Welcome to Beachcastle - The Mystery Party 2018

Chapter 0.

Life for a struggling writer was never an easy one. Neil Patterson knew that extremely well, being an aspiring twenty-three-year-old writer, whose most recent story had once more been shot down by his publisher. “Leanna Royce,” the brown-haired male grumbled as he sat at the back of the train. His body slouched forward as he stared at the backpack which held his most recent manuscript. It was a mystery novel… The first one he'd tried to make. But, as his publisher put it, it was “too basic, too common, and too unoriginal” all criticism that was common from the Royce woman.

Finding no point to continue moping about the recent events of the day,  he brought his blue eyes up to look other passengers and sighed. It was only then that he remembered. that it was near the end of lunch, so they were all headed to the northeastern portion of Beachcastle where the only local University was located. The BCU insignia branded across their clothing only added more weight to the idea that the group was heading back to campus.

All of the university students chattered as they grasped their phones in their hands. Half of them, not even bothering to look up as they spoke with those closest to them. His mind almost wondered whether he would have been the same if his father had coughed up the money to send him to school as he had his “true children”. Neil could even vaguely see his younger twin half-brothers chattering to one another. The pair were one of the very few who didn't have their phones in their faces.

To be honest, he was happy that no one really bothered with him. It was something he was used to. He was always in the shadow of his older half-siblings who were overachievers that had to ensure their father looked good. That's probably why he didn't mind the younger four kids as much. They didn't really care about the old man's image, yet their father still cared enough to put them through school. “How lucky,” he grumbled to himself.

From the front of the train, he noticed one of the pair standing, a smile on his face as he made his way to the back of the train. His brother traipsing after him down the narrow aisle of the subway train. “Hey, Brother,” Hayden said as his younger twin Matthew waved before the two took a seat at Neil's side. The older male gave a small sigh before he leaned back. Making his posture straight once more.

“Hi, Hayden… What brought you two over here.” Neil mused as Hayden placed his arm around his older brother. A grin stretched upon his features as he did so.

Matthew frowned, “Your mother mentioned something to our mother about you going back to Leanna to see if she would publish your book… She said we should see how it went.”

The world was filled with strange things and one of them was Amelia Patterson, a wealthy woman who had married shortly after the two graduated high school. They had been arranged to strengthen the bond between the Malone and Patterson families or some medieval-sounding thing like that.

And yet, when she found out about Mr. Patterson's affair and Neil’s birth - oddly enough she didn't really care. She was more than happy to help Neil's mother. If anything, she was the only reason her husband still took care of Neil's family.

“Well, it didn't go well. She turned it down.” Neil mumbled as he rubbed his eyes. He was looking forward to going to bed as soon as he arrived home. Then he would wait for his mother and aunt to arrive and he would figure out a way to break the news. Again.

Hayden didn't look pleased at all, his grip tightening around his half-brother. “Hey, that's not right. She doesn't have any reason to do that to you. You're the best writer I know.” Neil smiled at the male’s attempt to brighten his spirits just the slightest.

“Don't worry about it, maybe she's right… Everything happens for a reason. Even this.” Hayden only sighed as he pulled away from Neil, a small and unhappy frown stretched across the light brown-haired male's face as both he and Matthew stood.