Hollow Creek /Finney Blake X Male Oc/

Chapter five: The Lost And Missing

Chapter 5

Afternoon, August 12, 1978, North Denver Police Station

Detective James Carter sat in his cluttered office, hunched over a map of the neighborhood with red pins marking each reported disappearance. His gaze shifted between the marked locations, frustration creeping into his thoughts. Each pin represented a child gone missing, and each case seemed to vanish into thin air-no witnesses, no clues, just a pattern that weighed heavily on him.

Today, he had a lead, albeit a weak one. Rumors had been circulating about an old, run-down house on the outskirts of town, rumored to be haunted. Kids in the area avoided it, but some whispered stories of strange lights seen at night, muffled noises no one could explain.

With the case files in hand, James grabbed his jacket and headed out. As he drove toward the house, he replayed the neighborhood interviews in his mind. Though everyone knew about the disappearances, no one had seen or heard anything directly connected to the cases. The house was his one potential lead, a thread he couldn't afford to ignore.

When he arrived, the house seemed even more foreboding than he'd imagined. It was a relic from another time, with peeling paint and boarded-up windows. The front yard was a mess of weeds, and the air was thick, as though the house itself exhaled decades of secrets.

James circled the house carefully, taking in every detail. His eyes caught on a scuffed footprint near the entrance-too faint to identify, but recent enough to catch his attention. He knelt down, inspecting the dirt. "Could just be some kids messing around," he muttered, but something about the place felt... wrong.

He made a mental note to follow up on the house with a proper search, but as he straightened, the nagging feeling only grew. This was more than a case to him; it was a responsibility, a promise he'd silently made to each missing child and their families.

---

Meanwhile...
Afternoon, August 12, 1978, North Denver Middle School

Ethan was seated in his last class of the day, watching the clock as it slowly ticked toward the final bell. It had been a whirlwind of a day-new faces, new teachers, and endless icebreakers. Though he'd been anxious about starting over, he was pleasantly surprised by how smoothly the day had gone. He'd even made a few friends, especially Finney, who'd kept him laughing through most of their shared classes.

As his mind wandered, he found himself thinking about his dad. Ethan knew his dad's work was demanding, but it seemed even heavier than usual lately, as though there was a weight his father couldn't share. He wondered if it had anything to do with the missing children in the area, a topic whispered about in hushed voices around town.

Shaking the thought from his mind, Ethan refocused, glancing at his notebook. He began jotting down some lyrics, letting the day's events inspire him. "New places, new faces," he wrote, "but shadows linger, hiding traces..." He paused, liking the way the words felt, capturing both the excitement and the subtle unease of this new beginning.

Finally, the bell rang, signaling the end of the day. Ethan packed up his things, feeling a mixture of relief and satisfaction. As he stepped into the hallway, he couldn't help but smile. Whatever challenges lay ahead, he had a feeling he could handle them

Afternoon, August 12, 1978, North Denver Middle School

Ethan made his way through the crowded hallway, heading toward the front entrance. He spotted Finney up ahead, chatting with a few other kids, his baseball cap tilted at a slight angle. Finney noticed him and waved, a friendly grin spreading across his face.

"Hey, Ethan!" Finney called, jogging over. "How'd your first day go?"

"Pretty good," Ethan replied, smiling. "Thanks for showing me around. It made everything easier."