The Little Town of Lillston

The Biggest Secret in Lillston

Bryson walked heavily across the lawns of random houses, backtracking to his own home. His face felt hot despite the cool shade of the towering trees around him. Jack had gone mad, just like Danny in the asylum. He briefly wondered why Jack's space in the basement consisted of a sleeping bag rather than a bed, but he didn't dwell on that thought, for the madness was more concerning. What if Bryson couldn't figure out how to stop the monsters tonight? What if Jack stayed crazy? What if, even if Bryson stopped the monsters (though he had little hope of that), Jack still stayed crazy? There were too many unknowns. And the way that Jack had gripped his hair, as if his head was on fire, and how he looked at Bryson as if he were a monster-

Bryson suddenly bumped into something firm, and he took a step back. Pain flared in his arm. His first thought was that he ran into a tree, but he was very much mistaken. Officer Peters was standing there, and Bryson wondered whether there was another note taped to his shoulder. But he wasn't going to make the first move. Officer Peters had talked with Jack's mother about how Bryson was a danger walking around in the neighborhood. The officer was one of Kindell's followers.

"How'd it go?" Peters asked, looking down at Bryson with a nervous tension.

"Fine," he muttered. He could see his house in the near distance.

Peters sighed, the badge on his chest winking under the glimpses of light which broke through the canopy above. "I was hoping you wouldn't have to hear all of that, kid. I only said that stuff to prove a worthy distraction."

Bryson still felt grumpy towards this man. "Okay," he said in a low voice.

Officer Peters glanced around, then, determining the area was clear, chose his next words carefully. "I knew you were going to bring trouble after that first night with the clowns. You're still new around here so I don't blame you, but here in Lillston, we let the monsters do their thing and we don't get in their way."

Bryson let out a bitter laugh. "You're the sheriff, yet you think no one's getting in their way?"

Peters frowned. "Are you referring to Jack?"

"Him and Kyle are working with them for Kindell!" Bryson said a bit loudly. "She's the reason Jack's mad! Jack and Danny!"

Peters's expression fell. "Jack's not doing well, huh?"

Bryson hesitated to respond. He was cautious, as he didn't know how much Peters knew. Maybe the officer was using Bryson for information. Bryson hadn't talked to Peters before, and now he wanted to have a conversation?

Peters sensed Bryson's hesitation. "Yes, I'm the sheriff. I was aware that Kyle was mixed up with the monsters, but I didn't know how. I've heard the rumors, but they never explained why he'd be roaming the streets at night. As for Danny, I never knew the cause of his madness. I didn't know these things, and you may have figured them out very easily from that school of rumors Kindell runs, but I did know that Jack was a good kid who was going to get himself caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Jack's like Danny, isn't he?"

Bryson nodded his head.

"Poor kid," Peters mumbled. Then, he turned a stern eye on Bryson (not unlike the eye his mother would use on him). "I know you're not working with them, kid, but I also suspect there's a reason they've attacked you." He nodded towards Bryson's arm. "They don't usually do that."

Bryson sighed. He was going to attempt the impossible tonight, but if he could get an officer on his side, maybe it would lighten the load on his shoulders. "I found out that Kyle struck a deal with Principal Kindell, and-"

"What sort of deal?"

Bryson paused. Peters had gone into interrogation mode. Bryson looked favorably upon his house across the street. "Kyle keeps the monsters away from her house, and she lets him stay at the school."