Venom (Completed) ✔

Keep Your Head Up

<MASON'S POV>

"Stay here. I need to go after him, immediately." I quickly add, almost about to head outside.

"Can't I go with you? Then we can both look for him." She asks.

I shake my head. "No. You need to stay here, with Mandy."

She looks questionably at me. "But she's dead?"

What she just said.. it hits me hard. She didn't have to mention that again. "Just stay here. I'll take care of my brother." I determinedly respond, being slightly irritated.

I run outdoors and see Zach's car is still here. Can't quite say he must be nearby, unfortunately. He can be everywhere by now, and with the sunset coming... Well, I think he's going to keep himself busy, since it's Saturday.

I rapidly head through the woods until I'm in town, where I adjust my pace. I approach the first person I see, a young man. "Have you seen this guy?" I say, showing the only photo I have from him, which was made about a hundred years ago. On the photo you can see me with Zach. The background's a little blurry, but that shouldn't be a problem. "It's my brother, he's..." I wanted to say 'murderous', but I don't think that's a good idea. "He's missing."

He stares a while at the picture. "Little old, isn't it?" He says.

"It was at made at an begin 1900's themed party." I lie. "But have you seen him?"

"I'm afraid I haven't seen him before." He says, shaking his head.

I put the photo away and grab the man's shoulders, looking straight into his eyes. "When you see him, call me immediately. Tell me where you saw him and what he's doing." I grab an empty piece of paper and write my number on it.

Usually I feel bad for manipulating someone like that. Literally stealing their time. But it's different right now, I need all help I can get.

After doing this for hours in and around town, I feel hopeless. No one seems to have seen him, and no one called yet. What if he isn't even here anymore? What if he's killing time in another town, or another state, or even another country? I can't contact him in any way. His phone goes straight to voicemail and he doesn't receive WhatApp messages...

I sit down on a bench in a quiet park, having my elbows on my legs, supporting my head. I sigh hopelessly. It's dark outside now, Zach's on the loose, and it's Saturday night. Couldn't be a better combination.

Suddenly my phone rings. A little hope returns, but when I grab my phone, I see it's Alyssa who's calling me.

"Hello?" I say, answering the phone.

"MASON!" Alyssa says so loud, that I have to put the phone off my ear. "You need to get your ass over here, now!"

"What? Why?" I respond, being overwhelmed with confusedness.

"Just come!" She says, and hangs up immediately.

I still look confused at my phone when she hangs up. What could be so important? Is it Mandy...? No, it can't be, it's impossible, she's dead. I get up and rapidly head over to the house, taking the quiet route through the woods. After three minutes of constant running, I arrive at our property, open the door and head inside.

I look surprised when I see Alissa, talking with Alyssa. "Alissa?" I ask, confused.

Alissa looks sad and comes towards me. "Alyssa texted Mandy was... d..dead a few hours ago. But there might still be hope." Alissa stutters, almost crying.

"I'm sorry..." Is the only thing I can say. But then I realize she just said there might be hope. "What do you mean with hope?"

"You need to look at this". Alyssa says as she's standing next to the dead Mandy. "THIS is what might give us hope!"