Eccedentesiast (Brandon Darrow)

#SavingHim

[#SavingHim]
They've been to hell and back for each other, and I think they'd both be willing to take a second travel if they had to.
–Unknown
*****

"Are you sure this is the address? 136 Montezuma Avenue?" I asked looking at the building in front of us as Trevor parked the car.
"I haven't been wrong yet have I?" Trevor asked opening the car door.
"I guess not," I mumbled getting out as well. We both rushed inside to get out of the rain. When we got inside a noise was heard.
"What is that?" Trevor asked as he pushed me back a little behind him. I turned around and felt for a light switch and turned it on. I let out a gasp and stumbled back into Trevor as I came face to face with a stuffed bear. Trevor caught me and held me. "Jesus they're everywhere," he mumbled still holding onto me.
"What the hell is this?" I asked as Trevor finally let go of me and I looked around the shop.
"Of course the creepiest guy on the internet does taxidermy for a living," Trevor replied sarcastically. I rolled my eyes before making my way to the back of the shop. I turned my phone flashlight on and started to look around. The smell was so disgusting that I almost gagged. I turned my flashlight around and saw a dead deer hanging up.
"Hello," I called out and just as Trevor entered the room I saw a figure cross the doorway. "Hey wait," I called rushing after them.
"Aspen hold on," Trevor said following after me. Just as I crossed the doorway the door slammed shut. "Aspen are you okay?" I heard Trevor yell as he banged on the door. I didn't answer as I looked around the room. A rattling noise filled the room and Trevor yelled, "Don't hurt her!" It was nice to know he cared.
I looked around more before seeing another doorway. I walked toward it and reached for the handle but just as I did the door opened and I fell back in surprise. I looked up adrenaline filling me as I saw Brandon there soaking wet from the rain. I sighed in relief before putting a hand over my wildly beating heart. The other door burst open and Trevor looked around before his eyes found mine.
"Jesus Aspen are you okay?" He asked rushing toward me and helping me up.
"I'm fine Brandon just gave me a little scare," I said and Trevor looked up finally noticing Brandon in the doorway.
"I heard a crash I thought...don't fucking do that again," Trevor breathed out and I nodded.
"Sorry," I muttered putting my hand on his arm, "I'm fine." He nodded and we all walked further into the room. Sean followed Brandon as he walked to the front.
"What are you doing here?" I asked Brandon.
"Some skater bitches told us Lance broadly worked here," Brandon answered looking at the dead animals.
     "What stuffing dead animals?" Trevor asked looking around in disgust.
     "Shit just keeps getting weirder," Sean chimed in. I had to agree with him this was creepy as all hell.
     "Okay well Trevor deciphered the message from Mr.Empty on the misconceptions website, asking Zoe to meet him here. Obviously Mr.Empty doesn't know Zoe's dead," I sighed in exhaustion. I have yet to have just a nice normal night of sleep since all this had happened.
     "You okay?" Brandon asked leaning down next to my ear.
    "I'm fine," I muttered and Brandon wrapped his arm around me. I knew I shouldn't especially since Trevor was here but I leaned into him and rested my head against him.
    "So both are searches led us here," Brandon said looking at the others.
    "Which means Lance broadly and Mr.Empty are the same person," I finished Brandon's thought.
    "So Mr. Empty, aka Lance broadly was Zoe's boyfriend," Trevor cut in.
     "Maybe he was Dunbar's friend too, maybe that's why he's doing this," Brandon said looking down at me. I stared up at him and gave a small smile.
    "So when was the last time you guys went to camp?" I asked looking around at the group of boys around me.
    "Two summers ago? I didn't go this past summer," Brandon answered.
     "Me neither," Sean agreed.
      "I did," Trevor replied.
      "Was Dunbar there? Who was he with?" I asked Trevor. This could be a lead.
     "Mostly just by himself," Trevor shrugged. Okay, maybe not. "Or with hawk, a little bit," he added as an after thought.
    "Yeah, hawk hung out with Alison, and she was at the bonfire,"Sean elaborated.
"And she was at camp this summer. I mean she's probably friends with Zoe. They went to school together."
    "Okay this all keeps coming back to camp terrerro. So did something happen at camp?" I asked.
    "There was some drama with Zoe and some older guys. The counselors. I think she was mad at this guy named David who didn't like her so she started a rumor that he did something to her. I don't know," Trevor recalled. Suddenly my phone dinged and I got a text from Rowan. Apparently two girls from our school needed help.
One girl almost drowned in the pool and another was part of the zoo. "Alright let's get the fuck out of here, it's fucking creepy," I muttered moving away from Brandon. All the guys nodded and trailed after me. We all said goodbye and then Trevor drove us to our house. "Goodnight Trev," I yawned before going to my room.
The next morning Trevor drove me to school but told me him and Brandon were going looking for more clues. "Hey Trev be careful," I said as I hopped out of his car.
"Will do sis, have fun at school," he said giving me a salute. The day went by slowly but as lunch rolled around I found Elisia, Rowan, Jai, and Tessa. They were the girls Rowan was talking about last night.
"Hey oh my god I feel like I haven't seen you in forever," Rowan said as I sat down. Elisia reached over and grabbed my hand.
"Hey guys sorry, I'm Aspen," I said directing the last part to the two girls. They nodded and I started to explain to them what I found last night.
"So Zoe's boyfriend is Mr.Empty?" Rowan questioned and I nodded. "Wow bizarre," Rowan whispered. Suddenly everyone's phone went off in the cafeteria and we all looked at each other. I pulled my phone out and saw Jai making out with some girl. Jai saw it to as she stood up and tried to hide from the people laughing.
Tessa followed after her and I looked at Elisia and Rowan, "Is she going to be okay?"
"I hope so," Elisia answered and I had to agree. My phone kept dinging and Elisia looked at me.
"It's that chick Alison, she won't quit texting me, she says Mr. Empty knows she was talking to me," I answered her silent question. After school I got another text and looked at it.
Mr. Empty:
Look what I found. Do you want your boyfriend back?
There was a video of Brandon in the back of a trunk. I stared down at the phone in fear as I took off running. I needed stinger to help me find him. I just hoped I wasn't to late. I needed to save him, save Brandon.

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