schoolbooks, abandoned mail. My house has stuff in it. This house looks like no one actually lives here.”
“I know what you mean,” Alyson agreed.
“This is his room.” Stretch opened a door on the right that had keep out and enter at your own risk posters plastered all over it.
The room was as unlike the rest of the house as it was possible to be. The walls were painted black and covered with sketches and paintings depicting death, deformed bodies, and satanic icons. The bed was unmade and the floor was littered with discarded black T-shirts and jeans.
“I know it looks kind of creepy,” Stretch said, holding up a decapitated Yoda statue. “But in spite of my brother’s choice in art, he’s really a good guy. I think he just does all this to freak our parents out. To get their attention.”
Mac walked into the bathroom attached to the bedroom and looked around. “This his toothbrush?” she asked, pointing toward a black-handled electric model.
“Yeah, it’s his.” Spyder opened the medicine cabinet. “His shaving stuff is here too. I doubt he’d leave without it.”
Mac pocketed the toothbrush, then walked back into the bedroom to join the others, who were shifting through the items on the dresser and bedside nightstand.
“There’s nothing here to indicate that he was planning on taking off,” Devon admitted. “There’s a note here with movie times for last weekend, just like Stretch said.”
Alyson looked at her watch. “It’s almost four thirty. We should get going.” She turned toward Stretch. “Thanks for showing us around. I’m not sure we can do anything to find Spyder and V, but we’ll keep our eyes and ears open and let you know the minute we hear anything.”
They let themselves out and headed toward the SUV.
“This whole thing is getting more and more complicated.” Alyson climbed into the front passenger seat next to Devon. “On one hand, all the evidence points toward the fact that Spyder and V simply took off. On the other, if you were planning to take off why would you make specific plans for the weekend, and why wouldn’t you take some of your stuff? It doesn’t make sense.”
“Yeah.” Mac buckled her seat belt. “But if they didn’t take off, where are they? I pocketed Spyder’s toothbrush. That should be personal enough. Let’s drop it by the occult shop before we pick up Eli and Trevor.”
“Good idea.” Alyson felt her heart rate accelerate in anticipation of seeing the odd little man from the shop again. She had the strangest feeling he had looked right through her and into her soul to discover all of her most hidden secrets.
The bell over the door jangled as the trio walked in. Chan was behind the counter, as if he had been waiting for them. “Were you able to get a personal item?”
“Will a toothbrush work?” Mac held up the black brush.
“It should do the trick.” Chan held the brush between both of his hands and closed his eyes. He didn’t say anything for several minutes. Alyson looked at Mac and shrugged.
“I sense darkness, and fear. Your friend is alive, but he is trapped and cannot find his way back. You will find him beyond the door that cannot be seen,” the man said, his eyes still closed. “A messenger will show you the way.”
“What does that mean?” Devon asked. “We could really use an address or something tangible.”
“I’m sorry. I just get flashes. That’s all I was able to see. At least for now.”
“Okay, but what messenger? Who is it? How do we find this person?” Alyson asked.
“I do not know. The messenger will find you. You need only recognize it when it comes.”
“It? Is it a person or something else?”
“I do not know. The answer is not mine to know. The answer lies with you. Follow your instincts.”
“Isn’t there anything more specific you can tell us? Anything at all?” Alyson persuaded.
“I’m sorry. I’ve told you all I know. I sense you will find your answer. Just be patient
“I know what you mean,” Alyson agreed.
“This is his room.” Stretch opened a door on the right that had keep out and enter at your own risk posters plastered all over it.
The room was as unlike the rest of the house as it was possible to be. The walls were painted black and covered with sketches and paintings depicting death, deformed bodies, and satanic icons. The bed was unmade and the floor was littered with discarded black T-shirts and jeans.
“I know it looks kind of creepy,” Stretch said, holding up a decapitated Yoda statue. “But in spite of my brother’s choice in art, he’s really a good guy. I think he just does all this to freak our parents out. To get their attention.”
Mac walked into the bathroom attached to the bedroom and looked around. “This his toothbrush?” she asked, pointing toward a black-handled electric model.
“Yeah, it’s his.” Spyder opened the medicine cabinet. “His shaving stuff is here too. I doubt he’d leave without it.”
Mac pocketed the toothbrush, then walked back into the bedroom to join the others, who were shifting through the items on the dresser and bedside nightstand.
“There’s nothing here to indicate that he was planning on taking off,” Devon admitted. “There’s a note here with movie times for last weekend, just like Stretch said.”
Alyson looked at her watch. “It’s almost four thirty. We should get going.” She turned toward Stretch. “Thanks for showing us around. I’m not sure we can do anything to find Spyder and V, but we’ll keep our eyes and ears open and let you know the minute we hear anything.”
They let themselves out and headed toward the SUV.
“This whole thing is getting more and more complicated.” Alyson climbed into the front passenger seat next to Devon. “On one hand, all the evidence points toward the fact that Spyder and V simply took off. On the other, if you were planning to take off why would you make specific plans for the weekend, and why wouldn’t you take some of your stuff? It doesn’t make sense.”
“Yeah.” Mac buckled her seat belt. “But if they didn’t take off, where are they? I pocketed Spyder’s toothbrush. That should be personal enough. Let’s drop it by the occult shop before we pick up Eli and Trevor.”
“Good idea.” Alyson felt her heart rate accelerate in anticipation of seeing the odd little man from the shop again. She had the strangest feeling he had looked right through her and into her soul to discover all of her most hidden secrets.
The bell over the door jangled as the trio walked in. Chan was behind the counter, as if he had been waiting for them. “Were you able to get a personal item?”
“Will a toothbrush work?” Mac held up the black brush.
“It should do the trick.” Chan held the brush between both of his hands and closed his eyes. He didn’t say anything for several minutes. Alyson looked at Mac and shrugged.
“I sense darkness, and fear. Your friend is alive, but he is trapped and cannot find his way back. You will find him beyond the door that cannot be seen,” the man said, his eyes still closed. “A messenger will show you the way.”
“What does that mean?” Devon asked. “We could really use an address or something tangible.”
“I’m sorry. I just get flashes. That’s all I was able to see. At least for now.”
“Okay, but what messenger? Who is it? How do we find this person?” Alyson asked.
“I do not know. The messenger will find you. You need only recognize it when it comes.”
“It? Is it a person or something else?”
“I do not know. The answer is not mine to know. The answer lies with you. Follow your instincts.”
“Isn’t there anything more specific you can tell us? Anything at all?” Alyson persuaded.
“I’m sorry. I’ve told you all I know. I sense you will find your answer. Just be patient
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