The Secret Village

A determined reporter who pursues the truth behind ergot poisoning and the town’s legends, even as locals push back. She relies on evidence and refuses to settle for folklore, pushing herself into dangerous conversations and situations. As the investigation deepens, she becomes personally entangled in the town’s secrets and dangers.

An aspiring thriller writer who crashes at Rachel’s place after being kicked out by his ex-girlfriend. He hopes to finish a screenplay while observing the town’s mystery. He believes in Rachel’s instincts but keeps his own agenda close, stirring tension between honesty and self-preservation.

A friendly townsperson who opens up about the town’s history and warns that dangerous secrets run deep. He cautions that people will kill to protect the truth, and his hints suggest a larger conspiracy at work.

A local who taunts Rachel but also drives her toward the truth. He embodies the town’s wary attitude toward outsiders while secretly aiding the investigation. His actions are driven by a desire to protect the town and its fragile balance.

A local who taunts Rachel and is involved in spreading ergot poisoning. He later becomes a pressing figure in the town’s attempt to control information, and his actions accentuate the danger Rachel faces.

A friend of Paul who guides Rachel to evidence of the town’s kidnapping victims. He provides a crucial link to the hidden truth and supports the investigation, even as the danger increases.