Sorry for such the long wait, I haven't forgotten you guys lol. School just started so been pretty busy.

I'll make sure to update ever now and then though. :P


Six

"Mr. … Mr. Daniels?" Lucas stuttered.

That was about the only clue he had to go on. He wasn't even sure if it was one at that.

The man on the screen let out a maniacal laugh, "You didn't actually think I would leave my real name in that guest book? I give you some credit though… you did figure that out, so you're not entirely dense."

"Who are you then?" Lucas asked perplexed.

"And ruin all the fun… Now why would I do that?" The man joked.

"So what now?" Lucas questioned. "You're gonna kill me?"

"No. Not yet at least." The man simply answered. "But don't worry… if I wanted to, oh I would." He chuckled. "Just not yet…"

Lucas gave into defeat. This wasn't getting him anywhere and the more and more he heard coming from Mr. Daniels' mouth, the more and more he wished he hadn't. He looked down to the floor, but before he even could the man's voice boomed onto the speakers once again.

"So you've finally had enough, huh?" He observed with a smirk on his face. "The hell, I've had my fun and being that I'm in such a giving mood of late…" He added snapping his fingers.

At that instant, a masked man emerged from the shadows walking towards the boy. Lucas quickly turned his head in a panic trying to catch a glimpse of the man feeling his presence. The man took a hold of Lucas' arm getting a firm grip on him. Lucas struggled, but to no result. Surprisingly, the man started to untie Lucas from his strains. Lucas looked up at the TV screen confusingly not knowing what to do.

"Go on, before I change my mind." Mr. Daniels said sternly.

Lucas slowly picked himself up, his knees buckling haven't been upright for sometime now. Little by little he made his way to the door, which was on the opposite corner of the room. Finally making it there, almost instantaneously as he touched the rusty doorknob Mr. Daniels left him with one more message.

"By the way Lucas, if you know what's good for you you'll quit while you're ahead…" He ordered him; more like a warning more than anything. "…Trust me."

With the door cracked opened ever so slightly, Lucas stood there for a second pondering his last comment. Doing so, the sunlight illuminated the faded words present on the door enough for him to make out what it read… Father & Son Printings. The corner or Lucas' mouth curled up hoping this would finally be the final piece of the puzzle. He took one last look into the abandoned warehouse, the image on the TV screen already scrambled. Completely ignoring Mr. Daniels' request, Lucas knew then and there more than ever that this search had to go on.

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Peyton sat at the counter in Karen's Café mindlessly tapping her pencil on her sketchbook to the music blasting from her iPod.

"So what you up to missy?" Haley asked Peyton handing her food to her.

Peyton pulled out one of her ear buds, "Oh nothing, just waiting for Alex to get here. We're gonna start work on our project." She replied taking a bit of her burger.

"Yeah, Bevin is suppose to be coming down here as well." Haley pointed out cringing.

"Oh, I gotta see this." Peyton laughed.

"Ha ha." Haley sarcastically said.

Just then the chimes on the door went off and Bevin hopped into the café waving at the pair.

"Oh god." Haley whispered under her breath.

"Bev." Peyton motioned the blond over.

Haley glared at Peyton until she saw Bevin finally making her way over to them. "Hey you!" She exclaimed putting on the biggest smile she possibly could.

"Hey back at cha!" Bevin greeted Haley. "You ready partner?"

"You first." Haley insisted.

"Ok." Bevin cheered pulling something out of her purse and holding it up proudly.

"Deodorant…?" Haley let out a sigh.

"Yeah, Mr. Tillman said that we should give each other a secret so…" Bevin explained.

Dying from laughter Peyton choked on the food currently in her mouth, "Sorry." She told them coughing.

"What?" Bevin smiled shrugging her shoulders.

All Haley could do was flop her head down in frustration thinking to herself, Why me?

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"3-pointer, boo-yah!" Tim shouted.

Nathan slammed the controller onto the floor in disgust.

"…and game." Tim added. "Sorry I had to do you like that Nate Dogg." He patted his friend's back.

"Tim… just say you beat me." Nathan retorted. "And get off me." He leaned away from him.

"Don't playa hate." Tim barked.

Nathan shook his head. "So about this project, got anything worth while?"

"Oh snap. Good thing you mentioned it." Tim replied digging through his gym bag. "Here, this should solve your problem." He handed Nathan an envelope.

Nathan ripped it open, "A gift certificate?" He looked at Tim puzzled.

"Yeah, for you and Haley's anniversary." Tim paused for a second, waiting for a response but not getting one. "…Tomorrow."

Nathan jerked his head back, Tim finally getting his attention. He glanced over at the calendar, tomorrow's date circled with a red marker, "Oh shit…" He ran to get a closer look, "Tim… you idiot this is next month."

"Opps."

"You're dead." Nathan stared angrily at Tim, chasing after him.

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"You gonna be ok?" Haley asked Peyton.

"Yeah, go on." Peyton looked over at Bevin who was waiting by the door.

"You sure?" Haley continued trying to stall as much as she could.

"Go. It won't be that bad." Peyton giggled pushing her away.

"Ugh." Haley grunted.

As Bevin and her were walking out, Alex just so happen to stroll into the café.

He saw Peyton sitting at the counter, "Hey, what's wrong with her?" He mentioned pointing over at Haley.

"Nothing." Peyton laughed.

"So you wanna start this project or what?" Alex put it out there.

"Might as well." Peyton answered in her typically fashion.

Alex smiled, "Yeah, I love Mr. Tillman, don't get me wrong but this whole thing does seem a little out there."

Peyton nodded, "You can say that again."

"At least I have you as my partner. That should lessen the pain somewhat." He joked, still sounding genuine though.

"Yeah." Peyton shyly replied.

"So lay it on me. What's this huge problem you have?" Alex finally asked.

"Huh? Oh, it's nothing really." Peyton glanced down onto the counter, not trying to make eye contact with him.

"I've only known you for what, maybe a week or two but I'm almost positive no one can ever be this broody and depressed without something being wrong with them."

Peyton snickered, "Then you really don't know me at all."

"It's Lucas isn't it?" Alex took a guess. "He hasn't been in school the past couple of days. Is he ok?"

Peyton looked at him baffled, "What are you, a psychic?"

"Well that drawing you were working on the other day was pretty self-explanatory." Alex responded back. "Does it have to do with that whole shooting ordeal?"

How'd you know about that?" Peyton quickly inquired.

"There's all sort of rumors flying around."

Peyton just sat there silent, fiddling with a loose strand on her bag.

"Its fine, I understand." Alex told her. "But when you're ready to talk about it, I'll be here." He consoled her.

Peyton simply nodded in agreement still not saying a word.

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Lucas roamed around the streets, passing by the local shops and stores. Hoping he would come across one particular shop in general. Just to his luck, a couple buildings down to his right was the exact place he was looking for… an internet café. Lucas pulled his hand out of his pocket and read the scribble written on it. With intent in his eyes, he walked towards the entrance.

Inside, Lucas took a seat at one of the available tables. He pushed the button on the computer and the monitor flickered on.

He typed in the search bar the words on his palm, Father & Son Printings. He clicked on the first link; it was an old newspaper article dated back to the 70's- Printing factory to be shut down… He continued to read on… A representative of Father & Son Printings says the C.E.O. informed him and the employees that he frankly just wasn't able to keep the factory above water any longer, barely the company even. Mr. Peterson goes on to tell us however he has been appointed to run a smaller sister printing shop for the company in the downtown Raleigh area.

Lucas' mind thought back, Mr. Peterson… where has he heard this name before. He thought to himself, no way, this couldn't be the same store he had just made a trip down to. This was all getting a little too creepy, even for him, but if that shop is indeed the one mentioned in the article then maybe he was closer than he actually thought to solving the mystery.


(; Let the predictions begin... ;)