Midnight in Duskwood

Alone

I glance at my flight ticket in my hand and thinking if this is the right decision, my cellphone still off and I don't think Hannah's cloud storage is helping now. What's I need to find are the connection between me and Hannah, why she sent my old number to Thomas? Yes, old number. How I know? Because the number of that cellphone seem familiar to me. I have rummaged my things when I'm child, thank god my mother still keep it. For whole night I checked everything until I recognize one book, I'm remember I love to make biodata when I'm child. What I've found is the number of that cellphone same with my biodata that I wrote in that book. I don't remember much about my childhood, what I can say that we need to moved as the old house is destroyed by fire. My parents told me that we don't have much money to repair the house and decided to move to new place. Also, most of our things caught in fire. And I don't ask more details. But if the cellphone cannot be saved, why she keep this cellphone from me? For what reasons?
"My head is hurt, did I bring my medicine?" I checking in my handbag.
"Ha found it" I take one and swallow it.
I looked at my medicine, everytime my head hurt, I need to take it. According to my mother, when I'm 11 years old, I'm going under some head surgery and due to that, the side effect is I don't remember much about my childhood.
'What's my first step after I arrived Duskwood?' I place my face on my fist.
Then, I heard my flight boarding announcement
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Group Chat (Thomas, Cleo, Jessy, Dan, Lilly, MC, Jake)
Jessy: Hey guys, just want to inform the lawyer that my sister hired called me, he already cleared justification of Phil and probably he will released by tomorrow
Cleo is online
Cleo: That's a good news, Jessy.
Dan is online
Lilly is online
Thomas is online
Dan: Well, that lawyer sure took a lot of time
Jessy: He said that he got another urgent case, so it take time
Thomas: Probably, and he need to read the case first
Jessy: Yes, I'm glad to hear that. I know I've told this so many times but I'm truly sorry for doubting all of you
Cleo: It's okay Jessy
Jessy: Do all of you managed contact with MC?
Thomas: No, I've sent the messages but she never respond.
Cleo: Same
Dan: Maybe she give up search for Hannah? Always found the dead end
Jessy: No, she wouldn't do that
Lilly: What are you trying to say, Dan?
Jake is online
Jake: Mind your words Dan
Dan: Or what? Maybe she already done with you, hackerman
Dan: If I was her, I'm done the same
Jake: Obviously, you are not her
Thomas: Calm down guys, like Cleo say, maybe she need time to think. We've cannot do anything also as police already warned us.
Jake is offline
Jessy: 😕
All is offline
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Phil POV
Finally, freedom! Literally, I'm absolutely innocent but still they treat me like a criminal. Surely, I will not going back there.
"Hey Phil" Jessy greeted me with smile.
"Hey Jessy"
"How are you? Are you ok? Any injured?"
"I'm fine, Jessy. Nothing happened"
"Well, let's go, I'm taking you home, you must be tired & sleepless"
"Can you drop me to bar? I need to clear up a bit. I will going home by my own"
"Sure"

In the car
"So, how is things now?" I asked Jessy, breaks the silence.
She's didn't reply my question. I bet there must something happened while I'm in prison.
"Jessy?"
"Many things happened, Phil" She replied
"Good or bad?" I'm curious right now. Again, she fall into silent again.
"It's okay if you don't want to share"
"Are you hungry?" She asked me, I side- eye at her.
"Yes, let's go take a bite" I answer.

In the cafe
She didn't eat, just poking with her food. Probably, she still thinking either want to answer my question earlier or not.
"Something wrong, Jessy?" I know I need to start a conversation first
" Well... " She looked up at me and sighs.
"Richy is missing" She continues
"What? How?"
"MC say that she and Richy chatting, when suddenly Richy heard someone screams, he thought it probably Hannah. During video call MC & Richy, someone attacked Richy & according to MC, there are blood coming from his mouth"
Jessy's eyes start tears up.
"Thomas go to the forest to help Richy but what he found only Richy's cap soak with blood"
"That's terrible" I replied
"Then, you called MC about your arrest due to your connection with Michael Hanson. I've rummaged some old files in Roger's Garage because I want to know AMC Gremlin's owner, I accidently found Michael Hanson files. So, I and Thomas visit Michael Hanson's house" she says
"Well, before I take over Bar Aurora, I already visit his house but look like he's already gone." I says.
"Yes, the problem is this" She show me pictures in her
phone. There are some pictures, articles, maps etc.
Look like a board with some details, like someone play detective with red thread
"Wow, that's messed up"
"We're been chased with some guy wearing mask. Lilly called police, Once police arrived, they managed to get everything that hanging on that wall but cannot found Hannah, Richy & the suspect" I nods my head.
"May I ask you something, Phil?"
"What is it?"
"Why do you have Jennifer Hanson's bracelet?"
"Bracelet? What bracelet you talking about?" I confused
"This one. The one that sold at pawn shop" Jessy answered and show some picture in her cellphone. It's the emerald bracelet that I've found in basement.
"I've found this bracelet at bar basement. I sold it because I need money for the bar. Something's wrong?" I look away from her cellphone.
"This is Jennifer Hanson's bracelet, she died & her body has been found in Duskwood forest 10 years ago. She's daughter of Michael Hanson. Police suspected that Michael Hanson played part of Hannah & Richy disappearance and Amy death." I scoff.
"No, there is no way he done that. He's not that type."
"I don't know that Phil, police also warned us to stop interference in the case"
No, I don't believe him will do that. I'm not that close with him because he's always quiet. Even we have small talk, I can see he trying to conceal his sadness. Before he's gone, he's giving me the bar keys, his reason because probably he will late open bar & ask me to do it. After that, I'm no longer see him. I'm visit his house because he's not show up about 3 days, that time there is no one in his house. Empty.
"Also, we lost contact with MC" Jessy words break my thought
"What?" I'm suprised as I just called her three days ago
"After visit Michael Hanson's house, all of us unable to contact her. Her cellphone is switched off"
"Do you have any idea?" I asked. She shake her head.
"I don't know, I'm worried if there something happened to her. Her last word to us is 'I am relieved'." She answered.
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Phil POV
At the Bar Aurora
My conversation with Jessy make me think, about Michael Hanson & Jennifer Hanson. In my hand, I'm busy wiping the beer glass, maybe that's why he didn't even talked with our customers, he thought his daughter killed by Duskmood people. That's why he warned me to not trust people in Duskwood.
I'm wiping the bar counter when I heard the bar entrance door open
"Sorry, we're closed" I says without looking up.
"I'm here to claim a stool that reserve under my name" I heard a woman's voice. Stool? Reserve? That's not something I offered in my bar. My eyes widen when I look up.
"You?" I says.