“I didn’t do anything!” Vinyl reached toward Dean as she was being dragged back, “HELP ME, DEAN!”
Dean remained frozen where he stood.
The number replayed in his mind again and again.
A gentle hand touched his shoulder.
“Dean?”
He turned.
Yvaine had hurried over from the car, concern written all over her face, “Everything’s alright?”
Dean ran a hand through his hair, trying to organize the chaos inside his head, “I… don’t know. She suddenly hugged me. She whispered something to me.”
“What?”
“She wants me to look at Miley’s locker.”
Yvaine frowned.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
“I guess we can try asking inside, earlier the officers seem to be known to you.”
Dean nodded, “My uncle, he is a senior officer here, so most of them know me.”
The two quickly entered the police station again.
“Oh? Back already? Forgot something inside?”
Dean approached the counter, “No.” He hesitated and looked at Yvaine, she nodded to give him some courage, “Can you tell me about the girl who was taken away just now?”
The officer’s smile disappeared, “I’m afraid I can’t discuss an active investigation.”
Dean leaned against the counter, “Come on… I’m just a student. I am no harm to it.”
The officer shook his head, “No chance.”
“What if…” Yvaine entered into their conversation, “I get you an autograph from Rachael Greg?”
The officer blinked.
“…The Rachael Greg?”
Yvaine nodded confidently, “I know someone who might be able to arrange it.
The officer looked left and right, and then lowering his voice, said, “Not the insights, okay?”
Dean and Yvaine smiled as they nodded in agreement.
“The girl’s name is Vinyl. She is currently being detained because she is the primary suspect in the disappearance of her friend,” The officer scratched his head, trying to remember the name.
“What was her name again…”
“Miley?”
Yvaine answered immediately.
The officer nodded, “Yeah, that’s the one.”
Dean asked confusingly, “Why is Vinyl arrested, when they both are friends?”
“She is the last known person who was in contact with Miley, they are still investigating the rest of the matter. Well, that’s all I can say.”
Dean nodded slowly, “Thank you.”
“…Don’t forget my autograph.”
Back inside the car, neither of them spoke for several minutes.
The city drifted past the windows.
“So… Miley is the same girl we met yesterday, right?”
“Yeah,” Dean looked outside while answering.
Then he explained everything to her.
How Miley never showed up for dinner, and Vinyl searched the entire campus with him.
“She even told Vinyl to stop looking for her, from an unknown number.”
“And after that?”
“I guess, connecting all the dots, nobody has heard from her.”
Yvaine quietly listened until he finished.
“There are only two possibilities.”
Dean looked at her.
“Either, Vinyl staged the phone call herself or Vinyl is telling the truth.”
Dean slowly nodded.
Nearly an hour later, the city disappeared behind them.
The roads grew quieter.
The abandoned house came into view finally.
It was surrounded by overgrown weeds and rusted fences.
Broken windows stared like empty eyes.
Yvaine slowly parked the car, “We’re here.”
Dean unfastened his seatbelt, “Thanks.”
Before they could walk farther, someone waved both arms dramatically from the front porch.
“DEE!” Joey jogged toward them, “I’ve been waiting forever. Waitt–” He looked at Dean and then at Yvaine, and back at Dean again.
“What is she doing at our spot?”
Dean rubbed the back of his neck, “I think… she’s connected somehow.”
Joey blinked, “How?”
“I don’t know, somehow every clue, I think.” Dean glanced toward Yvaine before continuing, “She makes it complete.” His expression turned serious, “Besides, Miley is officially missing.”
Joey simply stared.
“Vinyl was arrested and she is being interrogated as the prime suspect.”
Joey’s all expression faded and then he threw both hands into the air, “What the fuck happened in the last few hours?!”
Dean sighed, “It’s already been a long day.”
Joey rubbed his forehead, “Let’s go inside.”
The old door groaned loudly as he opened the door. New chapters come out on g.com first.
A cloud of dust drifted into the air.
Dean walked inside beside him.
Their footsteps echoed throughout the abandoned hallway.
After taking a few steps, Dean frowned, “…Yvaine?”
There was no reply.
He turned around.
She was still standing outside the doorway.
One hand rested lightly against the old door frame.
She was there standing frozen.
Dean exchanged a glance with Joey, “I’ll be back.”
Joey nodded, “I’ll open the basement.”
As Joey disappeared deeper into the house, Dean walked back outside.
Dean smiled gently, “It’s okay, you don’t have to force yourself.”
Yvaine remained silent.
“You can head home. All this stuff happened so quickly that I didn’t have a thought that you might be scared of this ghost house too.”
He laughed softly, “And honestly, I’ve dragged you enough into my trouble. I don’t want you getting involved in anything more dangerous.”
He turned back to head inside.
Then a gentle warmth stopped him, Yvaine had lightly caught hold of his sleeve.
Her eyes were closed, “I…” She took a small breath, “…can help you.”
Dean looked at her for a moment, “You don’t even know what’s downstairs in the basement.”
She opened her closed eyes, little half, “I want to help you.”
For a moment, Dean forgot what he was going to say.
“Okay, if you say so.”
He slowed his pace to match hers.
As they descended the old staircase, the darkness gradually gave way to a warm yellow light below.
Dean glanced back at her, “You can open your eyes now, we’re here.”
Yvaine slowly opened her eyes.
The old basement was exactly how she pictured it.
Joey looked up from the table in the middle of the room, “Welcome to our base.”
Yvaine took a cautious step forward to sit.
A tiny sound echoed somewhere in her background.
Neither Dean nor Joey noticed it, rather than Yvaine, she froze.
A small mouse darted out beneath an old cabinet and scurried across the floor.
Yvaine closed her eyes, as her breathing suddenly became uneven.
It was past, just past.