Family finds giant hole in backyard, but it’s what’s at the bottom that sends shivers down their spines

Isolation in the crowd

Despite the growing crowd of onlookers and the constant presence of the media outside, the Johnsons felt more isolated than ever. The house that once echoed with laughter, lively conversations and visits from friends and neighbors was now a silent, almost gloomy space – an island surrounded by a sea of inquisitive eyes and incessant murmurs. Erika leaned against Mark, seeking solace in his closeness, while they both watched the faces outside, strangers who looked on as if they were watching a spectacle. In what had been their refuge, they now felt surrounded, lonely and besieged by a curiosity that seemed to have no end.

An unexpected theory

The sudden ringing of the phone broke the tense silence that hung over the Johnsons’ house. On the other end of the line was an old college classmate of Mark’s – now a geologist – who, after following the news, had decided to get in touch. In a low but determined voice, he put forward a surprising theory: the sinkhole might not be natural, but man-made. Erika and Mark exchanged a surprised look. The idea sounded improbable, even unreasonable, but in the confusion in which they lived, any possibility was worth considering. Despite the uncertainty in his words, there was a conviction in the geologist’s voice that immediately captured Mark’s attention. Something in that hypothesis resonated with the discomfort they had felt from the start.