What Elizabeth did not expect was the fact that she would have to become an accomplice in a crime so soon, yet she made a promise and intended to follow through with it. At least this time, it will be for something nobler than a piece of candy and an opportunity to boast in front of her friends. They needed to get this encrypted message as this was their only lead so far, yet it remained in the confines of the police department.

Luckily, there were workarounds.

As Charlie and Cody said, Steve, the man who oversaw that section of the archive, could easily be tricked. Cody said to Charlie the ID number of the encryption they were looking for. Now, it can easily be downloaded onto a portable device. Charlie knew how to get into the system; all he needed was a little bit of time, and this was where Elizabeth's distraction came in. She visited her home and took a suit that could serve as a cover…Vanny. The woman laughed at the irony of this being the time when she had any need for this costume, but having it be something more than just a painful memory was, without a doubt, a welcome sign. When everyone was in position, it was time to make the call.

"Uh…Hello?"

"Help me, please!"

"What's going on? Who are you?"

"I don't have time to explain; please, help, Steve! Someone attacked me and stabbed me in the leg. I…Aaargh, it hurts! I can't walk, I'm bleeding."

"Let me…Let me send someone for you! It might take a few minutes for them to respond, but…"

"Aaargh! Please, I can't hold on anymore; I think I'll die here. Someone in a rabbit suit just hurt me and ran off. I…Please, help!"

"I…Okay, okay, where are you now?"

"I'm on State Street near Wyndham…Please, hurry! Save me!"

"I'm coming, I'll help you!"

"Thank you…Thank you!"

By the time the call was over, Lizzy was ready. Her body and face were covered by a costume of Vanny, the one she could use to lure the unsuspecting man around while Charlie did what he needed. All that was needed was a simple message.

He took the bait.

…

When Charlie saw Steve leave the department as hastily as he did without even noticing him, he couldn't help but smile. It was a very easy distraction, yet Cody wasn't wrong. The gullible keeper fell for it utterly and completely. He passed by Charlie, who, despite not having anything to cover his face, had a coat with a cape to at least mask his presence a little.

After making sure that Steve wasn't here to see him and picking a perfect moment, he slid into the department. Without a doubt, some cameras would catch his presence, though it would take a while for them to realize that something got stolen from the archive, considering how minuscule that message was. Still, if they discover it, Owens will know who is behind it and no doubt immediately begin his search. Charlie's job was to keep him in the dark for as long as possible.

When the time came, he finally slid into the department and made his way to the archive. Fortunately, there weren't too many people there, but just enough for each of them to be able to entertain each other and not pay Charlie any mind. It seemed like a piece of cake for a moment; even if one of them would notice him, they wouldn't ask too many questions out of respect and admiration.

"Yes, he is the suspected killer…Good job, Detective Lawrence." Owens's voice echoed in Charlie's mind as he turned around, only to see his superior walking around with one of the other officers and praising him for his good work. He didn't see Charlie just yet, but the young man felt his heart sink. Owens had a very keen eye and paid more attention to the details than most others. Before he had a chance to notice him, Charlie rushed towards the archive and slowed down just before entering the room to ensure that no one would catch the sound of the door.

Once he was inside, all that was left was a quick download before disappearing into the shadows.

…

Elizabeth caught him on the street near the police department; Charlie saw her driving a black car signaling to him, and she beckoned for the young detective to get in. He didn't hesitate. Charlie had the encryption, and so far, no one has noticed that it has gone missing. It would be for the best if they got out of there as soon as possible.

"Come on in." Elizabeth opened the door and watched Charlie get into the front passenger's seat. "That poor man, he thought I was a lady in danger…I should apologize to him once this is all over."

"You kept him occupied, though?"

"Yeah, had him run around for a while. Could say he was following the white rabbit…" She chuckled and pointed at the Vanny mask on the back seat.

"Who could've known that thing would come in so handy," Charlie said as they finally moved on.

"Do you have the message from that Akira guy?"

"Yes, now to the hard part…"

"Remember you said that you could give it to a hacker? Does this mean you know any?"

"Well…No, not really."

"Oh, for god's sake…"

"Doesn't mean we can't find any later," Charlie reassured her. "We'll need a place to retreat in case Owens gets on our trail; pretty sure he knows where both of us live. There is a cottage in the country that my parents brought me to sometimes…Though I don't know if it got demolished at any point."

"I know a place that definitely wasn't," Elizabeth said, immediately getting Charlie's attention.

"And what is it?"

"My parents' old house. It's not that far from the town, but it's in the forest, quite far from the rest. I came over there a couple of times to…I guess try and feel some nostalgia. Not that it worked, but at least I know it's there and abandoned…I don't think the police would look for us there."

"Hm…That sounds like a plan." Charlie said with slight relief. If that house was still standing, they would easily find cover and have time to look at the encrypted files that Charlie now had. "Mind if we go there right now? Let's claim the place before anyone else can."

"Sure…" Elizabeth said in a quiet voice. "Let's go."

…

Elizabeth didn't feel like returning to the old Afton house, yet now they had a need for it. She told Charlie the truth; she used to come over to the forest and even visited her former home from time to time, wondering if, for once, she could invoke the positive memories of her childhood and family to replace the constant stream of negativity and pity she found herself amidst. However, every time, it ended up bringing her more pain, reminding her of what she could never have again. Every time she would run from her past, she would not look back and only wish to forget its dreadful grip, but it became clear now that she could not simply move on.

The horror of Alison and his machinations still persisted in Hurricane, perhaps getting even worse than it was before. If the stalker was allowed to continue, it would not allow people of Hurricane to sleep peacefully ever gain. Whatever her father did, this was the threat he wanted to stop, and she and Charlie were the only ones who cared to end this legacy. By the time the two of them arrived at the lone house in the woods, it was already dark. They stood at the footsteps of a door which Elizabeth remembered opening, remembered standing in this very doorframe and jumping from joy any time father or mother returned from their work…Oh, how she missed those times.

"Is the door locked?" Charlie asked.

"Yes…Did they train you in lock-picking?"

"A bit," Charlie said as he walked away from the door. "But I'd take a more direct approach." He took a nearby stone and hurled it into one of the lower windows, completely crushing it.

"Or I guess you could do that." Elizabeth shrugged as she saw Charlie climb in and follow him. "Home, sweet home…"

When they were finally inside, Elizabeth could remember every single corner. The living room, where she and Chris used to watch countless cartoons and run around. Chris's lone room, her room that still retained some of its old decorations, the door to father's office upstairs…All covered in dust and darkness.

It was time to bring this place back to the light.