The Monster in the Dark

By Amanda Sinatra

Eight friends enter Ridgewood Lodge, but only three come out.

What started as a hightail investigation, has now turned into a cold case.

Nobody knows what happened that night

• Language: English
• Publisher: Amanda Sinatra
• Release date: Mar 19, 2024
• ISBN: 9781088191958

Book preview

Part 1

Ava Miller’s notes:

The events of that night were documented to the best of the detective’s ability. It was the aftermath of what the victims had faced and the evidence that kept the case open for so long. The community of Ridgewood has since shut down the campsite since that horrific night and plans for it to remain that way. Detective Wordsworth had announced officially on July 5th, 2005, the first anniversary of the massacre, that the case had gone cold and advised current and future residents to stay clear of Ridgewood Lodge. Any trespassers would be fined up to five hundred dollars, and failure to pay would result in thirty days in the country jail of Ridgewood.

July 5th, 2024

Time: 1:30 p.m.

Voice Recorded Interview with Anonymous

New York Times

Article #13

By Ava Miller

Miller: (The sound of a tape recorder turning on in the background). Thank you for coming and speaking to me on the twentieth anniversary of the Ridgewood Massacre. I know it’s hard being here and re-living that type of trauma.

Anonymous: Thanks for giving me a safe space.

Miller: If during our interview you’re not comfortable answering my questions, please tell me.

Anonymous: I appreciate that.

Miller: Of course, but I must ask. Why now? Why after so long?

Anonymous: There’s never a right time, but I think I owe it to the rest of us, not just myself.

Miller: How do they feel about this?

Anonymous: I’ll let you know after the article comes out.

Miller: Shall we start from the beginning?

Anonymous: It’s better than the end.

Miller: The trip was supposed to be from July third through the eleventh; is that correct?

Anonymous: Yes. We planned to celebrate the fourth together, our last summer, before we all headed off to college. Nichole’s family owned one of the cabins in Ridgewood Lodge off the water. The only thing we had to supply was food and drinks.

Miller: Were there plans for others to join?

Anonymous: Everyone important was already there.

Miller: These were your closest friends?

Anonymous: Yeah… they were.

Ridgewood Times

May 10th, 2004

Historians Steven and Martha Ridgewood have officially opened their family campground Ridgewood Lodge for the summer! New additions to the campsite include a three-line super slide, a remodeled water bowl slide, and new surprise food trucks! The pie eating contest has been slated for June 23rd, along with the annual 4th of July Red, White, & Blue firework party! Any donations of fireworks are appreciated and asked that they be dropped off at Ridgewood’s fire department.

July 3rd, 2004

Time: 8:30 a.m.

Lacy

I packed the remaining clothes securely in my black suitcase as the summer heat invaded my bedroom. The room remained hot and sticky no matter how fast the ceiling fan spun, and plans for a new AC wouldn’t be installed until I returned. I wiped the back of my neck clean of sweat, trying my best to cool off.

At least I’d be by the water.

Moisture soaked my tank top and low-rise cargo shorts, but nothing could ruin my mood, not when a week-long trip to Ridgewood Lodge in Maine called my name.

I’d scored my parents’ special bottle of tequila in the middle of the night and ensured it remained hidden under my clothes in the suitcase