Page 3 of Claimed By the Mothman

So Nell clicked.

Nell Townsend →

Hey...is this Goldie Flynn from Parkview High? It’s Nell Townsend. From AP English. And two high school musicals—remember 1776 with the all-girl cast?

The reply came within seconds.

Goldie Flynn →

Haha, YES. That’s me. Wow, it’s been forever!

Nell Townsend →

Right?! You popped up when I was scrolling and I couldn’t resist creeping a little. You look amazing. Like ethereal librarian meets forest witch vibes.

Goldie Flynn →

OMG you popped up like a few months ago when I shared that dumb meme about cafeteria lunches and I was like NELL WTF THAT BADASS BITCH I LOVE HER WHAT HAPPENED TO HER. Babe I’m so glad you reached out!

Nell Townsend →

OMG yessss! I saw that and laughed way too hard. Those rectangle pizzas? Nothing since has ever tasted so good. I miss having non-discerning taste buds.

Goldie Flynn →

I miss being that excited about horrible food and chocolate milk in cardboard containers. Hahah. Ugh. Also hey…Don’t want to be weird, but I saw your update about the divorce. I’m really sorry. That’s a lot.

Nell stared at that last line. Her wine glass was empty, and so was her stomach, and she wasn’t sure which one was making her dizzy.

Nell Townsend →

Thanks. Yeah, it’s been a ride. Like a rollercoaster where you think the seat bar is locked but then it just lifts halfway through and you’re like, oh cool, I’m gonna die sweaty in Crocs and stretchy pants, awesome.

Goldie Flynn →

Oh BABE I feel that in my bones. Um I don’t want to overstep, esp since we literally just reconnected, but hey—this feels like kismet. Do you need a reset?

Nell knocked over her empty wine glass. Blinked. Leaned closer to the computer screen as the ellipses bubble pulsed for what felt like eternity.

Goldie Flynn →

This prolly sounds crazy but hear me out. I’m in Bellwether, moved here three years ago whenIneeded a reset and it’s MAGICAL, literally. Such a weird-ass city but also amazingly cool. It’s been the best move in FOREVAHHHHH and I’m totally living my best era now. AND GUESS WHAT I found out like yesterday there’s an opening at the library I work at that if I remember you correctly would be STUPID PERFECT.

Nell Townsend →

Bellwether? I didn’t know anyone actually lived there. Isn’t that the place where the cryptids first came out?

Bellwether had made headlines ten years ago—not because of any law passed or historic protest, but because of what locals called the “Bellwether Reveal.” One night, the fog rolled in like it always did. And the next morning, half the city just...stopped pretending.

Shapeshifters appeared at the DMV. Feathered baristas were suddenly serving your morning brew. An alderwoman with antlers went on-camera. And there were no riots or chaos. The city just seemed to quietly shrug and say,yes, and?It was the first American city to publicly acknowledge cryptid residents without incident. Although some still called it a hoax, or a tourism stunt, or an apocalypse in slow motion, Bellwether kept moving forward in its quietly strange, strangely quiet way.

Nell opened a new tab on her computer and typed in the name of the city. Huh. Only 32 minutes away. She hadn’t realized it was so close.

Nell Townsend →

Do you live in a lighthouse and wear dramatic shawls?

Goldie Flynn →