Shadows of the Past (Shadows of VarDev High Sequel)

5.

**Chapter Five: Jests and Ghosts of the Past**

The sun dipped low in the sky, casting a golden hue over the soccer field as Haley, Icarus, and Tyler approached Jake, who was leaning against the fence, looking uneasy. Tyler, always the jokester, decided to break the ice.

“Hey, Jake! What’s scarier: the masked Reaper or my cooking?” Tyler asked with a grin, his arms crossed playfully.

Jake snorted despite himself. “Honestly? I’d rather face the Reaper.”

“Wise choice! You have a better chance of surviving,” Tyler shot back, winking. “But really, we’re hoping you can help us out. We’re trying to solve this whole ‘mysterious masked killer’ situation. You know, typical Tuesday stuff.”

“Yeah, well, good luck with that,” Jake said, crossing his arms defensively. “What makes you think I know anything?”

Haley stepped forward, her voice steady. “We’ve heard rumors about a connection between the Reaper and the recent events. The mayor’s son… his death. We need to know what you know.”

“Why should I tell you anything?” Jake retorted, glancing at Icarus, who stood with his arms crossed and an intense glare.

“Because we’re on the same side here,” Icarus said, his tone firm but controlled. “If you have any information, it could help prevent more deaths.”

Tyler leaned in, his expression serious for a moment. “Look, man. I get it. This is a scary situation. But if you’ve heard anything about why the mayor’s son was targeted or who might be behind the Reaper mask, now’s the time to spill it.”

Jake hesitated, glancing around as if worried someone might overhear. “Fine. But you didn’t hear this from me. There’s talk about a guy named Mark. He had a thing with the mayor’s son. They had this massive fight a few weeks before he died. People said Mark wanted revenge.”

“Revenge? For what?” Haley pressed, sensing they were on the brink of something significant.

“Over a girl. They both liked her, and it turned into this whole drama,” Jake explained, his voice lowering. “Mark was really into her, but she ended up with the mayor’s son. It messed him up, and he’s been acting weird ever since.”

Tyler straightened, suddenly interested. “Weird as in stalking the girl or weird as in ‘I’m going to wear a scary mask and start killing people’?”

“More like angry and unpredictable,” Jake replied, shrugging. “He’s been hanging out with some other kids who like to mess around with that whole Reaper thing. There are rumors that they’ve been planning something big. They think it’s a joke, but it could get serious.”

Icarus furrowed his brow, taking in the information. “Do you know where we can find Mark? We need to talk to him.”

“Last I heard, he was at the park near here,” Jake said, glancing nervously over his shoulder. “But you might want to be careful. He’s not exactly stable right now.”

“Got it. Let’s move,” Icarus said, his tone decisive. As they turned to leave, Tyler couldn’t resist adding a bit of levity.

“Jake, you ever think about a career in telling scary stories? Because that was some top-notch storytelling,” he said, nudging him playfully.

“Right? ‘The Legend of Mark the Mad’ could be a bestseller,” Haley chimed in, trying to keep the mood light.

“Just remember, if you start a campfire story with ‘Once upon a time,’ I’m out,” Jake replied, managing a reluctant smile.