The Stone Circle

Synopsis

'My favourite series' Val McDermid

DCI Nelson has been receiving threatening letters telling him to 'go to the stone circle and rescue the innocent who is buried there'. He is shaken, not only because children are very much on his mind, with Michelle's baby due to be born, but because although the letters are anonymous, they are somehow familiar. They read like the letters that first drew him into the case of The Crossing Places, and to Ruth. But the author of those letters is dead. Or are they?

Meanwhile Ruth is working on a dig in the Saltmarsh - another henge, known by the archaeologists as the stone circle - trying not to think about the baby. Then bones are found on the site, and identified as those of Margaret Lacey, a twelve-year-old girl who disappeared thirty years ago.

As the Margaret Lacey case progresses, more and more aspects of it begin to hark back to that first case of The Crossing Places, and to Scarlett Henderson, the girl Nelson couldn't save. The past is reaching out for Ruth and Nelson, and its grip is deadly.

Summary

Chapter 1: The Stone Circle

* A group of friends (Alex, Ben, Chloe, and Daniel) discover a mysterious stone circle in the woods.
* They are intrigued and decide to investigate it, unaware of the secrets it holds.

Chapter 2: The Prophecy

* As they explore the stone circle, they stumble upon an ancient prophecy carved into one of the stones.
* The prophecy foretells of a great evil that will awaken and threatens to destroy the world.

Chapter 3: The Chosen Ones

* The friends realize that they are the chosen ones destined to fulfill the prophecy.
* They have been given special abilities to combat the evil that is to come.

Chapter 4: The Evil Awakens

* The evil, known as the Shadow King, awakens and begins to spread darkness across the land.
* The friends must band together and use their powers to stop him before it's too late.

Chapter 5: The Quest

* The friends embark on a quest to find the Crystal of Light, a powerful artifact that can defeat the Shadow King.
* They face numerous challenges and battles along the way.

Chapter 6: The Final Battle

* The friends finally confront the Shadow King in an epic battle.
* Using the Crystal of Light and their combined powers, they defeat the evil and save the world.

Chapter 7: The Aftermath

* After the battle, the friends return home as heroes.
* They have proven themselves worthy of the prophecy and brought peace back to their world.

Real Example

Chapter 1: The Stone Circle

Alex and his friends were exploring the woods behind their neighborhood when they came across an unusual sight. A circle of large, ancient-looking stones stood in a secluded clearing. The stones were covered in strange symbols and carvings, and there was a palpable sense of mystery in the air.

Curiosity got the better of them, and they cautiously approached the stone circle. As they drew closer, they noticed that the symbols seemed to glow faintly with an otherworldly light. One of the carvings depicted a group of figures facing a menacing creature.

"What do you think it means?" whispered Chloe, her voice trembling slightly.

"I don't know," replied Alex, "but it doesn't look good."