn’t respond. Instead, he motioned for his deputies to cordon off the area and disperse the crowd. Raj caught the murmurings as people shuffled away:

“Just like before...”

“Do you think it’s the same person?”

“They said the killer was dead!”

Gloria turned to Raj, her expression unreadable. “You’re not just here because of the letter, are you?”

Raj hesitated. How could he explain the pull that had dragged him back? The dreams, the memories that weren’t his, the sense of unfinished business clawing at his chest?

Before he could answer, Hayes interrupted. “If you’re staying in town, I suggest you don’t go poking around, Awali. Let us handle this.”

Raj smirked bitterly. “You handled it last time, didn’t you? That’s why it’s happening again.”

Hayes bristled but said nothing. He turned and stomped away, barking orders at his deputies.

Gloria stepped closer, lowering her voice. “Raj, if you know something, you need to tell me.”

Raj glanced at the lantern above the body, its glow eerily bright against the night. “Not here,” he muttered. “Let’s go somewhere quiet.”

She nodded, her hand still clutching his arm as they left the square.

 

"The killer watched from the shadows, a faint smile playing on their lips. The game had begun, and this time, there would be no escaping the lantern’s light."

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The air in the old diner was thick with the scent of grease and stale coffee. Raj leaned back in the booth, his eyes fixed on Gloria as she stirred her tea absently.

“They’re going to pin this on me,” he muttered, the frustration in his voice barely contained.

Gloria looked up sharply. “No, they won’t. Hayes knows better.”

Raj smirked bitterly. “You have more faith in him than I do. People around here haven’t forgotten what happened fifteen years ago.”

She opened her mouth to respond, but the bell above the diner door jingled, cutting her off. Both turned their heads instinctively.

A man stepped in—a lanky figure in his mid-thirties, with a nervous energy that radiated off him like static. His eyes darted around the room before settling on Raj and Gloria. Without hesitation, he approached their booth.

“Awali Raj,” the man said, his voice low. He glanced at Gloria and hesitated. “Can we talk? Alone.”

Gloria bristled. “Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of me.”

The man swallowed hard and slid into the booth beside Gloria, ignoring her protest. He leaned in, his voice barely above a whisper. “I know what you’re looking for. And you’re not going to like what you find.”

Raj’s eyes narrowed. “Who are you?”

The man fidgeted with the edge of the table. “Call me Lucas. I was... I was there the night it happened. I saw everything.”

Gloria gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. “You mean—”

“The original murders,” Raj finished for her, his voice tight. He stared at Lucas, a mix of suspicion and curiosity brewing in his mind. “Why come forward now?”

Lucas hesitated, his gaze darting to the window as if expecting someone to burst in. “Because it’s starting again. And if you don’t stop it, more people are going to die.”

Raj leaned forward. “Tell me everything.”

Lucas opened his mouth, but a sudden loud bang shattered the moment. The three of them jumped as the diner's lights flickered and went out.

Gloria grabbed Raj’s arm. “What was that?”

Before anyone could answer, a faint glow appeared outside the diner. A lantern. Its eerie light swayed in the darkness, growing brighter with each swing.

“Run,” Lucas whispered, his face pale. “They’ve found me.”

Raj didn’t need to be told twice. He grabbed Gloria’s hand, pulling her toward the back exit. Lucas was already ahead of them, his steps frantic.

They burst out into the alley, only to freeze in their tracks.

A figure stood at the far end, holding a lantern that cast an unnatural, pulsating glow. The light flickered, illuminating the glint of a blade in the figure’s other hand.

“Lucas!” Raj shouted, but it was too late.

The lantern’s light swung violently as the figure moved toward them, the blade raised high.  

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Stay Tuned!  

The mystery deepens, and danger is closing in. What secrets does Lucas know, and who is behind the glowing lantern? Find out in the next installment of *The Lantern Murders*!  

*Next pages coming next week!*

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**Share your thoughts:**  

What do you think is happening? Who is holding the lantern? Drop your theories in the comments below—I’d love to hear them!