After almost six months, I overcame all the sad events of April 29 flood and everything is fine. So I'm back with a new chapter :) I hope you like it! Thank you for your patience and support!
This is the message I posted on the other sites (but forgot to post here):
May 16, 2024
Dear reader of this story,
Unfortunately, I will not post a new chapter this month. Usually, I start a new chapter right after posting the last one, but on April 29, an uncommon storm started here in my city, and when it stopped, it took the entire state with it. Luckily, I'm fine, I didn't lose family members, but the material losses were huge and immeasurable- inclusing many animals. So, all my focus is on "getting back to normal asap" and "restarting my life in another place".
I value every read I receive and every second of attention you spend reading my stories, so I apologize for not posting this month. Unfortunately, at this moment, I'm not emotionally ok to write and produce my content as before. But Im sure everything will be fine, and next month I will be back with the stories that I love to write.
Thank you in advance for your comprehension.
Chapter 8 – A series of bad decisions
Marin County, January 8, 2023.
4:00 pm
Velma felt an intense pain in her forehead. When she opened her eyes, she realized that she was upside down, and her face was tightly pressing the steering wheel of the car. The lenses of her glasses were cracked, when she tried to move, she felt her arms and legs trapped in the bodywork of the vehicle. She panicked and tried to call help, but the slightest effort to scream made her head hurt violently, until she lost consciousness. When she woke up again, she felt strong enough to pull both her arms, but she couldnt vocalize another call for help. After several minutes struggling to pull her legs, she finally got out through the car window.
Outside, she saw the other vehicle involved in the accident had overturned and had fallen into a ravine, and apparently, all its occupants were inside. Desperately, she crawled back into her car, looking for her cell phone. The effort made her feel intense headache and nausea, but she persisted, knowing that delay could cost the lives of those occupants. Velma found her purse in the middle of the crushed back seat and immediately brought it out. The sunlight revealed the case and the frame of the cellphone were burned. Mysteriously, it was still working, and the initial screen showed the time "4:14".Without delay, Velma dialed 911 and asked for help. In the middle of the call, she heard screams, when she looked towards the crashed car, she saw a couple waving to her. Velma ran towards them, intending to help, but after a few steps, she felt really bad and she had to slow down. When she finally arrived, she saw a bloody woman begging for help for her three young children, who were unconscious and trapped inside the vehicle. The man was calmer and had no blood on his body, but he showed the same urgency to help his kids. Velma tried to squeeze through the cars shattered window to help the children, but the image of an open fracture terrified her and made her return.
At the same moment, she heard the sound of sirens approaching, and decided to return to the road, at the top of the ravine, to tell police and emergency staff what happened and where the victims were.
However, halfway there, she realized that the book and the evidence she had found about Mailand case were still inside her car, so, she decided to recover them, before police did it. Unfortunately, she only found the piece of fabric and the old phone bill in the name of Herbert Stevins. The book was nowhere, and there was no sign that it had been destroyed during the accident. Velma despaired at the possibility of losing such a rare book, and she used all her strength to rummage through the debris that was obstructing the back of the car. Accidentally, one of her hands touched a piece of glass, and the pain made her stop.
"Miss, we are the rescue team and we are here to help you. Please, dont move!"
The male voice outside the car made Velma freeze. She slowly brought her injured hand to her chest and pressed it tightly, to stop the bleeding. Then, she used her other hand to put the tissue and the phone bill inside her purse, so police wouldn't find them.
"Miss, for your safety, please, don't move!"
Velma: I'm fine! I was the one who called… I... I just returned to get my purse…
As she finished her phrase, Velma crawled out of the car, and the paramedics walked away, as they realized she didn't need their help. However, two nurses forced her to lay on a stretcher and carried her to the ambulance, ignoring every word she said to describe she was fine. As the ambulance started moving, she took her cell phone out of her purse to tell Shaggy what had happened. To her surprise, when she turned it on, the home screen still displayed the same time it showed before: "4:14".
Blake Manor, Crystal Cove, January 8, 2023.
4:45 pm
Nan Blake: Thank you so much for your help, Dr. Hughes! We will take your advices to help our girls. We will get in touch tomorrow.
Daphne saw her mother smile as she shook the psychiatrist's hand. Then, it was her father's turn, and Bart thanked the doctor for the unexpected visit on a Sunday. The action was enough to make Daisy sigh in anger and get up from her chair.
Daisy: I'M NOT GOING TO A PSYCHIATRIST, OK? NOT GONNA HAPPEN! I'M NOT SICK! I KNOW WHAT IVE SEEN!
Daisy raised her voice and pointed her finger towards Dr. Hughes, but her adult tantrum didn't attract her parents' attention. Daphne was the only spectator of that ridiculous spectacle, and that infuriated Daisy even more. When the doctor finally left, Bart closed the door and, immediately, Nan's smile and gentleness disappeared.
Nan: If you both make me waste ONE MORE SECOND with this DAMN STORY, I'll take you to a psychiatric hospital! Am I being clear? SHAME ON YOU BOTH! We called the FBI and it was just a hallucination caused by some shit youve taken at a damn college party!
Daisy: IT WASN'T A HALLUCINATION, MOM! WE DIDN'T TAKE DRUGS! IT WAS REAL!
Nan: Oh, really? That's what we'll find out tomorrow, at Darrow Hospital, in Dr. Hughes clinic!
Daisy: I'M NOT SICK, DAMMIT! I'M NOT GOING!
Bart: Nan, Daisy, stop now! I don't want to hear a word about this! It was all graphic nightmare, enough!
Like a spoiled teenager, Nan rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, showing that she strongly disagreed. Daisy couldn't contain her anger, and continued.
Daisy: You put trackers in our cars and control every step of our lives, but won't even make a sketch of the man we saw inside our room? Thats unbelievable, Dad! You dedicate your life to strangers, but when your own daughters are victims of a crime, you don't even care!
Daisy didn't raise her voice, but she exaggerated on drama and on the impact of each one of her words. Instead of being moved by the accusation, Bart just sighed and held Daisy's hands tenderly.
Bart: Honey, unfortunately, I can't care about lies. When you and your sister decide to tell me the truth about all this, maybe I'll try a little harder to help you.
Bart finished his sentence staring at Daphne, then, he left. Daisy stuttered and tried to say something to keep the discussion, but her father ignored her, and she took out her frustration on her younger sister, with an evil look. Feeling all the looks and bad feelings on her, Daphne shivered. The bitter and, at the same time, threatening tone of her father's words made her heart race. Fearing that Daisy and Nan would continue throwing their badd feelings, Daphne ran to her room, and when she got there, she locked the door."Enough, Daphne, you've gone too far, it's time to stop!", was the first piece of advice she gave to herself, to convince herself to give up that double life."Besides, your life is wonderful! You're famous, any girl would want to be in your shoes, you'd hate to ruin it!",she added. When she finished her advices, she accessed her own Instagram account. She hadn't posted her personal content for almost 2 days, but there were thousands of comments on her photos. Most of the messages expressed support and concern about her health. Even the cliché content posted by her assistants was engaging people, and it had thousands of interactions. For several minutes, Daphne got distracted, reading and replying to some posts from her fans. When she realized it would be impossible to reply to everyone who wrote to her, she decided to record a video to show people that she was fine. She looked to her cell phones camera and spoke for three minutes, with no make-up on her face and no rehearsed words in her speech. She calmly explained that she had passed out while she was on her way to the mall, and she was hospitalized for some tests. At the end, she thanked everyone for their concern, all the loving messages she had received, and promised to continue posting her fashion and beauty content soon.
A few minutes after, the number of messages doubled. She was a celebrity, and everyone liked her. The massive support made Daphne smile and feel relieved. That was the empirical proof that it was better to be the famousinfluencerDaphne Blake than the clandestinecherryred. She interacted with her followers for a while, until a private message appeared. When she opened it, Daphne's heart raced. It was Alice May, Fred Jones' fiancée. Alice sent some photos that showed Daphne covered in blood and unconscious inside the emergency room, as well as images of the vital signs monitor, and the medical record that certified her death at 8:38 on the previous day. In the last two photos, Daphne appeared next to her parents and some FBI agents in a hallway at Darrow Hospital, and Fred Jones was in the background, holding her purse. The images of an episode that she wanted to forget made her shiver, and the weight of each intimidating word that Alice wrote made her panic:
"Dear Daphne,
I loved your honest video about your total disappearance from social media! Too bad I have convincing evidence that you are lying. I know you were with my fiancé last night, and something very serious happened to you, so serious that you and Fred want to hide it. Would people still love and support you if they knew?Would they still follow you? Would they still be influenced by a cheating liar? It would be a shame to lose all this fame, since fame is all you have. So, be careful. These photos can be in celebrity news while you are on a date with a taken man"
The fright lasted a while, and when it ended, all the fear turned into anger. Daphne typed several angry replies on impulse, but deleted all them before sending, fearing that Alice would use it to defame her. After all, fame wasn't all she had, but it was a valuable thing that she should cherish. Not knowing how to react, she left the room and looked for Daisy, to expose what Alice had done to her. She found her sister in the mansion's gym, taking out on a treadmill all the anger she had felt with the verdict of the psychiatrist.
Daphne: LOOK WHAT YOUR BESTIE HAS JUST SENT ME! WHO DOES SHE THINK SHE IS TO MAKE A DISGUSTING THREAT LIKE THIS?
Unintentionally, her anger was released loudly. Ignoring her sister's energetic attitude, Daisy calmly took off her headphones and looked at her with disdain. Daphne was furious at the contempt she received, and showed Alice's message on her cell phone screen, hoping that her older sister would agree with her. After reading it, Daisy rolled her eyes and didnt care about her younger sister's feelings.
Daisy: Hmmm... maybe she's just a woman outraged by the lies that a very famousinfluencertells on the internet?
Daphne: LIES? I DIDNT LIE! HOW DARE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS PSYCHOPATH?
Without saying a word, Daisy showed her sister her phone screen, where the Daphnes last video was playing.
Daphne: What's wrong with it?
Daisy: Oh Daphne, spare me, you were in a suburb of Riverdale, everyone knows that! You arrived at the hospital in Fred Jones' arms, bled to death, came back to life in the same mysterious way you died, and you have nothing to say about it?
Daphne: And what should I say? Doctors dont know what happened! Why would I know?
Daisy: Oh, no? You know nothing? Then, why did you lie to dad and the entire FBI about your location? Why the hell were you in Riverdale, and why didn't you mention it in your video?
Daphne: Why the hell should I mention it? It's nobody's business! It doesn't change what happened, and it doesn't give Alice the right to threaten me!
Daisy: But it gives her the right to seek the truth, doesn't it? If your fiancé took a bloody woman to the emergency room, freaked out about her death, then hid her belongings from the FBI, wouldn't you want to know what the hell was going on?
Daphne felt so angry that part of it filled her eyes with tears. She tried to argue, but she was without words. Daisy continued to stare at her with disdain, not caring about the bad emotions she was showing. Unable to respond, she summed up all her anger in one sentence.
Daphne: Ok, I got it. Shes your friend and you're on her side.
Daisy: I'm on the truths side, Daphne. And so are mom, dad, the FBI, and Alice. Unfortunately, that's not the side you and Fred Jones have chosen.
When she finished, Daisy put her headphones back on, showing she would not continue the discussion. The contempt hurt Daphne, and she left. As she walked up the stairs, she saw her father open the door and shake Sheriff Stone's hand. Without delay, the sheriff said that Emmanuel Raffalo was ready, and Bart said the San Francisco team would arrive soon. The sound of Daphne's steps made Bart look at her for a moment, and by the look in his eyes, she could feel how disappointed her father was.
Back in her room, Daphne left her cell phone on the desk and threw her body on the bed. She chewed all the bad feelings for a while, in silence, staring at the ceiling, not knowing how to react. After making up several fantastical narratives to explain the facts, she sighed. The lie was exhausting, and it would be even more exhausting to keep it up. Unfortunately, to end that trouble, there were no good alternatives other than telling the truth. On the other hand, she couldnt tellthe wholetruth. Her actions helped people, but they were completely illegal.Cherryredcommitted federal crimes and she knew it, and if she told her father the truth about her secret identity, she would suffer consequences way worse than public rejection. So, Daphne decided to tell only a small part of the facts that occurred the day before. It would be easier to bear the weight of the whole truth involving her secret identity if she got rid of a small part of it. And the part she chose, obviously, was the silliest: her real location. If she admitted that she had been at James Arthur's house, she would have her family's trust back, and all the questions about the incident would cease. So, with some courage, she walked to the room where her father and Sheriff Stone were, and entered without knocking.
Bart: …there is no doubt that Raffalo is a member of the sect and…
When he saw his daughter at the door, Bart stopped talking and glared at her. The sheriff also looked at her questioningly, trying to figure out why she had done that. Daphne was embarrassed by her own actions and tried to explain herself before her father scolded her for being rude.
Daphne: Sorry, Dad… I… I should have knocked… but… I… I'm a little nervous and… I need to tell you something about last night… I don't want to lie about it anymore…
Her words made Bart's facial expression magically change, and all the fury disappeared. Without saying a word, Sheriff Stone walked to the door, showing that he would leave to respect their privacy, but Daphne stopped him.
Daphne: No, Sheriff, you can stay... you need to know…
The request made Bart's face change again, and he showed some concern about what he was about to hear. With his eyes on her, Daphne sighed and, started to speak.
Daphne: Well... I need to say that I wasn't honest about what Ive done last night. I wasnt on the way to the mall, nor on a date, I... I... I was at James Arthur's house in Riverdale.
Bart and Sheriff Stone didn't say a word, but there was shock in their eyes. Bart sighed and rested his forehead on one hand, expressing disappointment. Then, he looked back at his daughter, waiting for more. Daphne felt every inch of her body tremble with fear, and she couldn't say anything else. So, Stone, the most emotionally stable person there, continued.
Bronson Stone: Why did you do it, honey? And what happened to you?
Daphne: I… I don't know! I… I heard people talking about James Arthur, and Molly Becker cases, and… I was curious about it… so… I decided to go there and take some pictures and videos for my TikTok, but things were not exactly how I imagined and… when I realized I had made a bad decision, it was too late… I think I inhaled some fungus or something from that place, because I felt really sick and…
Daphne ended the sentence crying. After hearing his daughter, Bart closed his eyes and sighed heavily, trying to contain the emotional impact that confession had caused him.
Bart: Damn it, Daphne! You broke into a federal investigation place to make videos? And you would put it on the internet? Are you crazy? You always tell me you're not a little girl anymore, but you behaved like a reckless teenager!
Bart tried to control his voice tone and his words, not to offend his daughter. Between one sentence and another, he let some of his anger escape through sighs. Even so, Daphne continued crying, due to the guilt she felt. Once again, the sheriff was the only emotionally stable person in the room, so, he intervened in a sensible and professional way.
Bronson Stone: Calm down, honey, I need you to calm down. I'm glad you confessed what youve done, no matter how wrong it was...
Bart: YOU WILL TELL THE FBI AGENTS WHAT YOUVE DONE, AND YOU WILL SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES, LITTLE LADY!
Unintentionally, Bart lost his temper, raised his voice and released all his feelings about his daughters act. Daphne stopped crying for a moment, but her hands started to shake uncontrollably. The sheriff told Bart to calm down, and tried to take control of the situation.
Bronson Stone: I think the wisest thing to do is keeping this confession as a secret. It will be better for our reputations, and for the progress of the Molly Beckers case. Having the FBI chief's daughter at the crime scene could change everything we've accomplished so far...
Daphne felt relieved to hear the sheriff's opinion and wiped away her tears. Despite being angry, Bart agreed that was the best option for the investigation. Even so, he prevented Daphne from leaving the room and demanded more information.
Bart: Ok, Daphne. I need you to tell me everything youve seen and experienced at James Arthur's house.
Daphne took a deep breath and calmly explained that she had been at the house to make videos for her social media. However, contrary to what she thought, the truth did not bring her peace, nor did it restore her father's trust. Right after finishing, Bart bombarded her with detailed questions about the order of her actions inside the property, about details of the rooms inside the house, and about the arrangement of doors, windows and stairs. Daphne panicked, since she knew she was being tested. So, once again, she took a deep breath and tried to answer each one of the questions calmly, keeping her initial narrative. Sheriff Bronson listened to her with attention, and every now and then, he wrote down some detail in a notebook. When Bart was satisfied with the answers, he interrupted his daughter.
Bart: Good. Now tell me about the old man that youve seen. Was he inside the house?
Daphne: Yeah, I saw him in there, but I don't know... well... if he was really there...
Bart: What do you mean by "he wasn't there"?
Daphne: Well... suddenly, he appeared... then, disappeared... very quickly and inexplicably, just like he has done here in our house, so... I don't know if he is real…
Bart: So you think he is a ghost?
Bart's eyes widened in disbelief and he smiled mockingly. Daphne felt ridiculous by her father's reaction, but the sheriff showed her a photo on his cell phone screen, proving that he believed what she was saying.
Bronson Stone: Does the old man look like this man, dear?
Bart: For God's sake, Stone! Do you really think he is the ghost of James Arthur?
Bart's mocking laugh made the sheriff immediately hide the photo of Arthur, and Daphne felt uncomfortable again.
Bronson Stone: Mr. Blake, when we don't have answers, we need to ask all the questions.
Bart: I disagree! We don't need to ask all the questions, just the right ones... for example: why was Fred Jones at James Arthur's house with you? Why did he hide your belongings? And what was inside your purse?
Daphne felt her heart race, and she stuttered as she tried to respond. Satisfied, Bart smiled again.
Bart: See, Sheriff? Three correct questions.
Daphne: Fred Jones wasn't there! Ive met him at the hospital entrance, and he helped me.
Bart: What a coincidence to meet a friend at the hospital door, huh?
Daphne: He's not my friend, Dad, I've only met him once!
Bart: No? Really not? So, why a stranger would hide your purse from the nFBI agents? How did he know what was inside it?
Daphne was so tense with her father's questions that she stuttered while she answered them. When she realized she was contradicting herself, she stopped. However, her silence lasted a fraction of a second, and anger took its place.
Daphne: I DON'T KNOW HIM, DAD! WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO PROVE YOU THAT I DON'T KNOW HIM? AND I WASN'T WITH HIM THAT NIGHT? A POLYGRAPH TEST? DO YOU WANT TO SEE MY CELL PHONE? GO AHEAD!
In a fit of rage, Daphne typed her phones password and threw it on the table, right in front of her father, waiting for Bart to search through it. Unfortunately, to her surprise, the first unread message on her message app was from Fred Jones, and it said:"Hello Daphne, I hope you are doing well. Sorry to bother you, but I need to talk to you about last night, about a subject that I can't talk about via text. If possible, please call me". Bart clicked on the message and showed it to his daughter, smiling triumphantly. Embarrassed by the unfortunate coincidence, she angrily snatched the phone from her father's hands and protested.
Daphne: Dad, it's not what youre thinking! I don't know Fred Jones, and I have no idea why he messaged me, please believe me!
Bart: Don't worry, honey, I know the old man's ghost sent you this message, just to make me doubt you.
Daphne was furious and left the room, slamming the door behind her. Bart sighed and laughed at his own joke. Then, Sheriff Stone made some notes on his notebook, and Bart scolded him.
Bart: For God's sake, Stone, what the hell are you writing? There's not a single bit of truth in my daughter's testimony! Clearly, she and this young man have done some kind of stupid thing there... but nothing serious enough to spoil the investigation…
Sheriff Stone was embarrassed at the scold, so he tore off the paper, crumpled it up, then threw it in the bin. Bart continued talking about Raffalo, and the sheriff nodded, yet not really listening to what the FBI chief was saying. Meanwhile, Stone secretly typed a message to Daphne Blake: "I believe you."
Daphne climbed the stairs, taking out all her anger on the steps she stepped on. Damn Fred Jones. Damn, nosy, idle Fred Jones, who had suddenly appeared in that damn garden during that damn night, and had taken away her peace with a simple photo; Damn Fred Jones, who had caused her so many problems and… had saved her life. And, to make matters worse, he still cared about her. At her room again, Daphne sighed, and all her anger melted away. Damn Fred Jones, she couldn't even hate him! Checking her cell phone again, she realized he had sent her new messages, insisting on the events of the previous night.
"Well, I know I'm being nosy by bringing this up, but… I'd love to hear about everything you went through last night. Sounds crazy, but a lot of things youve said made sense to me. So, if you're ever in the mood to talk to someone about this, you can call me. No matter how weird it may sound, I believe you".
Inevitably, Daphne blushed and felt her heart race. Her chest was invaded by another overwhelming, yet undefined, feeling. A feeling so confusing that it, simultaneously, took her breath away and made her sigh. Damn Fred Jones, who made her feel such stupid and incomprehensible feelings! Surrounded by such emotions, Daphne immediately clicked on the phone icon and started a call to Fred. Three seconds and one attempt later, her reasoning returned, and she immediately gave up the call. Damn Fred Jones, fiancé of that psychopathic bitch, who was also her sister's best friend. After the initial dose of reasoning, the storm of emotions precipitated a huge regret. Calling him was the only thing she couldn't do, and that was exactly what she had done. Now, Alice May and her own father would have reasons to destroy her. Damn Fred Jones, who made her do such stupid things. Before she could decide what she should do, a new message from Fred arrived.
"I saw your purse and I need to talk about it, please call me"
Daphne panicked. "He knows about the book! Thats why he had hidden my purse!", she vocalized. But… what did Fred know? And why did he hide the book from the police and the FBI? Suddenly, her confused feelings turned into fear. Of Fred? No, Fred didn't seem to be a bad man. He was… gentle. A true hero. However, it was scary that a good guy like him knew things about that creepy book. So, was it fear of her own father? Fear that he would read those messages, investigate and find out that she was cherryred? Or was it fear that Fred would know that she was cherryred? Daphne didn't have time to understand what she felt. The next moment, Fred returned the call and his photo appeared on her cell phone screen. Immediately, Daphne's fear became clear: she was afraid of Alice May. If Alice found out about those calls, Daphnes reputation would be destroyed. So, in a desperate impulse, Daphne rejected the call and blocked Freds number, without mercy. The crazy feelings about him became solid, and weighed on her chest, filling her with remorse. Sadness soon appeared, as she realized she would never speak to him again. Damn Fred Jones, who had suddenly appeared in that garden during that night! And, after that moment, she had no peace… with or without him.
Marin General Hospital, Marin County, January 8, 2023
6pm
Although Velma had no serious injuries, she was rushed to the emergency room. After all, the nausea, the dizziness and the huge headache indicated that something serious had happened to her in that car crash. Velma was one of the victims, however, she felt guilty and couldnt stop crying. She had caused that accident and had hurt that family. Plus, she had destroyed Shaggys car, and had caused huge medical expenses for herself. Small children could die, she and her boyfriend would go into debt, just because she had a childish and reckless obsession with mysteries. The feeling of regret increased when she handled her cell phone and realized the photos she had taken of the mysterious book were completely blurred, and the content of the pages was illegible. All the effort she had made, and all the risks she had taken had been in vain. To make matters worse, the cell phone's home screen still displayed the time "4:14", indicating that she would probably have to pay for a new phone. The sequence of bad feelings was interrupted when a loving message from Shaggy appeared on the screen, saying that he and Scooby were on their way to Marin General Hospital. Suddenly, a nurse entered the hospital room, announcing that doctors were waiting for her in the MRI room. Velma placed her belongings on a tray, including her wire-framed glasses, and followed the woman down a long hallway. However, halfway there, a staff member called her name, and Velma stopped. When she looked back, she saw the woman running towards her, holding a cell phone in her hands.
"Miss Dinkley, your cell phone is ringing, it can be someone from your family!"
Velma thanked her for her kindness, but when she looked at the screen of her phone, she shuddered: the photo of librarianLisa Genauwas right above an unknown number. Velma held her breath as she accepted Lisa's call, dreading what she would hear.
Lisa: Hello! Miss Dinkley? Velma Dinkley? Im Lisa Genau, the librarian who helped you at the Community Library a few hours ago…
Velma: Hi Lisa, yes, I remember you…
After the greeting, Velma held her breath again. Surely, the reason for that call was the mysterious book.
Lisa: Great! Well... the reason for this call is the book you brought, which belonged to your grandfather and... hmm... this is quite embarrassing, but... I... I need to tell you that... I wasn't honest when I said I didn't know what had happened to it...
Lisa remained silent, waiting for some kind of reaction. However, Velma felt a deep fear take over every inch of her body, so, she was unable to vocalize a single word. When she realized that Lisa was also struggling with her own fears and emotions, Velma encouraged her to continue.
Velma: Ok, Lisa, go ahead, I'm listening.
Lisa: Well… oh my God, I don't even know how I'll tell you! I can't believe I'm saying this myself, please don't laugh at me and…
Velma: Lisa, whatever happened to the book, I believe you!
Lisa: Well… the day you brought it, I took it to the collection and registered it in the library system… then, I put a magnetic tag on it and… uhh… I… I opened it… because I was curious and I wanted to know what the book was about and…
Lisa fell silent again, and from the sighs she heard, Velma could tell she was tense.
Velma: And…?
Lisa: Well… I read a few pages… and left it open on my desk while I left to get a coffee… and… and…
Velma felt her heart race. She knew exactly what she would hear next, as she had experienced the same situation hours ago. Even so, she feared the librarian's answer.
Lisa: And…oh, please don't think I'm crazy for what I'm about to say, nor think I'm lying to hide the book from you and…
Velma: Lisa, the book has disappeared, hasnt it? Mysteriously?
The librarian was silent for a moment, then agreed.
Velma: And right before, something very scary has happened, hasnt it?
Lisa agreed, but couldnt say exactly what had happened.
Velma: Did you see a ghost? A scary old man? With glowing eyes?
Lisa: Yes… uhhh… and I got scared, screamed, ran in fear and called the security guard who was on duty at that time… but when we returned to the collection, there was no one there, and the book had disappeared without any explanation… as Ive said before, it had a magnetic tag and no alarm went off, so, I don't know how to explain how it has disappeared…
Velma: That's exactly what I feared, Lisa... thanks for telling me the truth…
Lisa: What do you meanby "exactly what I feared"?
Velma felt her heart race once more. She felt stupid for saying too much and having to explain what she had said. After taking a long breath to calm herself down, she planned everything she would say, and tried to speak seriously, so that the librarian wouldn't suspect her.
Velma: Well... it's a long family story... that says my grandfather's ghost appears every time someone opens this book... I know, it sounds crazy, but that's what people say... all this because, as Ive said, there's an inheritance, and the book has crucial information about the money... so, when someone opens it, the ghost appears to keep the curious away and prevent them from getting the fortune...
Velma was almost laughing when she finished the lie, because it was too ridiculous. Fortunately, Lisa believed her.
Lisa: Have you ever seen your grandfather's ghost?
Velma: Me? No, never! I… I… didn't open the book when I found it… because… I knew about the legend, so, I didnt… I was smarter… thats why I looked for information about it in the library…
Lisa: If other people had opened it and had seen the ghost before, why hadn't it disappeared before?
Velma: Well... actually... he had disappeared before... uhh... every time the ghost appears he disappears! It... it disappears for a moment, then reappears somewhere... I know it sounds ridiculous, but it's an old voodoo magic to protect valuable things...
Velma was tense. Unintentionally, her lies had spoiled everything. To make matters worse, Lisa's long pauses no longer showed fear or embarrassment, they showed doubt.
Lisa: So… do you know where it'll reappear?
Velma: No, not exactly… last time it took us years to find it! Like Ive said, after almost forty years, we found the book in the basement of my grandfather's house…
Lisa had another long pause, and Velma hoped she would believe her. However, after some thoughts, she responded aggressively.
Lisa: But… didn't the book belong to the library? Why would your grandfather hide a fortune in a book that wasn't even his?
Velma panicked. Lisa was smarter and had found the inconsistencies in her story. She felt fear, despair, and anger all at once, and she had to keep her composure, because the nurse and the employee who had brought her the cell phone were listening to her.
Velma: Look, Lisa, like Ive said before, it's a long, strange, complicated family story, and I'd love to explain it to you in detail, but unfortunately, right now, I'm on my way to an MRI because I was involved in a car accident. Can I call you later?
Lisa responded monosyllabically and affirmatively. Velma did not wait for a new silence to begin. She thanked her for the confession and ended the call without waiting for the librarians response. Then, she returned the cell phone to the staff memeber and thanked her for her patience. The nurse continued down the hallway and Velma followed her. As she passed a row of chairs, she saw two men staring at her. Looking at the badge that one of them had hanging from his shirts pocket, Velma read:"FBI".
Blake Manor, Crystal Cove, January 8, 2023.
6:20 pm
Daphne finished her makeup with the mascara that a famous cosmetics brand would soon launch. The compilation of advertising videos that she should make for the brand should be posted at the end of the month, but she decided that was the perfect time to start making them. Advertising a new makeup collection was a great way to focus on her real identity and forget all the traces and damage thatcherryredhad left in her life. In addition, working was the best way to ignore two conversations that she didn't want to have: the message from Sheriff Stone, saying"I believe you",and the posts from the insistent Fred Jones, who continued contacting her through Instagram, even after being blocked on the message app. Daphne's intentions were successful for a while. The initial video generated many likes, views and shares, hundreds of people started following her, and the encouraging comments on the post made her smile. However, ironically, fate — or Instagram's algorithm —forced her to face her ghosts again. While scrolling through herfeed, Daphne saw a post from the official Crystal Cove City profile, which showed old photos of several places in the city.
"Photos of Crystal Cove from the early 80s! Comment and tell if you remember that time!", said the post. The first photo showed a residential street, identical to the one Daphne saw during the minutes she lost her life."Myrna Street in 1980,"said the caption. The shock slowly took Daphne's senses. With her heart racing and her legs getting weak, she was forced to sit down and take deep breaths. When she regained some courage, she decided to look at the other photos in the compilation. To her surprise, the last two photos showed the cliff of Crystal Cove in 1982. The trees, the houses, the precarious road, the metal fence, the signs, the old lampposts, every single detail of those images was present in the vivid memory of the dream — or nightmare? — she had while she was lifeless."It was all real!"was the only plausible conclusion Daphne could reach after seeing those photos. But… how could that be real? How could she be in 1982, if she was born in 2002 and was in 2023? On the other hand, how could her brain dream of such images, with so many details? She had never been to those places at that time. Doubting her own sanity, Daphne drank some water to calm herself down."Daphne, you're going crazy, you're sick! First, you developed double personality; then, you hallucinated about an old man. Now, you're seeing coincidences where there are none, you need to see a psychiatrist!"she said to herself, breathless. With cold and trembling hands, she tried to start another video for the advertising campaign, to forget those macabre coincidences. "Myrna Street… I've seen that name somewhere before",an intrusive thought disturbed her. For several minutes, she tried to focus on her life and her career, and fought hard against the overwhelming urge to research everything she had seen while she was dead. But somewhere between mascara and lip gloss,cherryredwon and prompted her to look up"Myrna Street, Crystal Cove".
The first attempt was successful. Immediately, several news about Hannah Renner case appeared, reporting that Fred Jones Sr.'s wife had disappeared from her home at 2002 on Myrna Street."You're not crazy, Daphne, this is real, how much proof do you need to understand this is real?", cherryredshouted at the incredulous Daphne Blake, motivating her to continue.
And Daphne Blake continued, after all, she needed new proof to believe that her nightmare was not a mere near-death experience. The first proof came when Daphne researched Patapsco River, the name she had seen in a painting during her nightmare. In fact, the river existed in the state of Maryland, however, the images she saw on Google were not exactly like the photo Hannah had shown her. Once again, doubt and certainty dueled for her mind, and certainty won the moment Daphne researched"fractals in crime scenes" again.The photo showing "Place where the boy Otto Reinier disappeared,1962" was the same living room she had been in, with the same antique furniture, the same brown carpet, and the same wooden tube TV. To her astonishment, the boy Otto Reinier was one of the pale children Daphne had seen in that place. Finally, the name "Herbert Stevins", which she had heard many times, was printed in an obituary in the local newspaper. The obituary mentioned a hemorrhage, and the photo proved that he was the man she had seen bleeding to death. "Satisfied? It's real!", cherryredtaunted her arrogantly. But Daphne was not satisfied. She needed more. She needed to talk to Fred Jones, Bronson Stone, and Emmanuel Raffalo.
Darrow Hospital, Crystal Cove, January 8, 2023.
07:15 pm
Dr. Hughes: Ms. Nichols, I assure you are perfectly healthy. You do not have multiple personalities just because you can write different handwritings. And your uncontrollable urge to swear does not make you a Tourette. However, your constant need to come to the hospital and feign illnesses concerns me, so I recommend you to start therapy with Dr. Clark. Unfortunately, that is all I can do for you. I cannot medicate you if you do not have a real illness.
The young woman got angry and left the room screaming, accusing the doctor of several things. Instead of caring about her attitude, Dr. Hughes, head of psychiatry at Darrow Hospital, calmly turned to the student who was with him and smiled.
Dr. Hughes: Another mental disorder diagnosed by Dr. Instagram, son.
Fred: Actually, I think this time it was Dr. TikTok.
Both men laughed a little about the situation, then Fred left the room to get some water. He knew his internship in psychiatry would put him in difficult situations, but he was willing to face them all to keep an eye on Professor Raffalo. Besides, it was easier to deal with young hypochondriacs than with the regulars atCrystal Cove Golf Club—including his fiancée. On his way to the water fountain, Fred took the opportunity to stop by Emmanuel Raffalo's room and check on his mental state. Unfortunately, hours later, the professor was still lying down, staring at the ceiling with a horror look on his face.
Dr. Hughes: This man is a genious of modern chemistry. It's a shame he ended up in this psychiatric ward, being watched like a zoo animal.
The doctor's sudden speech frightened Fred, as he thought he was alone. To disguise his fright, he pretended to be academically interested in Raffalo's clinical case.
Fred: Yes, I know him, he was my science teacher a few years ago. I greeted him, but he wasn't friendly. I looked at his medical records and saw that he had a psychotic episode. Do you think it's schizophrenia?
Dr. Hughes: It's too early to say anything. I haven't seen any signs of delirium in his behavior. He's completely lucid, but he suddenly changes personality and becomes aggressive. I suspect something is stressing him out, and the panic is making him freak out.
Fred: He seemed terrified and completely out of reality when he attacked me. Don't you think these are delusions of persecution?
Dr. Hughes: No, they are not delusions. This man knows exactly what he has done and he knows he's in trouble for it, thats why he's in panic. The FBI and the local police are on their way to hear him. He's involved in the death of that little girl, Molly Becker. And I think in the death of his friend, Professor James Arthur, too... Anyway, stay away from him. The authorities will help us understand his condition, and whatever he has done. Then, we can give him the right treatment.
Dr. Hughes patted Fred on the back before leaving. Fred stared at Raffalo's motionless body for a minute or two, then continued walking to the water fountain. Back in the consulting room, Fred realized that Dr. Hughes was starting a new appointment, this time much more urgent than the last. However, at that moment, the only urgency on his mind was Daphne Blake's response to all the insistent messages he had sent her on Instagram, after being blocked on the message app. When curiosity overcame all barriers of reason, Fred had the inappropriate and reckless impulse to check his own cell phone while Dr. Hughes was talking to the patient's mother. His curiosity ended soon: Daphne Blake had blocked him on Instagram too, a low and painful blow. And why did that act hurt him so much? He didn't even know her! Why should he care about the contempt of a stranger? Besides, he was ridiculous, he had asked so many personal questions that he deserved such contempt. For a stupid action, a stupid reaction, very simple. But it still hurt. And how it hurt! After all, it wasn't a mere contempt, it was the comtempt of a sweet girl that he had met by accident and... who has a secret involving a dark book and an inexplicable death. Suddenly, reason slapped him and took him from the lascivious illusions he had about her. The real Daphne Blake was not who he thought, much less who 36 million people thought. Probably, she was a follower of an occult sect, responsible for macabre crimes and events. Or she knew about the existence of the sect and she was trying to become a part of it. In short, Daphne Blake was the very personification of the devil, attractive and evil, so being blocked by her was a kind of salvation. But it still hurt. And how it hurt! Because he felt the evil hidden by her perfect physical forms did not reach the sweetness of her heart, a heart that he met…for five or ten minutes, in a cliché conversation? Then, reality hit him again with sequences of truths. Daphne Blake was an illusion, just an illusion created by his sick mind full of desire to escape from reality. But… it was an illusion that hurt. And how it hurt.
Dr. Hughes: So, what do you suggest in this case, Jones? Could you share your notes with us?
The doctor's sudden questions, accompanied by a stern look, made Fred panic. He hadn't heard a single word, so he didn't know what to say. Embarrassed, he placed his cell phone on the table and tried to explain himself.
Fred: Sorry, Dr. Hughes, I got distracted… and…
The next moment, the patient—a teenager with drug issues—ran from the room. In panic, the mother screamed for help, and immediately Dr. Hughes, Fred, and a group of nurses chased the boy down the hallway. After the young man was restrained and taken to sedation, Fred and Dr. Hughes returned to the consulting room. To break the uncomfortable silence that reigned after the scolding, Fred risked a conversation.
Fred: Well... what medication do you suggest for the boy? I was thinking...
Dr. Hughes: For him, I suggest a benzodiazepine. For you, detox and lots of therapy… this woman will destroy you, son, be careful…
As he stood up to leave the room, Dr. Hughes threw the phone into Fred's hands, to show that he had seen Daphne's message. However, like a good addict, Fred returned to his addiction. To his surprise, when he opened the messaging app, instead of the "blocked" message, there was a new message from Daphne:"I can't call you. Can we talk in person?"
Blake Manor, Crystal Cove, January 8, 2023.
8:20 pm
"Sure. Can it be tomorrow, at 9pm, at 42 Fleet Street?",Fred immediately replied to the message Daphne had sent."Ok, see you tomorrow!", she typed before deleting the records of that conversation. As she wrote a message to Sheriff Stone, she fought against the guilt that insisted on embarrassing her."It's not a date, idiot, it's just an important and necessary conversation that can solve many cases",Daphne said out loud to herself, to push away the tormenting feelings."But it's at his house, Daphne! Duh! What were you thinking when you agreed to meet a stranger in his house at night?",the guilt responded energetically, with an intrusive and embarrassing argument. Fortunately, Sheriff Stone soon answered her and interrupted that endless intimate duel.
"Honey, I would love to listen to you and help you, but I need you to tell your father first. I can't hear your testimony in confidence, unless your secret involves someone in your family. Plus, the FBI is on this case, so, anything you have to say about what youve seen, you'll have to tell them too"
Daphne agreed and immediately left the room, searching for her father. She found him in his office, preparing to leave.
Daphne: Dad, I need your help… I need to talk to Sheriff Stone!
Bart was organizing some papers in a folder and, for a moment, he stopped what he was doing and impatiently looked at his daughter.
Bart: Do you want to tell him your ghost story? I know he seemed quite interested, but I think he has more important things to do right now…
Daphne: No, I need to tell the whole truth about what happened last night… involving me, Fred Jones, and other people too…
The contempt disappeared from Bart's face immediately, and it was replaced by astonishment.
Bart: Why don't you start by telling your own father the truth?
The contempt gradually returned as Daphne took longer to answer him. When the silence became unbearable, Bart prompted his daughter to speak.
Bart: …I thought you needed my help.
With no way out, Daphne sighed and started an explanation.
Daphne: Dad, I need your help! That's why I'm here... I need you to support me and trust me. Please! Take me to Sheriff Stone, I need to talk to him!
Bart sighed impatiently and slammed the folder shut, showing his anger. Without saying a word about his daughter's request, nor saying goodbye, he walked to the door. When he opened it, Daphne begged.
Daphne: I know exactly where you're going! You and the sheriff will talk to Raffalo, wont you? About a cult, right? A cult that's been committing the same crimes for almost 90 years? Do you know why I know all this? Because I'm one of the victims! When I was at James Arthur's house, I accidentally witnessed something very serious happening there, and it has to do with several unsolved cases... that's why I'm begging for your help and support, dad! Please! I need you to support me and protect me as a witness! And I need to talk to Sheriff Stone right now! Please, trust me and let me go with you!
Bart was shocked, and he stopped. Frightened, he walked towards his daughter and hugged her tightly, comforting her. Daphne hugged him back, and when the hug ended, Bart agreed to help her. Daphne immediately ran to her room, grabbed her belongings and her coat, then, they left. The way to Darrow Hospital was silent. Bart respected his daughter's privacy and he didn't ask more questions. However, as he parked the car in Darrow Hospital parking lot, he looked at her and gave her advice.
Bart: I want you to know that you have my support for anything you need. Except for this secret relationship with Fred Jones… am I being clear? I want you to stay away from him, and have no contact with him.
Unable to look at him, Daphne lowered her eyes and nodded. Even though she didn't know how she would — or how she could — stay away from Fred Jones.
Darrow Hospital, Crystal Cove, January 8, 2023.
09 pm
Dr. Hughes: Time to go home, son…
The head of psychiatry suddenly appeared at the door of the room where Fred was, and that made him quickly close the browser on his notebook.
Fred: Thank you, Dr. Hughes, but I'm going to stay… too much college stuff...
Without insisting, the old man shook Fred's hand and said goodbye. Alone again, he returned toTrue Crime Forumwebsite, to check the updates since his last visit. Unfortunately,cherryred had not posted any new messages. To make matters worse, users were saying that the photos of the mysterious stain at theAllyra Mahoncrime scenehad gone viral on several YouTube channels, and Joel Marlow's daughters said they would sue everyone. In response to the threat, Fred posted a photo from an old newspaper, in which Joel Marlow appeared in his mansion in 1982, next to Aboriginal handicrafts. Then, Fred wrote a short text to clarify his theory that Joel had been inAllyra Mahon's tribe at the time of the girl's disappearance — and he hoped that the repercussion of his post would encouragecherryredto respond.
Judy: Shouldn't you be having fun with your fiancée at the club?
His mother suddenly appeared in the room, so, he closed the website again and opened a scientific article. Before hearing a response, Judy caressed her son's hair and left a kiss on his forehead.
Fred: Shouldn't you be having fun with your husband at home?
Fred laughed at the provocation he made, and Judy glared at him.
Judy: Very funny! Don't you know I have to work?
Fred: Very funny! Don't you know I have to study?
Judy realized that her son wanted to irritate her. Fred laughed again and she slapped him on the back, to make him stop.
Judy: If you continue doing this, you'll not be Dr. Hughes' student anymore, youll become his patient... go home soon, ok? Its freezing outside, and Alice certainly needs you.
Judy left another kiss on her son's forehead before leaving the room, and Fred silently agreed. Judy left a lipstick mark on his forehead and a bit of guilt in his heart, and that motivated Fred to write to Alice, to let her know that he would stay. "No problem, honey. Ive missed you at the club today. I love you!"Alice's final message said, after a long string of affectionate messages they exchanged."I love you too,"Fred replied mechanically, then, he felt the weight of those words. Did he love her? The mere questioning of such a serious feeling made him feel guilty. He had no right to question that love, he should love her!"Not as much as I do!", Alice replied his last message, punctuating it with a smiling heart emoji. Yes, it was true:he didn't love her as much as she loved him.And that's why he didn't deserve that love."Of course not, I love you way more!", Fred replied, moved by guilt. It was a lie, but Alice didn't deserve to know the truth. She deserved much more than the negligent love he offered her. The guilt became greater when a message from his father appeared on the app.
Brad: Your mom told me you're still in the hospital. Is that true?I hope it's a good decision.
His father's scolding became the first message on his app. Second was Alice's love message, followed by the message in which he arranged a secret meeting with Daphne Blake at Velma and Shaggy's house. No, that was definitely not a good decision, nor was it something coherent or acceptable. He could do better than that, Alice and Brad deserved better than that. Moved by remorse, Fred blocked Daphne Blake's number and deleted the messages he had sent her on all social networks. Then, he turned off his computer, gathered his belongings and left. Before leaving the hospital, he decided to check on Emmanuel Raffalo for the last time. To his surprise, the hallway leading to the professor's room was full of local police officers and FBI agents. From a distance, through the glass, Fred saw Sheriff Stone talking to Raffalo, with the same federal agents who had interviewed him the night before. Although the expression of horror was no longer on his face, Emmanuel seemed apathetic and catatonic, and his mouth remained motionless when questioned.
Fred watched the interview for a few minutes, until the sound of high-heeled shoes on the floor caught his attention. When he looked in the direction of the sound, he saw Daphne and Bart Blake walking down the parallel corridor. "I hope its a good decision", his father's words immediately echoed in his mind, like an order for his body to continue walking to the hospital exit. Obediently, Fred ignored Daphne and left the hospital. However, just before he passed the electronic lock, his cell phone rang, and Velma's photo appeared on the screen.
Velma: Fred? I have some horrid news! I was involved in a car accident and I'm in the hospital with a concussion and two broken ribs. I've seriously injured three kids, Ive lost both books, Ive destroyed Shags' car, and...
Velma's determined voice soon turned hoarse and failed, silenced by uncontrollable crying. After hearing such news, Fred felt his heart race, but he tried to calm her down several times, so she could continue telling him the details. With difficulty, Velma told him everything she had experienced, from the mysterious disappearance of the book in the library, to the terrifying appearance of the old man in the back seat of her car, which made her lose control and crash. She also detailed how the book had inexplicably disappeared after the accident. Moved, Fred promised to go to Marin to help her. "I hope its a good decision", his father's voice appeared in his head again, leaving him in doubt whether he should really do that or not.
Velma: Don't worry, Shaggy is here with me. We're fine, as fine as we could be.
Velma had to repeat several times to convince Fred that she was fine, and that his presence was not necessary. Furthermore, he also knew that caring about a friend, instead of caring about his own fiancée, was not a good decision. As Velma was detailing the tests and treatments that she would have to endure, Fred heard a very loud noise of breaking glass. Then, he heard desperate female screams, and he immediately recognized that it was Daphne. Worried, he ended the call and ran towards the noise. On the way, he panicked as he heard several male voices shouting, among them, the voices of Raffalo, Stone and Bart Blake.
Arriving at the psychiatric ward, Fred saw Emmanuel Raffalo trying to strangle Daphne Blake with great rage, while screaming disjointed phrases. Bart Blake, the sheriff and other agents tried to stop him, but Raffalo had superhuman strength and easily pushed them away. At the same time, Fred grabbed Raffalos neck with his arm to make him stop, but even using all his strength, Raffalo did not stop. On the contrary, the professor glared at him furiously, and Fred noticed that his eyes had a creepy silver glow. Remembering what Velma had told him, Fred panicked, and in a moment of distraction, Raffalo hit him hard in the chest and pushed him away. Before Fred could hit the professor again, he heard the sound of two gunshots, then Raffalo let go of the girl's neck and retreated. Daphne took advantage of the moment to push the professor's body off hers and release herself from the weight that was holding her legs. When Emmanuel tried to grab her again, Sheriff Stone and the agents jumped on him and stopped him. In panic and crying a lot, Daphne ran down the hallway, until she disappeared through psychiatric wards door. In shock, Bart continued looking at his own gun, and when he realized what he had done, he closed his eyes and hid his face with his hands, regretful. Even with both shoulders bleeding, Raffalo was still aggressive, fighting against more than six men.
Emmanuel: GIVE ME! GIVE IT BACK! I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME! GIVE ME!
The agents slowly led Raffalo to another room, and a group of nurses and doctors provided sedation and medical care to the injured professor. Taking advantage of Bart and Sheriff Stone's distraction, Fred left. Inevitably, he followed Daphne's path, using the drops of blood she had left in the hallway as a reference. When he finally found her, she was inside Bart's car, crying profusely. Fred desperately knocked on the cars window, and only after doing that, he realized how inappropriate it was. To his surprise, Daphne rolled down the window, but didn't say anything. Fred didn't know what to say either. The initial impulse had gone, and he felt like a huge idiot for being there, disturbing her again.
Daphne: What do you want? Can't you see I was attacked?
Daphne was rude, and he felt like a huger idiot. However, at that time, he couldn't care about his own feelings, because her involuntary sobs caught all his attention. She was badly hurt. Inexplicably, Raffalo had hit her like a professional wrestler, and he left several bruises on her body, especially on her neck. In addition, she also had cuts, caused by the shards of the glass he had broken.
Daphne: TELL ME, JONES! WHAT DO YOU WANT?
Daphne screamed before hiding her face on her hands and crying. Then, in a fit of rage, she grabbed the keys and started the car, showing that she didn't care about his answer. Fred panicked. He wanted to make her stay. But, how was he going to convince her to stay? So, with no time to discern whether it was a good decision or not, he used the best argument he had.
Fred: Daphne, wait! Please! I... I saw his eyes when he attacked you. And right now, my friend is in a hospital in Marin, because she saw a scary old man with those same silver eyes, and the fright made her crash her car. I know you have also seen this old man while you were dead, and I know he's related to the mysterious book you had in your bag. My friend also had a copy of the book and it disappeared, so… I need your help to understand what's going on. Please, let's talk! We need to exchange the information we have and help each other. We are all victims and witnesses, neither the police nor the FBI can do this for us.
Like magic, Daphne's face changed and she stopped sobbing. At the same moment, she looked at Fred in surprise and stared at him in silence. But instead of staying, Fred convinced her to go. The next moment, she unlocked the car doors and invited him to sit in the passengers seat. When Fred sat down and closed the door, Daphne regretted it.
Daphne: Freddie, wait! I can't be seen with you anywhere… Ive promised my father… people will say bad things and…
Fred: So, let's go to Marin. There, you can talk to my friend, and we can talk during the trip. Please, Daphne, we need to each others help, we can prevent other tragedies!
Daphne was even more surprised, and she hesitated for a moment. Trying to minimize the distance between Crystal Cove and Marin County, Fred quickly glanced at his watch and looked at her.
Fred: That's enough time for me to tell you the whole story, and for you to tell me what happened to you. The car has a tracker, your father will know exactly where you are. If we solve the mystery involving the old man, the book, and the sect, I'm sure he'll thank you for that, and he won't even mind that you were with me.
Convinced, Daphne buckled up and started driving. The moment the car left the hospital parking lot, Fred knew that was a bad decision. But it was a bad decision…with Daphne Blake by his side.
Thanks for reading! Thanks for your time! Thank you for your likes and reviews, they make me very happy. As always, I apologize for long chapters, and for the language mistakes :)