Brightsider's Secrets

Saint Peter's Park

*One week until the gala*

It had been a week since Dashiell and Blair had visited me. Every day that passed was a day closer to the gala, and I had been on edge. I found that everywhere I went I was looking behind my back constantly. I stopped going to work altogether and rarely ever left my apartment. The only person I talked to that past week was my mom. I was practically calling her every five minutes just to make sure she was okay and that no more strange men were showing up uninvited at her house. I wasn't even answering Mandy's or Adam's, my only friends', calls. I basically became a shut-in, pacing my apartment over and over again trying to figure things out.

Not only that, but I also was finding cards exactly like the one Dashiell gave me. There was one waiting every morning for me on my bedside table when I woke up. At first I found it creepy, the constant reminder of what I had to accomplish, but I expected it after a while. In fact, if I didn't receive a card, then I would be worried. But, nevertheless, I had received at least one every day, sometimes finding them in random places around my apartment.

I felt like I was going crazy, over-analyzing every single detail on the cards, but I had no idea how it would help me reach them. I tried to google Brightside, but the only thing that came up was some animal center and the famous Killers song. I felt like I was running in circles around myself, everything was so confusing.

But what I had been able to research was Ciardha Leinster. He was a self-made billionaire and a genius. After researching viruses and diseases in college, he invented several various medicines and cures, saving the lives of millions. Leinster seemed to be a good guy, donating his time and money to charity, so what would he want to do with with me?

I grabbed my laptop and several cards and started off the day as usual, researching. Before I could begin, there was a half-hearted knock at the door. My whole body froze as I watched the door carefully. I shakily rose from the chair and silently began towards the door.

"Wesley?" A barely audible voice spoke from the other side of the door. Mandy. "Wesley, please, Adam and I are worried. Please, just talk or something. We need to know you're okay," she begged. I could hear her start to sob. I didn't realize how this could have affected my friends. I guess I was just too caught up in my issues to notice that my friends might actually be worried about me.

I wanted to open the door and hold her, tell her everything was okay, but I hated lying. Besides, how could I explain everything that had happened? She wouldn't understand. No one would...

The air felt heavy as we both stood there in silence. I could barely hear her sigh as I slowly walked to the door.

"Bye, Wesley." Defeat filled her voice. My heart sank in my chest as my eyes filled with tears. She had finally given up on me. I told myself that it was for her own good, but I just didn't know anything anymore. I looked away from the door and towards the floor. I should've run out the door to her. I should've done a lot of things. But I didn't. I couldn't.

I plopped down on the couch and put my head in my hands. My hands started to shake as I rocked back and forth. Was I insane? I had to get out of there. I aggressively pushed myself off of the couch and threw open the door, not even bothering to close it.

I exited the apartment building and stood alone on the street. The cool August air felt refreshing against my skin. I could finally breath after being cooped up in my apartment for a week. I began walking nowhere in particular, but soon I figured out where my feet were taking me: Saint Peter's Park. It was where I used to go as a kid when things weren't going so well. My visits were mostly after I had been bullied. What can I say? Kids are mean.

No one ever came here, so it was the perfect place to go and be alone. It wasn't that hard to see why this place it always empty. The park had looked bad when I was a kid, but now it was atrocious. You could barely see the rusted and decayed metal under the growing vines. What used to be monkey bars had fallen over and was leaning against the slide. It was quite a sad sight to see.

I slowly walked towards the beat-up swing set and sat down. The old chains squeaked as I put my weight onto them. The park seemed quieter than it used to. I took a much needed deep breath and slowly took in my surroundings. All of the trees had grown considerably, but to be fair, I guess I had too.

A cool wind blew and my eyes started to burn. Shoving my hands into my jacket pockets, I noticed a thin piece of paper that had not been there before. I furrowed my eyebrows, confused. I pulled the folded-up piece of notebook paper out of my pocket and turned it around in my hands, unsure if I should open it. My curiosity won and I unfolded the crumpled up paper. I sighed reading what was written by hand inside the paper with sloppy handwriting.

CALL

BRIGHTSIDE

I clenched my teeth, extremely frustrated. I angrily stood up from the swingset, crumpled the paper into a ball, and threw it to the ground.

"WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?" I screamed, throwing my arms into the air. The only answer I received was the rusted swing set squeaking as it swung back and forth. I glanced at the now-destroyed piece of paper. Call Brightside. The words drifted through my head. I instinctively reached for the crappy flip phone in my back pocket. I opened it and paused. How am I supposed to call when there's no number? Realization ran through my head. There are ten letters in Brightside, and that is how long a phone number is... maybe if I just... I thought for a moment, then began typing Brightside into the phone using the numbered/lettered keypad. All the letters matched up with a letter which resulted in this:

274-448-7433

I stared at the phone with my finger hovering over the CALL button. I thought back to Dashiell's words, 'If you need to reach us, mate'. This had to be what he was talking about. Before I could rethink my decision, I slammed my finger on the CALL button and let the phone rise to my ear.

It was silent for a long time before it connected and began to ring. It rang five times before I heard a click. No one spoke.

"Is this... Brightside?" I spoke hesitantly. No one answered. "Look, I know someone is there. Some guy named Dashiell and a girl named Blair broke into my apartment, threatened me, then gave me some card with the word Brightside on it. It has been one hell of a week and I would appreciate it if you would answer my question. Is. This. Brightside?"

I stood silent, surprised at my own forcefulness. The person on the other line still didn't speak. I sighed and just as I was about to hang up, then a feminine voice spoke.

"Look for the moon tattoos. Don't trust anyone without one."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author's note

This chapter is really depressing I'm (not) sorry.

I AM EVIL NOTHING MAKES ME SAD MUAWHAHAHAHAHAHAHA *coughs*

so, um, I don't really have anything important to say here so I'm just gonna end this

editors are @fanvergent_ and @lunar_life

They are flipping amazing and I have serious spelling issues and they help me a ton with that XD

Love y'all