Shadows of the Past (Shadows of VarDev High Sequel)

7.

**Chapter Seven: Unearthing Secrets**

The next morning dawned gray and overcast, the kind of day that mirrored the somber mood hanging over TideRoss. Haley, Icarus, and Tyler met at a small diner known for its greasy breakfasts and local gossip. They settled into a booth in the corner, a strategic location where they could overhear conversations while plotting their next move.

Haley opened her notebook, scribbling down the leads they had gathered so far. “We need to start with the people who lived here when the kids went missing,” she said, glancing up at her companions. “Maybe they can give us more context about the Reaper and who might be involved.”

Tyler leaned back in his seat, a playful smirk on his face. “Great! We’ll be like amateur detectives. I call dibs on the trench coat!”

“Focus, Tyler,” Icarus said, his tone all business. “We’re not here for costumes.”

“Aw, come on! A trench coat would add some serious flair to our investigation,” Tyler protested, but there was a twinkle in his eye that suggested he was enjoying the banter.

“Let’s just start with the local history center,” Haley interjected, wanting to keep them on track. “There might be old records or people who’ve lived through it all. We’ll learn more about the town's past and the kids who went missing.”

“Right, history center it is,” Tyler said, feigning a dramatic sigh. “Guess I’ll have to leave the trench coat for another day.”

As they finished their breakfast, the trio discussed who they might approach for information. They planned to start with Agnes, a woman in her seventies who had been around during the disappearances and still lived in TideRoss. She was known for her vivid memories and willingness to share tales of the past.

“Agnes used to babysit a lot of the kids back then. If anyone knows the dirt on the Reaper legend, it’s her,” Haley said, feeling a mix of excitement and trepidation.

“Let’s hope she’s not too cranky,” Tyler joked, nudging Icarus. “I mean, who wouldn’t be after babysitting a bunch of little monsters?”

As they arrived at Agnes's quaint little house, an old Victorian with peeling paint and overgrown gardens, the tension in the air was thick. The garden was a jumble of wildflowers, a hint of the vibrant life that once flourished there.

“Knock, knock!” Tyler said, grinning as he stepped forward. He rapped his knuckles against the door, which creaked open almost immediately.

Agnes stood there, her white hair pulled back in a bun, her wrinkled face a map of laughter lines and sadness. “Well, if it isn’t the detectives! What do you want?” she asked, her voice sharp but with a hint of curiosity.

“Hi, Mrs. Agnes! We’re looking for some information about the town’s past, particularly the missing kids,” Haley said, keeping her tone friendly yet respectful.

Agnes’s expression shifted, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Ah, the ghosts of our past. Come in, but don’t expect me to sugarcoat anything.”

They entered, the air heavy with the scent of aging paper and something floral. As they settled into the living room, Agnes leaned back in her armchair, eyeing them carefully.

“So, you want to know about the Reaper, do you?” she asked, a shadow passing over her features.

“Please,” Haley said, leaning forward. “Anything you can tell us would help. We’re trying to understand the connections to the recent events.”

Agnes sighed, her gaze drifting to the window. “It was a dark time for this town. The kids who went missing were full of life, dreams, and ambitions. But they got caught up in something they couldn’t control. They thought they could play with forces beyond their understanding.”

“Like a game?” Icarus asked, his interest piqued. “What kind of game?”

“A ritual, of sorts. They believed they could summon the Reaper, that it would grant them power. But instead, it took them,” Agnes said, her voice trembling slightly. “I lost my own daughter that night. She was just a girl, but she thought she could handle it. And then, just like that… gone.”

Haley felt her heart clench at the raw emotion in Agnes’s voice. “What happened to the kids after that? Were their bodies ever found?”

“Some were, yes,” Agnes replied, her voice filled with sorrow. “But many just… vanished. The town tried to cover it up, to pretend it never happened. They buried the truth, thinking it would protect them.”

“What about the mayor’s son?” Tyler interjected, sensing the weight of the conversation. “Was he involved?”

Agnes's eyes flashed with a mixture of anger and sadness. “He was one of them, but he survived the game. They called him a coward for backing out. But he carried the burden of knowing what really happened. It haunted him until the day he died.”

“Haunted him?” Icarus repeated. “You mean he was afraid of something?”

“Afraid of the Reaper coming back for him,” Agnes said, leaning in, her voice dropping to a whisper. “He knew the truth about what happened that night, but the guilt twisted him. It turned him into a target, and someone wanted him to pay for it.”

Haley’s mind raced, the pieces beginning to fall into place. “So, you’re saying the mayor’s son might have been killed because of what he knew?”

“Yes,” Agnes affirmed, her gaze intense. “And if that’s the case, then the Reaper is far from a simple ghost story. It’s a warning, a punishment for those who dare to remember.”

Tyler crossed his arms, trying to lighten the mood despite the heaviness of the conversation. “So, it’s like the town’s version of a horror movie, and we’re the unsuspecting heroes?”

Agnes chuckled softly, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “You’re brave to delve into this. Just be careful—sometimes the past doesn’t like to be disturbed.”

“Trust me, we know,” Haley said, exchanging a glance with Icarus, who was still processing everything.

“Thank you for sharing this with us, Agnes,” Icarus said, his voice sincere. “It means a lot to understand the truth.”

As they stood to leave, Tyler caught Agnes’s eye. “You know, Mrs. Agnes, if you ever need someone to help with the garden or chat about life, I’m your guy. I’ve got a great sense of humor—almost as good as my cooking!”

Agnes smiled genuinely this time, the tension breaking a bit. “You keep that humor, young man. You’ll need it for what lies ahead.”

As they walked back to the car, the weight of Agnes’s revelations settled heavily on their shoulders.

“Did you hear that?” Tyler asked, glancing at Haley and Icarus. “The mayor’s son was in the middle of it all. And it sounds like someone wanted him dead because of it.”

“Which means whoever’s behind the mask is closer than we thought,” Haley replied, her determination reigniting. “We need to find out who else was involved.”

Icarus nodded, his expression serious but softened by a hint of warmth for Haley. “We can’t let fear control us. We have to confront this head-on.”

Haley looked at Icarus, her heart racing at the intensity in his eyes. There was a shared understanding between them, a silent agreement that they would see this through together.

“Agreed. But first, let’s grab some coffee. I think we could all use a pick-me-up before diving deeper into this mess,” she said, her voice steady.

“Sounds like a plan,” Tyler said, stepping between them with a mock serious tone. “But only if they have pastries. I can’t function on coffee alone!”

As they headed toward the nearest café, Haley felt a sense of unity growing between them, an unspoken bond forged in the face of danger. And amidst the grim truths they were uncovering, there was a flicker of hope—hope that they could face the Reaper together, unearth the past, and put an end to the bloodshed haunting their town.

But little did they know, the shadows of TideRoss were watching, waiting for the right moment to strike.