hello and welcome to my hub for all things related to the small louisiana town of eden. from here you'll find a variety of things to help you understand the world and the people within it.

𝐍𝐏𝐂 ... identification : michael taylor ( age: 42 / occupation: scout and tracker / status: alive )

background: a skilled hunter and survivalist, michael was drawn to the circle after a period of isolation in the wilderness. he views the circle as a way to belong. michael doesn't speak about his life before he joined the circle and when he does, he is vague about any details other than he was born and raised in georgia and moved to louisiana in his early twenties.

role in the circle:

as a scout, michael's main job focuses on bringing in new members and having them go through the interview process. he was actually the one to point out emerson to silas.

as a tracker, michael is tasked with keeping members in the circle. if they leave, without permission, his job is to find them and bring them back. silas has allowed him to use any means necessary and between him and luke, those who leave will wish they were never found, considering both men will make things violent as a punishment for leaving.

personality: tough and no-nonsense, michael is loyal but not blindly so. he's pragmatic and questions leadership when he sees flaws and isn't afraid to pick a fight if the time calls for it.

connection to emerson: as noted previously, michael was the one to notice emerson first and get him under silas' eye. he also played the part of welcoming emerson into the circle when emerson committed to living at the compound full-time, mind you he was 18 at the time, michael jumped at the chance to make something more happen between them. while older than emerson by 18 years, michael thought he could win the younger boy over not only with promises of anything he wanted but also through a relationship.

michael pursued emerson. each time he asked, emerson said no, but eventually michael wore him down and the two were rarely seen without each other. but it wasn't all it was made out to be. michael's temper and jealousy often caused him to be controlling over emerson and eventually, he became abusive. emerson put up with it for months until a day came when he had enough; he took a kitchen knife and tried to kill michael in his sleep, but michael's keen senses kept him alive. unfortunately for emerson, the relationship got worse after that and he was forced to stay with michael until he eventually went to silas and pleaded for him to make something happened.

michael hates emerson because of his choice to run to silas. while the two rarely see each other around the compound, emerson knows michael is still around and wants him dead.

𝐍𝐏𝐂 ... identification : harper myers ( age: 24 / occupation: wannabe journalist / status: alive )

harper and emerson were two sides of the same coin, inseparable as children. born just minutes apart, harper, being the older twin, often took on the role of the bold, outspoken one, while emerson was more introspective and sensitive. they balanced each other perfectly, finding comfort and strength in their shared experiences. but when their parents’ marriage fell apart, their bond was severed in a way neither could control.

the twins were 6 when their father packed up his things and walked out of their small house in eden, taking harper with him. thomas had always clashed with lorraine, his temper and restlessness a volatile mix that made family life tense. harper, who resembled him in personality and drive, became his choice when it came time to leave. emerson, who clung to lorraine’s quiet strength, stayed behind.

the separation devastated them both, though they expressed it in different ways. harper wrote emerson letters at first, sending them sporadically from different places as thomas moved from town to town looking for steady work. the letters were full of tales of new schools, friends, and places, but also hints of loneliness and confusion. emerson, never fully understood what had happened, cherished the letters but struggled to respond, unsure of what to say.

eventually, the letters stopped. thomas’ transient lifestyle made it harder for harper to keep in touch, and emerson, dealing with his own struggles at home, grew used to the absence. by the time emerson was 14 and fell under silas’s influence, harper had become little more than a memory — a voice in his head that occasionally whispered what she might have said about his choices.

harper, meanwhile, grew into a fiercely independent young woman. thomas’ instability forced her to mature quickly, as she often stepped into a caretaker role when her father’s drinking got out of hand. she excelled in school, determined to build a life for herself that didn’t mirror the chaos she’d grown up in. by her early twenties, she had put herself through college and was working as a wannabe journalist in new york city, far removed from the small town of eden.

despite the years and distance, harper never completely forgot about emerson. she occasionally tried to reach out by phone but was often met with silence from their mother or an answering machine. she wondered if things would have been different if she had stayed, or if she had tried harder to keep in touch.

for emerson, the thought of harper lingered like a phantom, especially in moments of quiet or doubt. he wondered what she would think of the man he had become, whether she would despise him or try to save him. though he told himself he didn’t care, a part of him longed to hear her voice again, to bridge the gap that had widened between them over the years.

their paths, however, continue to remain unconnected, each sibling burdened by the weight of their choices and circumstances. harper built her life defined by resilience and ambition, while emerson became a man shaped by manipulation, loss, and the desperate search for belonging. yet, deep down, they both carried the same ache — the sense that something vital had been lost when their family broke apart.

𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 ... eden, louisiana, usa ( population: 11,564 as of 1980 )

at its core, eden, louisiana, is just another small southern town tucked away in the marshy lowlands of the bayou. with a population of 11,564, it’s where everyone knows everyone, or thinks they do. beneath its quiet, unassuming facade, eden hides layers of secrets, scandals, and whispered stories that ripple through its close-knit community like the slow churn of the muddy river that winds along the town’s edge.

eden is surrounded by dense cypress swamps draped in spanish moss, their still waters reflecting the sky like cracked glass. the town itself is a mix of decaying southern charm and stubborn resilience. main street serves as its heart, lined with mom-and-pop stores, a diner, a church, and a weathered courthouse. the sidewalks are uneven, and the bricks are faded, but there’s a certain beauty in their imperfections. the ever-present humidity gives the air a weight that carries the faint smell of salt, mud, and magnolias.

in the outskirts of town, the houses grow sparser, giving way to dirt roads, dilapidated trailers, and forgotten farmsteads. the further you go, the quieter it gets, except for the croak of frogs and the occasional echo of gunshots from hunters. eden feels suspended in time, caught between its historical roots and the creeping pull of modernity.

𝐍𝐏𝐂 ... identification : thomas "tom" myers ( age: 49 / occupation: unknown / status: unknown )

thomas was a drifter, a man who moved through life like a gust of warm wind — pleasant while he was there until he had a drink, then he became violent like a tornado. he was tall and lean, with a sly smile that could charm anyone and an easy confidence that masked his lack of direction.

he was a man who feared stagnation and saw commitment not as an anchor but as a chain. the idea of marrying lorraine, and raising children, was terrifying to him, yet he managed to stuff his fears down long enough to make it work for two years. but as they entered into the third year of their marriage, tom began to seek out other women, which lorraine began to suspect he was doing, as he avoided coming home for days on end, but had no solid evidence. as a result, tom continued his adulterous behaviours until he eventually left eden and rumour has it he left with one of the those he was sleeping with, along with his daughter.

even in his absence, tom myers casts a long shadow over emerson’s life. his charm and restlessness are echoed in emerson’s personality, but so is his tendency to run from responsibility and make impulsive decisions.

for lorraine, tom represents both a mistake and a lesson; a reminder of the dangers of trusting too easily and the strength it takes to survive betrayal. she never lets herself forget that she has raised emerson on her own, without a single letter, phone call, knowledge about her daughter, a dollar, or apology from the man who left them.

the dark baptism:

silas’s dark baptism was one of the most feared and revered rituals within the circle of ravenous hearts. it was not a ceremony of gentle initiation but a brutal, transformative experience designed to sever a person from their former self and bind them irrevocably to the brutal initiation rite, framed as a sacred rebirth. a trial meant to purge weakness and instil unwavering devotion. the ritual was carried out in the dead of night, deep within the bayous surrounding the compound, where the stagnant, black water reflected the flickering torches of the gathered cult members.

only those deemed worthy, those who had proven their loyalty through obedience and suffering, were allowed to take part. the gathered members, clad in dark robes, formed a tight circle around the initiate, chanting prayers that mixed fragmented scripture with occult invocations. meanwhile, two senior members, known as the hands of the prophet, would grip the initiate by the arms while silas, draped in his ceremonial black robes, recited passages from the cult’s doctrine. his words twisted the concept of baptism, not as a cleansing of the soul, but as a drowning of the self — an obliteration of doubt and disobedience.

after silas recited his passages, the initiate was stripped bare, both in body and spirit and forced to kneel before silas. he would then anoint them with a thick, blackened paste (ashes mixed with the blood of past initiates) smearing it across their forehead, chest, and hands. he spoke of the hunger of the divine, the belief that to ascend, one must be willing to consume and be consumed. then came the first moment of reckoning.

a sacrifice was always required. sometimes it was an animal, a goat or a stray dog, but for the most devout initiates, it was a person. a traitor, an outsider, someone silas had deemed unworthy of salvation. the initiate was handed a blade, the expectation clear. their first kill was to be made in the name of the circle. if they hesitated, they were beaten, humiliated, and forced to watch as another carried out the act in their place, their failure marking them as weak.

once the blood was spilt, the next phase began. the initiate was given a portion of the flesh, cooked over the fire or eaten raw, depending on the intensity of the ritual. to consume was to ascend. to take another’s essence was a step toward being reborn.

finally, at silas’s command, the initiate was brought back to the bayou and then plunged beneath the murky surface. how long they remained submerged depended on the purpose of the ritual. if they were proving loyalty, they would be pulled up just before their body gave out, gasping for breath as the gathered cult members chanted praise for their “transformation.” if the baptism was punishment, it was prolonged —repeatedly dragging the person under, their body convulsing as their lungs burned for air, their spirit broken beneath the weight of silas’s authority.

some initiates came back changed, their minds fractured, convinced they had glimpsed something divine in the suffocating darkness. others were never pulled back at all, their bodies left to disappear into the water, their fate a warning to anyone who might question the circle’s path.

to those who survived, the dark baptism marked an irreversible turning point. they were no longer just followers. they were property of the circle, reshaped by suffering, bound to silas through fear, pain, and the belief that only he held the key to their salvation. additionally, they knew that from that night forward, their past was gone, their name stripped away. they were no longer merely human. they were something greater, something hungrier.

𝐍𝐏𝐂 ... identification : nora wilkes ( age: 64 / occupation: various roles within the circle / status: alive )

background: nora was one of the earliest converts to silas’ vision of the circle of ravenous hearts. she joined the circle in her early thirties after losing her entire family in a house fire. broken and searching for meaning, she was captivated by silas’ charisma and his promise of rebirth through community and spiritual transcendence. over the years, she became one of his most trusted confidants.

roles in the group:

matriarchal figure: to many followers, nora is seen as a spiritual mother. she offers guidance, comfort, and wisdom to new recruits while reinforcing their loyalty to silas and the cult's teachings. but she is known for her tough love rather than the traditional soft-motherly love.

keeper of rituals: nora oversees many of the group’s most sacred and secretive ceremonies, including the branding of loyal members and the cannibalistic rites. she views these practices as essential to the circle's spiritual journey.

enforcer of philosophy: she has a sharp eye for those who waver in their faith and is quick to root out dissent. her loyalty to silas means she often reports directly to him, serving as both an informant and an enforcer.

personality:

charismatic and stern: nora’s presence commands respect. she has a natural ability to inspire devotion through her words, but she can also instil fear with her unwavering discipline.

deeply devoted: she believes wholeheartedly in silas’ vision and the philosophy of the group. her faith is so ingrained that she sees the cannibalistic rituals and branding as sacred acts of purification and unity.

maternal but ruthless: while she often acts as a caretaker, there is a darker edge to her nurturing. she will not hesitate to sacrifice others; including those she cares for deeply, if she believes it serves a greater purpose for the group.

connection to silas:

nora is one of silas’ oldest and most trusted allies. she was instrumental in helping him establish the circle and shape its philosophy. over the years, their relationship has become almost symbiotic; silas relies on nora’s wisdom and unwavering faith, while nora sees herself as the guardian of his vision. however, nora is not blind to silas’ flaws. she recognizes his manipulative tendencies but believes they are necessary for the survival of the group.

nora's role in the circle’s practices:

cannibalistic rituals: nora is one of the staunchest defenders of these rites, viewing them as acts of communion and spiritual transcendence. she often leads these ceremonies, ensuring they are performed with the utmost reverence. her ability to rationalize these acts underscores her deep indoctrination.

branding: as the overseer of the branding ritual, nora ensures that each member understands the significance of their mark. she believes the pain and permanence of the act bind the followers not only to the cult but to a higher spiritual purpose.

𝐍𝐏𝐂 ... identification : lorraine myers née dubois ( age: 39 / occupation: house cleaner, waitress, & seamstress / status: alive )

lorraine grew up on the outskirts of eden in a ramshackle house that creaked with every gust of wind. her parents were poor but hardworking, earning a living on a small plot of land that barely yielded enough to feed the family. from a young age, lorraine learned the value of hard work, often rising before dawn to help her father in the fields or her mother in the kitchen.

despite her modest upbringing, lorraine was a bright, curious child with big dreams. she loved to read, devouring whatever books she could borrow from the town’s tiny library. in her imagination, she travelled to far-off places, picturing a life beyond the confines of her small, struggling town. but as she grew older, the weight of reality began to settle on her shoulders.

lorraine fell in love young, drawn to the charm and wild spirit of a man, ten years older than her, who seemed to promise adventure and escape. emerson’s father, thomas myers, was a drifter with a guitar slung over his shoulder and a devil-may-care grin. lorraine was smitten, swept up in the fantasy of a life that felt so different from her own.

but thomas was a fleeting storm. even after the two got married, a choice that was made due to lorraine getting pregnant, there was no stability. thomas developed a drinking habit which depleted the young couple of their money quickly. knowing they needed to save for the birth of their children, lorraine took up any work that was available to her until she could no longer work.

the years thomas and lorraine spent together were plagued with turmoil. from a young age, emerson and harper witnessed their parents fighting with one another and saw they mother face the wrath of their father more often than not. lorraine stayed with thomas for the sake of emerson, but when emerson and harper were six years old lorraine had enough. she witnessed the aftermath of her husband’s drunken anger as she stitched up her son’s cheek; the only problem was she didn’t have the funds to leave.

but then one day thomas and harper were gone. lorraine had saved enough money to leave, but with thomas out of the picture, she found there was no reason to leave eden as well. as time went on, she rarely spoke of him, her feelings about thomas, and by proxy harper, lingered like a shadow in her life. on the rare occasions, she did mention either of them, her tone was flat, dismissive, as though she could erase the pain their absence caused by pretending it didn’t matter.

“your father wasn’t the kind of man who knew how to stay,” she told emerson once, when he was about ten and asked why he didn’t have a dad or siblings like the other kids. “your dad was like the wind — here one day, gone the next. you’re better off without him. you had a sister once, but she takes after your dad.”

𝐍𝐏𝐂 ... indentification : silas jackson ( age: 56 / occupation: leader & founder of the circle of ravenous hearts / status: alive )

silas jackson is the charismatic leader of the circle of ravenous hearts, a cult that thrives in the shadows of eden. his presence is magnetic, and his influence runs deep as if he were casting a spell over the downtrodden and the restless souls who seek solace, or power, beyond the bounds of traditional faith. silas is both a preacher and a predator, a man of contradictions whose charm conceals his true nature as a manipulative and dangerous figure.

additionally, silas jackson is a man who commands attention without raising his voice. he’s tall and wiry, with a sharp face that seems both weathered and timeless. his deep-set eyes are piercing grey, glinting like polished silver. his smile is warm but predatory, like a wolf disguised as a shepherd. he dresses simply but deliberately, in an old, worn leather jacket, always impeccably clean, paired with a button-down shirt to give a more fatherly look to his appearance.

whenever silas speaks, his movements are deliberate and hypnotic, his voice laced with an intensity that makes it impossible not to listen. even when he’s standing still, there’s a coiled energy about him, as if he could spring into action at any moment.

furthermore, silas views himself as both saviour and ruler of the cult. he preaches liberation from the town’s suffocating morality, offering his followers a way to reclaim their power. in truth, silas is as much a tyrant as the system he claims to oppose, demanding absolute loyalty and obedience from those under his sway.

ultimately, silas sees emerson as one of his most promising followers, a young man with the cunning and resolve to rise through the cult’s ranks. but silas also knows how to manipulate emerson, using the boy’s loyalty to his mother and his hunger for a sense of purpose to keep him tethered. silas views emerson as both a tool and a potential heir, though he tests him mercilessly, pushing him to prove his worth.