Chapter 01

It's midnight.

We're in the porch of the infamous Noah Sheridan.

Behind a Sycamore tree to be precise.

Some would say I have a death wish, others who this guy have scores to deal with, would probably give me a thumbs up.

Frankly, I don't want to do Noah any harm. I've steered clear from him since fifth grade because of his low people tolerance.

It's just that Beth is bad at letting 'bygones be bygones'.

"I can't to this." I declare.

Beth gives me a look. "What?"

She glances at the house and lowers her voice.

"What do you mean you can't?"

She looks like she's about to decapitate me. Honestly, that's not a bad idea at this point.

"I can't! Not in this way! Nope." I cross my arms. "I can't break into someone's house."

Just this morning, someone poured IcyHot all over her gym clothes.

She thinks it was Noah because some people saw him walk by her locker, acting suspicious.

There was not enough evidence against him. But Beth is somehow convinced that Noah is the culprit.

She then decided to take the matter on her own hands.

We're going to pour IcyHot on Noah's underwears.

I mean, I WILL.

Because she can't do it without scratching her thing every five seconds.

"You're not going to break in. You're not even going to break anything!" Beth groans in frustration. "You said you will help!"

"Look," I start. "The prefect said it wasn't him. What if we got the wrong person?"

I'm so anxious that there is sweat in parts of my body that I didn't know could sweat.

"We should just go ho—"

"Bess, is that you?" Beth cuts me off.

My eyes go wide in disbelief.

Bess is the most annoying character in the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories because she always tells Nancy to give up during the most dangerous situations.

I can't believe she's calling me Bess when I'm Bess' cousin, George.

Practical, steady, and smart.

"That's just... offensive!" I frown.

"Well, you're being Bess right now." Beth crosses her arms and leans against the tree.

A tree that has been in the sepulchral porch of the Sheridans.

It's creepier under the moonlight.

"Will you go?" Beth squints her eyes.

I hate that stare she's giving me. It's making me feel like the loser twin with zero friends.

"Fine!" I raise my arms in surrender.

"Thank god! Here's your helmet. For identity purposes, of course."

Beth hands me a hat—no, a headpiece.

It's a riot of green, with a bulbous pit sticking where the crown should be.

"Are you kidding me?"

"What?" Beth shrugs.

"This is a fucking avocado hat."

"There was nothing at home I could find."

"Anything would have been better than this, Beth." I sigh.

"It's the perfect disguise. Your face and hair will be covered."

I gingerly strap it around my face.

"What do I get in return?" I demand. "It better be good."

"Anything you want."

I raise my eyebrows suspiciously, and Beth sighs.

"Scout's honor, Maddy."

I look up at the tree. It's at least fifteen feet high.

Amazing. Just freaking amazing.

"I'll wait for you here." Beth conceals herself behind the bushes while I begin my ascend.

The climb feels like eternity and the house looks scarier up close. You know those houses that look like something would pop out in the windows?

The fact that I can see how decrepit it is sends a chill down my spine.

I know Noah's family isn't rich, but damn.

I notice that the curtains in Noah's bedroom are partially open, and between the gaps— I see something.

What the hell?

There's a photograph of an old man, wearing a military uniform.

He's dead.

He has to be dead, right?

Why else would they put someone's photograph in black and white?

His eyes seem to be following my every move.

Nervousness courses through my veins as the chilly air brush against my cheek. I have to be careful not to fall or break my neck from the weight of this stupid headpiece.

When I reach out towards the windowsill, my palms are already sweating.

Here goes not—

"Hey!" A voice beams from underneath, totally catching me off guard.

I nearly lose my balance, thankfully, I manage to clutch on to a nearby branch.

I glance below and there's a guy in a corporate attire, frowning at me. I sagged with relief. It's not Noah! Nor his dad! A moment of tension fades away when I realize it's not someone I know.

Before I could speak, flashes of light blind me.

Click! Click! Click!

"You're hurting my eyes!" I say, using my arm as a shield.

Once the lights were out, he asks me, "What are you doing up there?"

"Rescuing my cat." I lie.

"Where's the cat?"

"It fled."

"I'm calling the police."

"No, please!" I gesture frantically in an attempt to dissuade him.

"Come down then."

"All right, all right. Geez!"

As soon as my feet touch the ground, I flash a bright smile.

"Hi there." I chirp.

"Who are you?" His eyes flitted back to my face and the headpiece. "And why are you an avocado?"

"Long story. I hope we can forget about this, kind sir!"

I have hardly made it out of the lawn when he grabs me by the elbow.

I swallow hard.

A shadows falls over his face. "You're not going anywhere."

"Excuse me?"

As his eyes darken and he leans closer, my breathing quickens. "Are you deaf? I said, you're not going anywhere."

I scan the surroundings for any sign of Beth. I'm using twin telepathy to send signals that I'm in danger.

Help me, Beth! Help!

But, there was no one coming out of the bushes.

I sigh, an exasperated sound.

"It's illegal to detain someone. This is kidnapping."

"Kidnapping?" he echoes. "Are you serious?"

My heart races as I step back from him, retreating a safe distance as chilly air passes between us.

He shakes his head, chuckling humorlessly.

"If I send these to the police, what do you think would happen?" he tilts his head, teasingly. "Do you know the punishment for trespassing?"

"I wasn't trespassing!" I defend.

"These pictures say otherwise." He added with an annoying smile, "Have a look."

The flashes earlier came from his damn camera!

Pictures of me climbing the stupid tree. At some point, I look crazed. Still, I'm unrecognizable because of the headpiece.

"Should I send this to the local paper too?"

My eyes were half-lidded in that picture as if I was about to sneeze and my mouth was hanging open.

"When did you—?"

A triumphant smile crosses his face.

"Give me that!"

He pulls the camera away before I can take it.

"You demon!" he gasps.

As he raises the camera, I leap into air to snatch it. It's useless though because the guy is practically a giant.

He lifts it even higher, his laughs filling the air.

"You win!" I say between ragged breaths.

A hint of suspicion lingers in his eyes.

"You can have the stupid camera." I struggle to breathe, my chest heaving. "I wasn't stealing anyway. Call the police, I dare you!"

"Okay..." He starts to take out his phone, and I stop him like a crossing guard.

"I was joking! Geez!"

"Why are you here?"

My throat feels tight. "To teach someone a lesson."

"And how exactly?" He raises an eyebrow.

"By pouring IcyHot?" I offer. "On their underwears?"

"What are you, twelve?" He winces.

"And why are you here?" I squint my eyes at him.

Corporate attire, glasses, full lips, dark hair and eyes— Clark Kent from a dollar store.

My gaze flies to his I.D., secured by a lanyard— The Chronicle.

"You're a reporter?" I almost choke in my own gasp.

He puts the tag in his breast pocket.

"That is out of question." He looks rattled.

"What are you doing here?" I ask again.

He gives me a pointed look. "That's—"

Suddenly, the lights in Noah's house flicker open. A shadowy figure makes its way to the main door and towards the porch.

Oh, crap.

Without a moment's hesitation, I tightly grasp his hand, urging him into action.

"What—?" he starts.

"Run, Forrest! Run!" I cry with urgency.

With adrenaline coursing through our veins, we swiftly sprint away from the scene.

Our feet pounding against the pavement as we dart through the dimly lit streets.

"Hey! Come back here!" Someone shouts behind us and the urgency in our steps intensify, fueled by the fear of being caught and the thrill of the chase.

"Who was that?" He has the audacity to ask.

"Who cares?" I yell, "Run faster, idiot!"

The night air rushes past us, a cool breeze brushing against our faces.

Our laughs lash out through the streets, a mixture of exhilaration and freedom.

We slow our pace, coming to a halt in a quiet alley where we pause to catch our breaths.

"That was... tiring." Another wave of laughter escapes my lips as we lean against the wall to catch our breaths.

A sudden realization washes over me.

I glance down, and see that our hands are still together.

We both pull away at the same time.

Awkward silences don't sit well with me, so I ask what I have been wanting to ask.

"Why the hell are you creeping in other people's houses?"

"I'm investigating." The planes of his face hardening until they seem like a statue.

"What?" Glancing back at him, he gives me an incredulous look.

"The Wailing Woman in the Ivy Lane Creek Bridge."

It's now my turn to be confused. "What about it?"

"I'm an intern in The Chronicle, and they want me help fill the entertainment section with paranormal-themed shit." He sighs. "Don't give me that look. I know it's lame."

"Have you found it?"

"The ghost? Are you crazy?" He cocks his head to one side. "Why did I even ask?"

My lips part in disbelief. "No, the creek!"

"That's the thing." He hangs his head. "My GPS led me astray. Next thing I know, I'm watching an avocado attempting to climb a tree."

I throw him a pointed look.

"What?" he shrugs. "I was mortified. To think this town is a bit lonely or creepy, I don't know anymore."

It's true. Nothing ever happened here in Comett Springs. Nothing ever changed. Something clutched at me. I've done a few countless things, as harmless as trying extreme sports, eating expired things and waxing Beth's eyebrows.

But never something big or influential.

An electricity raced through my veins.

"Are you okay?" He looks genuinely concerned. "You look like you've been... tasered?"

"You said you couldn't find the creek..." He nods his head. I brighten as though struck by an idea. "Why don't you let me go with you? I can help you find it. Not just the Wailing Woman."

As his eyes curve into suspicion, I add, "Imagine I could be your human GPS. Isn't that better?"

"What's the catch?"

"I want you to delete all my pictures, especially the one where I look unhinged." I answer, shivering at the thought of that image.

He rolls his eyes. "I'm not planning to use it as blackmail." There was a teasing glint in his eyes. "I was just messing with you earlier. Consider it deleted."

My eyes twitch. "Why?"

"I work alone." He waves goodbye. "Anyway, nice meeting you, kid."

"I'm eighteen." I scowl which makes him chuckle.

As he prepares to leave, I tug at his satchel. "What's your name?"

"Why?"

"Just because!"

He says something unintelligible.

"Kilo? Like the unit of measurement?" I shake my head, clueless if he's being serious. "What kind of name is that? What's your brother's name? Grams?" I laugh, but then cleared my throat.

I hear him sigh deeply. "Yeah, whatever floats your boat."

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