Angie and the others were walking down the street. "We remember what he looked like right?" She asked. "Yeah. He had black hair in a crew cut. Hazel eyes. Slightly pointed nose and a well chiseled jaw". Lin answered. They all stop to look at her. "What?" She asked demonstrating with her hands. "That was a really good description". Jo tried not to embarrass her. "Almost like you were crushing on him". Mitchell burst out laughing. "Oh shut up". Lin slapped her arm. "Ow!" Mitchell cried.
"I'm so sorry". Lin apologized for the burn. "Whatever". She huffed in annoyance. "Guys! Focus!" Angie brought them back to the initial conversation, "so this creepy dude must have been following us around to have know about the magic or whatever this is. We need to find him". "Suggesting it...is the easy part", Jo said, "I mean no one else can see him except us".
"We also need to find out more about these powers. We could really hurt people". Mitchell added still rubbing on the burned spot.
"I think we should check out that ranger shed". Lin said.
"It happened many years ago. The building is probably in the ground". Angie argued.
"It's worth a shot", Jo shrugged then she lowered her voice, "maybe that weird guy would show up again". The odd thing was that no sound left her mouth. "Am I the only one who heard that in my head?" Lin asked. "Nope". Mitchell and Angie answered together. "Good" she sighed.
They went to the forest on foot and tried as much as possible to avoid prying eyes. Angie was sure that the principal had called her Mom since she never showed up to school. "I did not sign up for this". Lin started complaining after she stepped into mud. "To be honest, playing the game was your idea". Jo pointed out. "Fair enough". Lin groaned and continued walking.
They arrived at the supposed spot and as expected, the shed was long gone. "What now?" Jo asked. "We look around", Angie said, "the article said there were strange markings around. If my calculations are right, we should still find some on the floor on on the trees". "Smart" Mitchell complimented before they spread out. Angie went north, Lin went south, Mitchell went West and Jo took East.
After several minutes, Angie found some strange circle drawings on the trees. She took photos of it and other things that looked like writings. "I found something!" She called out, "guys, I think..." She stopped at the sight of the creepy dude. He was wearing a button up top and faded jeans now. He removed his shades and smiled. "I should have known", he chuckled, "teenagers! Always so curious".
Angie moved back and picked up a rock. "Put that away. I'm a friend", he faced her fully now. "You stay away from me. From us". She warned though her voice was shaking. Fear was radiating off her but she still put on a brave face. "How about this", he said slowly, "you and your friends leave the woods this instant and no one gets hurt".
"We're not afraid of you!" She said firmly.
"You should be", his eyes turned to fire, "I am worse than death". "Angie!" Lin shouted. "Ciao!" The guy waved at them before disappearing. "He didn't hurt you, did he?" Mitchell asked. Angie shook her head, "he gave another warning", she told them, "whoever he is...he's dangerous". "You found something earlier?" Jo asked. "Yeah! I took photos. Let's go!" With that, they scrambled out of the woods. The creepy guy was behind a tree. He smiled and said, "I know you'll be back soon. And I'll be waiting".
"That guy is everywhere!" Lin said through deep breaths. "You're telling me". Angie coughed lightly. "We still have another place to look", Jo said, "the school library. I bet there's a ton of supernatural stuff there". "We could search for that guy while we're at it. Everyone in this town had to have gone to Bresten High". Mitchell suggested. "We have to lay low", Lin reminded, "we're supposed to be absent from school". They all nodded in agreement and dashed to school.
Luckily for them, the librarian was on a lunch break at the time they snuck in. "Let's spread out", Lin said, "and hopefully not meet weirdo. Angie and Mitchell, try to find the yearbooks while Jo and I would find magical books". "On it". Angie pulled Mitchell's hands. "Are you okay?" Angie asked a flustered Mitchell. "Yeah", she shrugged, "I'm good". "O-kay" Angie eyed her suspiciously.
Lin and Jo were progressing already. "Witchcraft: A magical guide by Kenan Mary", Jo read, "why does the school even have this?" "The old hag probably taught it was a storybook". Lin laughed. "Are you scared?" Jo asked suddenly. "That you're dying from lack of fashion?Yes".
"I'm serious, Lin. Doesn't it ever bother you that these powers could get out of control and kill people?"
"It does", Lin sighed, "to be honest, Felicity and Angie were really close. I remember when Jason stuffed Angie in the sand when we were kids. Felicity was the only one who helped. It still feels so unreal that she's gone".
"Yeah. It's like I can still feel her only that she's not really here. We had good times together". Jo frowned as the memories came flooding back. "Hey", Lin intertwined their fingers, "we'll figure things out. One step at a time". "Thanks". Jo smiled.
"We need to narrow our search". Mitchell said after minutes of wasted effort. "Was there something about him that indicated to the time he could have been born?" She asked. Angie closed the book in her hand to think. "I don't know why but he gives me this '80s vibe". Angie said. "If magic is real, who am I to question time traveling?" Mitchell tried to lighten the mood. Time traveling was a farfetched idea.
"You can talk to me, you know". Mitchell said out of the blue. "I know", Angie sighed, "it seems unreal. Like it's the universe playing some kind of mind games on me".
"I might not have known her like you and the others but she was great".
"Thanks. She loved mysteries too. She could have cracked this puzzle since". "I bet she would". Mitchell gave a smile that Angie returned. Something in her mind told her to check the year the ranger was killed. 1987. Angie wore a huge smile as she found him. "Daniel Robbins", she told Mitchell, "I found him". Angie texted Lin that they were done and they all left the library.
"We got books on supernatural creatures and different kind of witchcraft", Jo started, "you guys?" "We found our creep", Angie was very confident, "Daniel Robbins". Jo frowned at that. They all gave her confused looks. "Don't you guys read the papers?" Jo asked and Lin laughed and said. "No one born in this century reads the paper, sweetie". "Guys, this is a huge problem". Jo looked terrified. "Why?" Angie asked. "Daniel Robbins died in a fire two years ago". She said. Immediately, the photo in Angie's hands burned up with a maniacal laughter echoing.
YOU ARE READING
A Game Of Secrets
Paranormal"Angie, don't move". Mitchell warned with horror on her face. Angie was shaken up already. She heard a growl and out of sheer curiosity, she turned around. She gasped and almost tumbled backwards. She wasn't focused on the bloody ten horned hideous...
