Hello! Now we are digging deeper! I also wanna thank everyone who reads, follows, reviews, and likes this story. It means a lot for a small writer (which is mee lol). Anyway here's the fourth chapter. (Deleted and reuploaded because of errors and line spacing lol)
An Unforgivable Mistake
Chapter IV
"WHAT?"
Mordecai was underwhelmed with what he found. It was only a single photo of him and Rigby. All the other stuff he found can't be opened because it isn't supported by the computer itself. He stepped away from it for a while as he silently freaked out.
"Whoa, easy there Mordecai. What's the problem?"
"I can't open some files of the computer, this is hopeless!"
Mordecai was clearly panicking. One indicator is that he's sweating buckets despite the room being air-conditioned. Skips then thought of something. He wanted to help on this matter but he isn't good with computers.
"I know who can help us" as Skips then went up the basement.
"What're you gonna do Skips?"
"Calling somebody"
Mordecai felt enlightened with Skips' contribution on the case. It's a good thing Benson decided to leave Skips with him since he knows almost everything.
He eventually got bored of standing on a quiet room. He opened the computer again to tinker with it again.
"Let's see" as Mordecai lightly clicking on the mouse. He looked for anything in the computer that could kill time. He found some music files that he can play.
"Ugh, Traverse With Me? This song sucks!" as he scrolled away from that song. He gave up on looking for some music as he didn't like the entire playlist on the computer.
Skips then came back after calling someone.
"So, who'll help us?"
"This guy" as he pointed behind him.
"TECHMO!" Mordecai said. He was surprised that Techmo can lend them some help.
"Hey Mordecai, long time no see"
"Yeah, it's been a while" Mordecai said as he offered a handshake. Techmo reached for his hand as they shook their hands.
"What's the problem? Error 219?" Techmo sarcastically said.
"No, this computer has a lot of files, but it seems that the computer can't read anything from it"
"Whoa, something is being hidden. Let's take a look"
Mordecai then moved away from the computer to let him do the work.
"Oh, can't be detected huh? I'll force read this" as Techmo brought out a cable from his hand.
"Guys, this might take long. You can go get a snack first"
"Alright then, I'm hungry too" Skips replied
"C'mon Mordecai, let's pick up some food"
They walked out the basement to take a breather as personally recommended by Techmo himself.
"Skips, we should split for a while. I wanna be alone for a moment"
"I'd respect that, but come back before the day ends. We still have lots of things to sort out"
"I will, later Skips"
Mordecai then drove the cart to the Coffee Shop. He feels sad and furious at the same time but he hides this from everyone. He needs to be stronger than his feelings. He didn't realize that he passed by the café. He stepped in to take some coffee as he's slightly exhausted from all the things that transpired today.
"Hey Mordecai, how can I serve you today?"
"Just give me a cup of black coffee. I need it"
"Ok, coming right up" as Eileen sprinted to the kitchen.
Mordecai was feeling weird on going alone the café, but he was feeling bad for being not on the side of his friend when he was almost killed. Eileen then came back with two cups of coffee.
"Uh, Eileen? I said a cup of coffee?"
"Yeah, one for you and Rig - wait" Eileen then looked behind him to see if Rigby was there. He forgot about Rigby missing for days.
"Oh yeah I forgot, Rigby's not back yet?"
"Even worse"
"Even worse? What do you mean?"
"Lemme finish my coffee first"
"Ok, let's talk about it after my shift. Later!"
Eileen then breezed through the café to serve customers. Meanwhile, Mordecai just stood there. He only made a little progress on the investigation of the culprit behind Rigby's fatal fate. Hours passed after Eileen finally finished her shift. He hung her apron on the kitchen as she went to Mordecai's table.
"So what're we talking about earlier?"
"About Rigby"
"Oh yeah, you mentioned 'even worse'. What is it?"
"You should see this for yourself, come with me" as Mordecai stood up and went outside.
Eileen didn't know what Mordecai meant by his words. She followed him outside. She saw Mordecai starting the cart.
"So what's the matter?"
"We'll go somewhere, hop in"
Eileen then sat beside him. Mordecai then stepped on the gas to go back to the hospital. He wanted to inform her about Rigby but he thought that Eileen seeing it for herself would be better.
They arrived at the hospital in less than five minutes. As Eileen stepped out the cart, she was puzzled on why did he take her to the hospital.
"What're we doing here?" Eileen said as she's baffled on what's happening.
"Follow me"
Mordecai then walked in the hospital and went to Rigby's ward. Eileen can't see anything from Mordecai's back.
Mordecai then moved to her side to give Eileen a glimpse of Rigby with multiple equipments strapped to his tiny body. Eileen's face was quickly shadowed by her dejected emotion. All kinds of sadness, dejection, and desolation was felt inside the ward. He felt how Eileen cared for Rigby at this moment as Eileen broke down to tears.
Mordecai then stepped back as Eileen tried to wipe her tears. She was still sobbing because she wasn't expecting to see him in a coma.
"I'm gonna leave you here for a while, I'll be doing something. See you later"
Eileen just nodded and went steady on her position. Mordecai headed out and went to Fives' ward. He wasn't surprised that the trio isn't back yet from investigating Fives' accident as he initially thought that Fives just got into a normal accident.
Meanwhile
"Any findings Muscleman?"
"Nothing bro"
They've been on the site where High Five Ghost met his tragic accident for more than two hours. They can't find anything aside from the broken pieces of aluminum from the cart.
Benson examined every part of the cart to see any clues behind the incident. He was starting to think that there's a foul play involved.
"Benson! Someone left their lovely coat in here" Pops said. Their attention immediately turned to Pops.
The jacket looks like it was thrown by someone as its cloth got stuck by the trunk of the tree.
"A jacket?" Benson muttered as he picked it up. He examined the jacket if he can find something. He raised it up to see that it has a tear on its left sleeve. Another thing he noticed is that it has a crimson patch around the tear.
"I feel bad for someone who wore this"
"That's a sweet-looking logo" Muscleman muttered as he pointed the logo beside the torn fabric.
They noticed an emblem of a ghost with crossed out eyes. The emblem was surrounded with words that looks like a brand of clothing they're not familiar with.
"Sixty-Three Spirits c. 1982?" Benson said.
"I haven't heard of the sixty spirits of '82's fabrics" Pops muttered.
Muscleman noticed how awesome the jacket looked. He then realized that Pops isn't into this things and so as Benson. He then asked Benson if he can have it.
"It is pretty sweet-looking jacket, can I have this?"
"No, this can help us!" Benson said.
"It isn't that relevant to Fives anyway"
"What's with you? Don't you wanna help your friend?"
"B-but I"
"So it means you won't be needing our help?"
"I just want that -"
"Would you shut up!"
Benson's gumballs turned red in fury. He clenched his fist but only because of his rage fit. Muscleman then realized how stupid he acted for a jacket so he stepped back a bit and meekly apologized for his actions.
"Okay, okay! I don't want it anymore! I'm sorry man!" as he cringed.
Benson realized that being mad won't solve anything on this type of situation. He cooled himself down and sighed for his manner.
"Okay. You want this so bad, you can wear it but you'll surrender it to us once needed"
"Okay"
He then hands him the jacket.
"Don't tamper it or anything"
"Oh yeah" Muscleman said as he tried to wear the jacket.
"Just..gotta - ugh!"
Muscleman then shrieked as he can't wear it. He then gave up and threw the jacket to the ground.
"It's too small! When did babies learn fashion?" he said.
"Hah, well then buy one with your size"
"I agree, but I'm afraid to tell you that the good clothing shop might be non-existent" Pops muttered.
"It's probably a ripoff and sold at some garage sale. Too bad it's a sick looking jacket"
They concluded their investigation as there's nothing they can find aside from the trashed cart and a jacket. They left the cart and went back to the house.
They met Skips in the entrance of the basement. Benson asked him where's Mordecai.
"He said he wants to be alone for the moment"
"Too bad he can't see this jacket!" Muscleman said as he whipped the jacket they found.
Skips noticed the jacket's emblem despite it being scrunched up.
"That jacket.."
"I know! It's sick isn't it!"
Skips then snatched the jacket from Muscleman's hands. Skips then took a closer look of the jacket's design.
"Where did you get this?"
"Where Fives got wrecked"
"This is bad"
"What? Why?"
Skips then breathed deep and told them what he knows.
"This jacket belongs to a gang founded in the year 1982. The name is Sixty-Three Spirits. They are usually involved in the deaths of former politicians, personalities who lost their shine, and some people who's in debt and can't pay a single penny. But the blame can't be put on them"
"Oh my..." Pops muttered.
"The founder of the gang is still unknown but this gang is the most unheard of all. Few people knew about it and when they do, they will be in a coffin"
"How did you not end in a coffin?" Benson asked.
"How will they do it?" Skips replied.
"Wow, respect bro" Muscleman said.
"It has a very weird initiation in order to get in"
"Well, what is it?"
"Capture a ghost, that's why it's called Sixty Three Spirits. It's their weird fetish or something"
They were all shocked. They began to think that a member of the gang was the one responsible for Fives' injury.
"Maybe it has to do with Fives?" Muscleman muttered.
"For now this would be our suspect" Benson said.
"The entire group of ghost enthusiasts?" Pops asked.
"No Pops, whoever wore this should be involved"
"What do you think Skips?"
Skips noticed the torn part of the jacket. He also noticed the crimson colored blotch surrounding it. He sniffed it. He noticed that it smells a bit metallic. He concluded what it is.
"It's blood, I think" he said despite being skeptical about it.
"This jacket is a crucial information" Muscleman mumbled.
"It is, we need this to get examined" Benson replied.
"I know who can examine it, but let me clear it its not my mom"
"Then who?"
"Low Fives"
With no carts available, they used Benson's car. Skips didn't come with them as he preferred to stay. They left and went to the police headquarters to get the jacket checked.
"Muscleman! How are things going?"
"You know, good?"
"Where's Hi Five?"
"Bro, bad news"
"What do you mean?"
"Fives crashed with the cart, and he's badly injured"
Pops and Benson nodded in the background, confirming the news he broke. Low Fives kept his cool, albeit saddened with the fate of his brother.
"All we found in the scene is this jacket, can you help us with it?"
"Alright, but I'll be seeing my brother first. I'll leave you with our forensic team to examine it. I'll also send a team to where he crashed for a deeper investigation"
"We're alright with that"
"Ok, which hospital is he in?"
"MedCare Hospital"
"Alright, I'll be back" Low Five Ghost said as he flew away from the police headquarters to head to the hospital.
They were left with the forensic examiner to check the jacket. The examiner said that it will be done in private, so she advised them to wait for a while.
"Okay, we'll be here all day if needed" Benson said.
The examiner then went inside a room. The trio were left in the quiet corridors of the headquarters.
"So we'll wait for it? Usually it takes days for it to be fully investigated" Muscleman asked.
"It's a piece of jacket, it won't take long" Benson replied.
Back in the house
Mordecai finally came back. He left Eileen in the hospital as she wanted to help him. He got back in the basement to see Skips alone.
"Where's Techmo?"
"He left, but he gave this"
Skips then handed him flashdrive. Mordecai then wondered what he'll do to it.
"What is this?" he muttered.
"He said that it's a specialized drive that can read files the computer won't open"
"Let's try it out then" he said as he plugged it in the computer.
He opened the flashdrive then it loaded, a loading screen then appeared and the interface changed. It scanned the files available and displayed it in a single window.
"That's a lot of files" Mordecai muttered.
He opened them one by one. To his surprise, he saw documents of transactions for purchases at a gun store. Another is from a pet shop with a purchase of a bird cage. He noticed that it's the same files copied multiple times.
"This is stupid, who copies a million times for a backup"
"Why did he even bother naming it differently?"
"Yeah, the names doesn't make sense at all. The first document is named 'I am' but when clicked it shows a transaction of a bird cage" Mordecai scratching his head.
"Wait, I'm noticing a pattern" Skips mumbled.
He noticed that the words forms a sentence when arranged.
"Can you - uh"
"Can I what Skips?"
"Can you arrange it by it's date?"
Mordecai then sorted it by the date when it was last modified. As Skips figured out, it formed some sentences from the name of the files.
"I am...in a...horibble nightmare?" Mordecai said as he read the sentences formed.
Both were puzzled on the unique way whoever owned this computer created his/her journal.
"This is a pretty clever way of writing a journal"
Mordecai then plugged in his phone to copy everything he saw. He thought that this wouldn't bear anything to Rigby's case, but he shouldn't let evidences slip through. He also wanted to read this journal he still sees as a "clever way of writing a journal". After copying almost everything that seems relevant to the case. He turned off the computer and they left the basement.
"So let's grab some food before taking some rest? It's getting dark" Mordecai said.
"I don't know, I'm still good with the energy bars I ate"
As they went inside the house, they spotted a masked man. With his position he looks like he's about to leave.
"HEY!" Mordecai hollered.
The masked man turned his head around them, then sprinted away. Mordecai and Skips then chased after him.
"Get back here!" Mordecai grumbled.
The masked man then tried to make some obstacles as he tipped some garbage cans and threw tree branches he can grab. They avoided them as they shifted their focus back to the masked man.
As they were about to pin him down. The masked man then began to ran in fours and managed to give a sizable space away from them. They ran out of luck as he jumped inside a car and sped away from the scene.
They stopped and tried catching their breath. Huffing and puffing, Mordecai gave his thought.
"He's too fast"
"I know, but don't you notice something?"
"Notice something?"
"His height or stature belongs to a certain someone"
"He's about three feet, what about it?"
Skips just facepalmed as he realized that Mordecai still didn't get it.
"I think that might've been Doug Shablowski"
Mordecai's thoughts finally rolled through as he realized that it must've been Doug.
"Oh, yeah Skips! But we still need to prove if it's true. I think he'll come back" Mordecai muttered.
"How can you assure that?" Skips asked.
"I don't know, but we gotta prepare for it" Mordecai muttered.
That concludes the fourth chapter! Now there's a gang? What's happeningggggg lol. The mystery gets even more baffling as the story progresses. A masked man? Whaaat lol.
There's a new story (a crossover) I should be uploading this week, but it turns out that there's an existing story of it so I may not upload it or I'll just rewrite it againnnnn haha. It's a crossover between Regular Show and (no spoilers! lol)
I still have a lot of planned fanfics I'll be working on (I'll post on my profile some teasers soon), but I need to finish this and the Coffee Shop Diaries somehow (and the third story that would be uploaded, I guess). I'll see y'all in the next chapter! Byee!