Duskwood: And Beyond

8. New Leads

ORYN

Richy texted Jessy. He wanted to tell her something about me. What could that be? And just like that, the hacker texted me. It was weird to know he was also reading the text messages. Of course, I was bitter about it but he very much reminded me that I was also stalking people. He had a point. How was I supposed to be mad at him when I was doing exactly the same thing.

One thing that caught my eye was that Richy didn't want to text Jessy. He wanted to tell her in person. Was he aware that I could read along? How could he be, I didn't even tell Anabelle.

I asked the hacker if he trusted me. He responded with another question which basically implied that he did indeed trust me. For some reason, I was happy about that. He also told me he felt a connection with me. Well, he told me that maybe Jessy wasn't the only one who felt an immediate connection to me. What was that even supposed to mean? Weirdly enough I felt it too. I was connected. Not only with the hacker but with all of them. I was connected to the case. I just didn't know how.

While all this was happening, Cleo arrived at the motel. Ms. Walter was not there but Alfie was. We decided to talk to him. I was not sure if that would be helpful but any information mattered no matter how small it was. Alfie told her that the man without a face took Hannah to the woods. I took my journal again:

Lilly used to work at the motel.

Cleo visited the motel to talk to Ms. As she was not there Cleo instead talked to her mentally handicapped son, Alfie.

Alfie called Cleo "the dead girl's friend". He also said Hannah was taken into the woods by the "Man Without a Face". The man without a face is an old Duskwood legend. Surely, the culprit is wearing a mask.

I will look into this more with Jessy while Cleo will talk to Mrs. Sully.

Jessy used to babysit Alfie but after a short time, he didn't want her to be his babysitter. Jessy doesn't know why. Jessy started a group chat with Richy and me. But we had to take a break.

Cleo found Mrs. Sully.

She saw Hannah leaving the pharmacy. Hannah looked terrified. This could be about that prescription.

Jessy told me the legend: The Man Without A Face lives in the forest and marks the door's of the sinners with the sign of the raven. He then returns in the first full moon and takes everyone in the forest. And they never come back.

That was our first big lead. Of course, I didn't believe our culprit was actually the guy from the legend but criminals did these kinds of things all the time. I told Anabelle about it. She took a paper and wrote the Man Without A Face on it, and posted it on our board. She was currently looking into Duskwood's past and its residents. I wasn't sure what good that would do but again lead was a lead no matter how small it was.

Now there was one thing that I needed to find out. If the killer was copying the legend, did that mean Hannah was a sinner? I was hoping the hacker could help me with that. I was looking forward to discussing this with him. Why was I looking forward to it?

Hannah certainly had too many forest pictures. It was obvious that she was in the woods a lot. Cleo messaged me about Alfie again. What was wrong with that kid? And why was Cleo telling me this if it had nothing to do with Hannah? It was clear that I needed a break.

"You know what Anabelle? We should go out for lunch."

Anabelle was looking at apartments in Duskwood. She believed we would travel there soon and it would also be nice to live there after all this. She was right. From the pictures we found online, Duskwood looked beautiful. We agreed to eat out and I went to get ready. Around this time Dan messaged Lilly. Dan was really distant from me. It was clear he didn't trust me at all, neither did the others so far. Apart from Jessy and Cleo. I wore some black jeans and a baggy sweater and met Anabelle downstairs.