CHAPTER EIGHTY SEVEN - Victory Comes at a Great Cost

As Mrs. Thompson bid them farewell, Ella turned to Lucas. "You don't think..." He sighed heavily. "I think we need to consider every possibility at this point." The legend of the scorned spirit spread like wildfire through Willow Creek. Some dismissed it as superstitious nonsense, but many latched onto the tale, embellishing it with each retelling. Local newspapers ran sensationalized articles about the "Haunting of Montgomery's." Online forums buzzed with speculation and alleged eyewitness accounts. The restaurant became a macabre tourist attraction, with people lurking outside hoping to catch a glimpse of paranormal activity. Ella and Lucas watched helplessly as their dream crumbled around them. The dining room, once filled with laughter and the clinking of glasses, now echoed with emptiness. "We have to do something," Ella insisted one evening as they closed up. "This can't go on." Lucas nodded wearily. "I've been thinking... maybe we should lean into it." "What do you mean?"