Roger pov:

It's been almost a week since Collins and I stumbled on that strange town, and we still haven't found anything. The man I spoke to was gone, and it seemed like everyone else had retreated into their homes, locking doors, shutting windows, the works.

We had to be getting closer. I started feeling hope rising up in my chest. Instead of staying in this town, we figured to go to the next one over. Apparently Jason had only passed through here.

Collins walked with me at my side, holding the fliers, and smiling a little.

"We're getting close." I returned the smile. The first real one I had in awhile.

The next town was a little nicer, but as we walked through, things didn't feel right. I began posting fliers, looking around for people to talk to. There weren't many.

I soon spotted a small old woman walking towards her car, struggling with groceries. She looked like she was about to fall over, and there was a look of panic on her face as she stumbled back. I was by her side in an instant, steadying her with one hand, and taking her groceries with the other. She smiled up at me gratefully.

"Such a nice young man. Thank you." I nodded, handing her the bags back with a small smile. I then realized she was the only local I had seen all day, so I took out a flier.

"Uh, I don't mean to bother you, ma'am, but… my friend has been missing for six months, now… and we think he might be around here somewhere…" I held up the flier, and she took a long look at it. "Have you seen him?"

She nodded.

I felt color explode back into my world for a second. She. Fucking. Nodded.

I smiled brightly, excitement in my heart.

"Really!? where!?" she looked up, trying to recall.

"A few times, actually… once… six months ago. He was being led by a tall man with black hair down the street, and he looked very upset. I didn't think much of it, until I saw him again about a week ago."

I nearly started crying right there. Mark was alive. There was no way that body could have been his. Upon seeing how excited I was getting, she continued.

"He looked as if he had been through a lot. I think they were coming back from the doctors or something. I heard him muttering about your friend feeling better as they passed me."

"Where are they now?" I asked, bouncing a little. "Do you know?"

She shook her head.

"They couldn't have gone far, though… the tall guy that has your friend… he's a very, very bad man…. he was harassing everyone in the town over… now I know why. It would not be wise to go looking for him. Call the police. They can search around, and if they knock on his door with a search warrant, there's nowhere for him to hide….. I'm sorry I didn't call sooner… I had no idea that boy was being missed somewhere else."

I smiled.

"It's okay… god, its okay… thank you… thank you so much…." I pulled her into a hug, and kissed her cheek. I bolted away to find Collins, and she stood watching me fondly as I retreated.

"COLLINS!" I screamed. "COLLINS!?" I spotted the taller man taping up a flier against a pole. I nearly barreled into him.

"Whoa, whoa! easy there, boy! what's the matter?"

I laughed. "Call the cops, Collins! we have a lead! Mark's alive! I just talked to an old lady who said she saw Mark about a week ago! if we can get them to poke around, and ask more people, they can start searching here! there had to be more people who saw him!"

Collins grinned. "Lets head back. We have to tell the others."

We both pretty much ran to his car in order to get back.

We skidded into the police station parking lot after picking up Joanne, and ran inside. The captain looked up at us, quirking a brow.

"Mark… Cohen…." I panted. "Missing… case… we… lead!" I slammed the flier onto the counter.

"I don't know what your friend is trying to say there…." he looked up. "Joanne. You're looking well. What's the meaning of this commotion?"

Collins moved me aside, and Joanne stepped forward.

"Sir, we've come across a lead in Mark's case, two towns over from ours. A woman said she saw Mark with his captor a week ago, walking around. We think it would be wise if you led an investigation there, and if you did come across Jason Miller's house, a search warrant would be good to have."

The captains eyes narrowed.

"I'm sure you've all heard of the body that's washed up on the shores of the east river. The DNA results still haven't come back, yet."

"But why do you need results!?" I shouted. "Some lady said she saw Mark! alive!"

"Please sir. Even if it's just one unit…" Joanne begged.

The captain glared at me.

"You get one unit. For two months until the DNA results come in. If that DNA is your friend's, the case is over, and I don't wanna hear another word about it… understood?"

Joanne nodded quickly.

"Thank you so much!"

The captain rose to his feet, and walked into the back, beginning to organize a unit to be deployed into the town. They all carried a picture of Mark and Jason with them. I felt my depressed mindset starting to lift. Mark was coming home, and soon.