South Park: Bloodline's, Book 1: Shadows Over South Park

Shadows Unmasked

The morning at South Park Police Station had started like any other, albeit with a growing sense of unease. The team had been working tirelessly, following leads that seemed to go nowhere. The room buzzed with low conversations as Officer Howard, Tweek, Kyle, Stan, Wendy, and Butters pored over documents, trying to piece together the fragmented clues they had gathered. Tweek glanced at the clock for the third time in as many minutes, the tension in the room palpable. They were missing something, but what? The team was running out of leads, and the absence of Craig left everyone wondering, Kyle, seated across from Tweek, was the first to voice what they were all thinking.

Kyle: "Has anyone heard from Craig yet? He's been AWOL a lot recently" Stan, leaning back in his chair, sighed deeply.

Stan: "I've heard Nothing. I've tried calling him multiple times but it goes straight to voicemail. He's not at his place either. I even swung by this morning. His car wasn't there."

Wendy, who had been silently studying a map of the area, finally spoke up.

Wendy: "Do you think something has happened to him?"

Before anyone could respond, the doors of the station suddenly burst open with a loud crash. The sound echoed through the room, causing everyone to jump. All heads turned towards the entrance as Craig barged in, looking disheveled and frantic. His usually neat appearance was a mess—hair unkempt, clothes wrinkled, and there was a wild, almost haunted look in his eyes.

Officer Howard: "Craig!" Howard barked, immediately on his feet. His voice was a mixture of relief and anger. "Where the hell have you been? We've been worried sick."

Craig barely acknowledged Howard's question, his gaze sweeping the room until it landed on Tweek. His chest heaved as he struggled to catch his breath, as if he had run all the way to the station.

Craig: "I found something," he panted, his voice strained. "Something at the old warehouse where millie died. You all need to come with me right now."

The room fell silent as everyone absorbed Craig's words. The old warehouse had been the site of numerous leads, each more disturbing than the last. But something in Craig's tone made this different—this was urgent. Tweek exchanged a wary glance with Kyle, who raised an eyebrow in silent question. They both knew that Craig's sudden reappearance, coupled with his frantic behavior, was cause for concern. But there was also the undeniable fact that Craig had found something, something important enough to bring him back in this state. Officer Howard was the first to break the silence.

Officer Howard: "Alright, everyone gear up. We're heading out. Craig, you'd better be ready to explain everything when we get there." Craig nodded quickly, his eyes still locked on Tweek. There was something unsettling about the way he looked at him, but Tweek couldn't quite put his finger on it.

The team moved with practiced efficiency, gathering their equipment and loading into the black SUVs parked out the front. The drive to the warehouse was tense, the silence in the vehicles punctuated only by the occasional crackle of the police radio. Tweek sat in the backseat of the lead vehicle, sandwiched between Kyle and Wendy. Craig sat in the front passenger seat, his fingers tapping nervously on the dashboard.

Kyle: "Craig, what exactly did you find?" Kyle finally asked, breaking the silence. His tone was careful, measured. Craig didn't turn around to answer. His eyes remained fixed on the road ahead.