Shade (Revised)

Chapter 15: Untangled

Jason's heart raced as he mounted his bike, feeling the cool leather seat beneath his fingertips. As he pedaled down the road, his senses heightened, aware of every creak and rustle around him. The shadows grew longer, casting an eerie atmosphere as he approached the old police archives. His heart pounded in his chest, the adrenaline coursing through his veins.

He parked his bike discreetly, hiding it behind a cluster of bushes, ensuring it wouldn't give away his presence. Jason's heart raced as he observed the security guard stepping away from the entrance, taking a break. Seizing the opportunity, Jason quietly approached the door, which was left slightly ajar.

With a mix of nerves and excitement, Jason cautiously pushed open the heavy doors of the old police station archives, the scent of aging paper and musty air enveloped him. In the dimly lit room, rows of dusty shelves held stacks of faded case files, like forgotten secrets waiting to be uncovered.

Dust particles floated in the slivers of light that filtered through the cracked windows, mirroring Jason's swirling thoughts. With determined steps, he scanned the shelves, his eyes searching for the evidence that would confirm Natasha's claims.

He approached the register, its weathered pages filled with handwritten entries. With meticulous care, he traced his finger along the dates, searching for the year that held the key to Natasha's claims. Once he found the right entry, he moved from one shelf to another, his eyes fixed on the alphabet markings.

Slowly and methodically, Jason examined each file. As his frustration grew, he began to doubt if he would find any answers within the archives. Just when he was about to give up, a shelf inexplicably slid out in front of him. Surprised and intrigued, he glanced around, but there was no one in sight.

With cautious steps, Jason approached the fallen shelf. An old, worn file was almost begging him to open it and dive into its secrets. He hesitated for a moment, the weight of anticipation heavy upon his chest. Taking a deep breath, he delicately grasped the file, feeling the smoothness of its cover beneath his fingertips.

"Missing Teenager"

Jason's hands trembled as he opened the file, revealing a faded photograph of a young girl with dark, wavy hair cascading over her shoulders. Her eyes held a haunting sadness, a reflection of the pain she had endured. As he studied the photograph, his mind raced with questions, his heart heavy with the weight of the past."Natasha," he whispered, as if calling out to a ghost.

A shiver ran down his spine as he became wary of the mysterious entity helping him out. Once again, he whispered, "Natasha? Is that you?"

The weight of her presence lingered like a ghostly breeze, stirring the dust particles that danced in the slivers of light. His fingers traced the edges of the photograph, as if seeking solace in the captured image of a girl lost in time.

As Jason's eyes scanned the document, they widened in disbelief, his heart skipping a beat. His hands trembled, unable to bear the weight of the truth he held. With a gasp, he dropped the paper, watching it flutter to the ground like a wounded bird finding its final resting place.