PUZZLER (mystery fic)

000. letters.

PROLOGUE.

danielle's pov.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.
. . . the first letter ✉️.

LIFE IS peaceful in my apartment. I don't live far from my brothers, and it's easy to live alone. Well... not alone, but my roommate and best friend, Scarlett, is currently out of town, so alone for now.

I go out to get the mail, remembering it was delivered today. When I get down there, I open the small box that's assigned to our apartment and see a large envelope with my name on it.

I grab all of our mail and head back inside, curious to what the letter could be about.

I examine the envelope a little more, and see that there's no stamp, no address, no return address, or any information about where it came from... it just says my name on it in neat handwriting. DANIELLE.

I curiously open the envelope, finding a letter inside. When I open the letter, I see a plane ticket fall out of it.

I furrow my eyebrows as I crouch down to pick up the envelope, and see it's a plane ticket for a one-way flight to some town in South Dakota that I've never heard of.

I open up the letter, reading it slowly.

Hello, Danielle.

I've discovered you have a knack for puzzles. You're book-smart... it's intriguing. You want to be a nurse, but you're better at mind games, like chess. You also enjoy reading, but typically nonfiction, unlike most your age.

you've been selected, along with a few other teenagers your age, to attempt and solve a mystery in South Dakota. I can assure you this is safe, as I would never put fellow experts in danger.

If you'd like to attend, your flight is tomorrow. Tell no one where you're going. If you alert someone, you'll be sent back home. I do hope you'll accept, and I'd love to see you there.

— puzzler.

What? A puzzler? And they selected me? Sure, I like chess, and I do want to be a nurse... but why me? I'm not outstanding or anything.

I am intrigued, though, and I may be crazy to say this, but I trust the writer. I just have a gut feeling that I can trust him... or her, I don't know.

Something I did know, though, is that I had a suitcase to pack.

everest's pov.
DENVER, COLORADO.
. . . the second letter ✉️.

"STOP BEING lame and just cmon, Ev! It won't take long." Jackson motions towards the door, and I shake my head.

"Sorry, J. I told you I don't have time for basketball right now. I've gotta work on this—"

"Look Ev, I know you wanna like... go pro for chess or something, but I don't really care right now. I gotta go back to college in like two days, can't you spare one game?" He asks, and I sigh before getting up from my chess game.

"Fine, I guess... let me get my mail first and then I'll be over." I mumble, and he nods, taking his basketball and heading out to the court in the backyard.

My brother was currently home for the week because his whole fraternity got sent home because of an... infestation, or something, and he's been pestering me to play basketball all damn weekend. I told him I had a chess tournament coming up, but he doesn't really give a fuck.

I see a letter practically hanging out of the mailbox, and it's the only thing in there. I grab it with a confused look on my face, not wasting a second opening it.

No address, no stamp... or information of any sort. Just my first name.

I read over the letter, ignoring my older brothers loud calls for me to hurry the fuck up.

I'm invited to South Dakota? For what, exactly? A puzzle? Just because I have good strategy and am good at chess?

"Dude, are you coming or not?!" He shouts, and I sigh.

"Sorry, man. I gotta pack for... a trip im taking!" I yell back, and he sends me a confused look as he jogs over.

"Where you going? I didn't know you had plans." He frowns.

"Surprise chess tournament in... New Jersey." I say quickly. "Not sure when I'll be back, but I leave tomorrow. Sorry!"

I hurry inside and up to my room, completely forgetting about my chess game.

I wonder what this... "puzzler" could need from me.

JENNA YAPS!

I didn't say this before but the characters DO NOT KNOW EACH OTHER prior to meeting in the puzzle (unless they're siblings... obviously)

so if you put that they've spoke at school or smth in your opinions... no they didn't (I'll just disregard that part dw)

ALSO: put a town and state that your oc(s) are from! They can be from the same state, but preferably not the same town!

I'm hoping to have the first chapter out by next weekend, but it depends on when everyone's opinions get in!