A.L.E.N - Between Shadows (Chapter 2)

Act 29

Liam and Cathleen went to school to visit Cathleen's father, and as soon as they entered the school through the hallway, Cathleen started to have memories of the place when she was younger and had some classes there. "It's brought a lot of memories."

Liam looks around and says, "Oh yeah, nice," and takes some notes when he sees a display of older students—anything that has been arranged so that people can view and interact with a collection of pictures, objects, or other things.

And Cathleen points out a very specific photograph that shows a class with different and young people on it, and that was there on the display, and shows it to Liam. "Liam, do you see that photo over there? That is my father and Alexander Walf, and also some other class members."

Liam looks surprised to see, for the first time, Alexander Walf. How does he look? A young man with curly dark hair, an almost brown-orange coat, a grey sweater, jeans, "Wait?! That is Alexander Walf. Woah, what year was it taken?"

And all of a sudden, the man holding a box with Halloween decorations responds, "That photo was taken in 1970."

Cathleen recognizes the man's voice as she turns around with joy and excitement to see her father for the first time. "Dad! Oh, I missed you so much!"

And he places the box on the floor as Cathleen jumps in his arms, and his glasses almost fall off. "Cat! Oh my... Hey sweetie, long time no seen... How are you?"

Cathleen nods with a "yes," and with a big smile, she says, "I'm doing great." She looks at Liam, "Oh Dad!? It's Liam Janson; he is a journalist back in North Carolina and also my boyfriend. Liam is the greatest history teacher in the whole world, and his amazing father, Edward Ross,"

Edward extends his hand to Liam and shakes hands. "Nice to meet you, finally!" and both laugh.

And Liam nods, saying, "Same, Mr. Ross."

Edward just laughed and smiled. "Call me, Edward; usually people don't call me Ed. Well, except one or two did...," and in that moment he loses his smile.

Cathleen looks concerned. "Dad? Are you alright?"

Edward scratched the back of his head and replied, "Oh yeah, I'm fine... Don't worry about me...," he says, looking at Liam. "My wife Kate used to call me 'Ed'; she was a nurse at the Walfield Hospital; unfortunately, she passed away even though that event happened on October 27, 1977."

Liam interrupts him, "The fire accident. I had no idea, Cat. I'm so sorry...," and Liam was just frustrated. "All because of that guy, Al..."

And Edward interrupts Liam as he says, "Alex wouldn't ever do something like that," and both Cathleen and Liam are surprised and confused at the same time.

Until Liam replied to Edward, "I was about to say 'Alen' not 'Alex'...," and Edward was concerned and frustrated by it.

Cathleen was in shock and wondering, "Dad, what do you know and are you not telling us?"

Edward looks down at his sights as he says, "It's about time to tell what really happened that day." and both Cathleen and Liam look at each other.