Board Thread:Writer's Workshop/@comment-25825682-20150408043526

A canopy of jet-black shrouded the sky of March, while the tide was rushing in and out on the barren beach. A young woman walked baring a forlorn stare, feeling the cold fine sand brush against her feet. She eventually came to a stop at the water's edge.

Entranced by the waters reflection as if following an image, she slowly moved forward. Going further into the murky bay, releasing herself from the world....

Within the month of April, four hours after the suns peak in the sky. Alexander sat on the bench and faced the bright sand beach, with a glazed look over his green eyes. He leans forward cupping his hands together as his elbows rested on his knees. Alexander lowered his head facing the ground as his crop-cut, sandy-blond hair dangled over the sides of his fresh face.

Quietly he sat tapping the heel of his shoe against the ground with force. “I’m sick of that therapy,” he muttered. “It’s n-n-n-” he released his hands and hit the sides of his head with them. “It’s not helping,” he exclaimed. He stopped, lowered his hands and took a few deep breaths. At that time, a deep blue colored car drove up into the parking lot behind him.

Alexander heard shoes hit the concrete walk and looked over with a stoic gaze, “Mom, why are you here?”

“So you’ve been here,” she said sighing with relief. “I was looking all over town for you,” she conveyed brushing a fringe of her hair aside.

He leans back on the bench and says, “I always come here to think.”

Alexander's mother crossed her arms and looked at him with compassion. "Your therapist just called and told me you missed two sessions," she stated waiting for his explanation. Alexander turned his head from her, his eyes planning an escape from the confines of the topic. His mother paced on the path, "You know it's necessary to treat your stuttering."

Alexander stood up from the bench putting his hands in his jacket pocket. “I just missed two sessions, it doesn't bloody matter,” he remarked turning and walking away from her. Her eyes widened, stunned by his actions.

Alexander's mother shook off her sudden shock and walked toward him with force in her steps calling out, "Alexander." She intercepted his path. He stopped and looked at her annoyed, believing she was going to pursue the same topic. "What has gotten into you? You never walked away dismissing me," she questioned.

Alexander leans on his left hip and raised an eyebrow. ''Why's she so dead-set on this? It's my business that I want to stop the therapy.'' He looked at his mother trying to understand her side. He closed his eyes to relax and then looked at her, "The truth is, I'm just tired. The treatment doesn't feel like it's working."

“You honestly feel that way, then I’ll call the therapist and cancel the sessions, okay,” she promised putting her right hand to the left side of his face.

Alexander wanted to agree, but could not muster confidence to say it. Do I really want to throw all that money away they spent on me to attend. Alexander and his mother made it back to her car and got in.

On the ride home it started to rain lightly. Alexander sat quietly on the passenger side curled up in his seat and arms crossed comparable to a child. He stared out the window more or less in a trance riding by the 40 acre Mount Pleasant Cemetery. He then looked toward his mother with solemn eyes, "Mom, can we stop in the cemetery?"

His mother looked over at him and saw how genuine he looked. "Sure Alex, only for a little while though," she answered. She drove them through the dark iron gate hanging grimly by its squealing hinges. Dark trees cast voided wraith shadows over the quiet, damp gravestones.

After the car parked, Alexander got out and closed the car door. He rushed up the concrete path going up the low hill. At the top he stopped near the Viser family burial plot and looked around for a specific name. He passed by large mausoleums and stopped before a granite gravestone with angelic figures carved around its surface. The testament reads,

Here lies Eathan Viser, born June 24, 1997-died June 24, 2013

Beneath this simple stone

That marks his resting place

Our precious darling sleeps alone in afterlife's embrace.

Alexander sat on the grass with his knees up and arms wrapped around them facing the gravestone. "Hey Eathan, sorry I didn't come last w-w-week," he said with a growing frustration. Gripping his arms he admitted, "I just had to get away from that therapy." He lowered his head, "What would you do in my place," he asked waiting for an answer from somewhere.

Alexander let go of his arms to avoid bruising them. He looked up at his mother's car and then moved his eyes back to the gravestone. He cracked a smile saying, "Knowing you, you would continue on with the therapy." Alexander exhaled a calming breath, "See you later." He stood up and went back to his mother's car.

Once in the car, Alexander sat back in his seat as his mother started the car again. "Listen Alex," she said looking over at him with concern. Alexander looked at her wondering what she was going to say. "I'll talk with your father and see how he feels about me helping you instead. Sound okay," she inquired.

"Maybe," he answered shrugging it off and then turned his head away.

Her eyes narrowed in disappointment at his reply. "Think it over at least," she replied. She started the car and drove them home.

The next morning downstairs in Alexander's home, Alexander dressed in a casual outfit of an orange T-shirt, blue jeans and black jacket. He ran through the hall passing the kitchen, when he felt his stomach rumble. I'll just get going before I end up late. He was ready to leave when he saw something out of his peripheral right view.

Looking toward the right side of the kitchen ceiling he saw a damp spot on the corner and water coming from it. Alexander sighed in disbelief. He was going to put a pot underneath it, but then stopped after seeing the time on the microwave. He ignored the leak and left.

Outside his home, Alexander noticed the rain hadn't lessened. He did not hate the rain, but hoped it would ease up during his walk. Placing his hood on his head Alexander walked to school. To him Alki seemed like any other place seen before in Seattle.

The only thing that stood out to him is the octagonal lighthouse. Owned by the Viser family matriarch Igia Viser, it can overshadow any tourist at an estimated 11.277 meters.

He was halfway to the high school when he figured the first person he'd see at the school is Olemilia. Knowing her by the bright red hair and fair delicate skin, I should give her back Ulysses since I'm done with it. He put his left index finger over his mouth and then shrugged. Whatever, I'll give it to her later; she knows I'm good for it.

Later that day after school let out, the rain started to pour heavy. The students ran hastily to avoid the rain. Alexander and Olemilia ran toward her car. “Thanks for the lift,” he said trying to keep up with her.

“No sweat Alex,” she replied, using her schoolbag to cover her head. At her car, Alexander waited for her to unlock the doors after she wiped the rain from her glasses. Once the doors were unlocked they got in the car. She began to start it as Alexander peered out the window and saw a student coming toward them.

Alexander made out a messy brown haired teen in faded clothing, come up to his side of the car, "That isn't Arnold is it?"

At Alexander's side window, Arnold tapped at the glass and looked in with his blue eyes, "Could I get a lift home?"

His eyebrows became narrow as his mouth turned into a slight frown at seeing Arnold. "He couldn't have asked someone else?”

"Come on Alex it's ridiculous out there," Olemilia objected looking at Alexander with authority in her green eyes. She unlocked the back doors for him.

Arnold entered like a whirlwind and sat in the back seat relieved, "Thanks, I appreciate this Mili."

Olemilia rode away from the school. The three of them sat in the car quiet; the tension between Alexander toward Arnold constricted the damp air. Her face showed eagerness to ease the tension, “Great match last Saturday Arnold.”

Arnold became radiant, "Thanks, but scoring that goal was nothing special," he proudly said. "It's the Seattle Sounders soccer camp I can't wait for." He clapped his hands together, "By then a coach will recruit me and I'll be out of here."

Alexander sat absent looking out the window and made a wishful smirk, can't wait for that to happen.

Olemilia in an inquisitive manner asked, "I could help, but isn't it expensive to get there?"

"That's right it is ..." He sat back and rubbed the back of his neck, "I'll figure it out."

She looked over and saw Alexander uninterested. An etched smile came to her face and she nudged his arm. "So what will be your project for Mr. Langley," she asked.

He shrugged and answered, “I figured I’d do it on the Alki lighthouse.”

“You mean the run down tower every tourist leaves town after seeing,” Arnold assumed in a snark way. “Why’d you pick that of all places?”

Alexander darted his eyes back at Arnold. ''This bloody bugger, what do you care what I pick for my history project? You probably can't even spell lighthouse.'' "The lighthouse has a lot of histories in it," moving his eyes back toward the window, "which makes it an ideal history project," he contested.

He picked up on Alexander’s degrading tone, “Well, I guess it makes sense for you to pick it then,” remarking on Alexander being stuck-up.

“If you want Olemilia you can help too,” Alexander appealingly offered.

“Um,” glanced at Alexander, and then back on the road. “Sure I’ll help I suppose,” she replied hesitant with the last words.

Time passed and the downpour became a light trickle. Alexander entered his home, dropped his backpack and sat on the floor against the door. His face became sullen, “He may have forgotten what happened three years ago. But I haven’t and I know I never will...”

Alexander had been inside a small, dark place with little light coming through the slits. He had struck the wall in front and begged for freedom, but had stuttered too much to be understood. Finally, his way out was opened and he fell from the locker.

Alexander laid there and looked up haunted at the students laughing. Arnold had a sardonic smirk as he and the others mocked him, for having his pants around his ankles. Coming out from the crowd, Eathan’s eyes had widened seeing Alexander laying there. Frowning at the people around Alexander, he had gone over to help him up and the two had run away.

Suddenly Alexander heard a drop of water hit the kitchen floor, startling him out of his recollection. He stood up putting his backpack on and then opted to get started on his project. He went by the kitchen and saw the leak nearly dried. Guess the rains did cause the leak. Alexander re-positioned his backpack's left shoulder strap and went upstairs.

That evening Alexander was in his room working on his history project from his laptop. The TV was on across from him showing the Ch.4 King Five News. The top story being broadcast by the blond anchor woman is of a death in Alexander's neighborhood.

''Tragic news in Alki this evening a report just in, a body has been found within Elliot Bay. The body retrieved from the water was identified to be the bank manager who disappeared a month ago. Sources tell us she had been caught by the seaweed and strangled herself.''

''The police that are investigating the scene gave no comment to whether this death is related to the disappearances of two more people from western Seattle or not. A reporter of ours asked Lt. Xavier Moss who investigated Eathan Viser's death, are these victims more of the killers work or something else. He had this to tell us.''

The screen switched over to video footage of a police press conference on a brusque, dark haired man at the podium.

''There was no correlating evidence connecting the incident to what happened a year ago. We have not yet established whether this woman’s cause of death was homicide or suicide. I will answer no more questions on the matter.''

Alexander's eyes trained more at his laptop screen than the broadcast, but he did overhear the news story. He shuddered at another victim found in Alki and got distracted thinking of the killer.

Within that moment he heard a tapping noise as if something was hitting a window. Alexander jumps from his seat; his heart rate became fast resembling wing beats of a bird trapped in a cage. His eyes darted around trying to locate the noise. He overheard another tap and froze realizing it was at his window.

Alexander went toward his closet with footsteps like a rabbit in the snow. Taking out a baseball bat he had from the time he was twelve, he motioned toward his window reciting instructions. Don't panic, just assess what's at the window and react.

The silence felt unnerving to him as his breath became deeper. Gripping his bat tighter, he pulled back the curtain with his left hand. Alexander heard the tapping, his eyebrows slanted downward, and he peered through the glass. His eyes soon softened at seeing an overgrown tree branch tapping his window.

"Huh, just a tree," he said lowering his bat and catching his breath. Alexander sat on his bed putting his bat under the box spring. He fell back and laid thinking over the therapy he skipped as he closed his eyes. Dad won't go for me abandoning another commitment.

Alexander opened his eyes and sat up remembering his unfinished project. He went over to his laptop and sat in front of it, realizing he needed permission from Igia Viser to enter the lighthouse. He started typing away the email he was going to send.

On a rainy Wednesday afternoon, Alexander was walking up to the large Viser manor holding his body. A strong wind thundered down the street, dispersing the rain into a silvery mist. Walking onto the porch he rapped forcefully at the door. While he waited, he saw how immaculate the yard is even after the storms this month. He imagined the yard stayed virtually unaffected by the watery cascade.

In time the door soon opened to Igia Viser a woman with straight, long raven black hair, a fair complexion and bright blue eyes. Seeing his drenched exterior took her aback at first glance, "Alexander, my word."

Alexander forced a childish smile embarrassed by his condition and replied, “Hi, Mrs. Viser.”

Igia invited him inside saying, "Come in dear." After closing the door, she retrieved his jacket and put it in the coat closet, “Is your mother aware you were coming over today?"

Alexander shook his head in denial, "No, just a quick visit."

"Dear if I knew you were coming over I'd have come to get you," she claimed.

He looked at her with disbelief, "You didn't get my email yesterday?"

"My eldest son constantly implores I start reading those more often," fondly smiling at the thought. "I never got into that whole thing though."

"It doesn't matter. I was hoping you could, well," scratching his head, "allow me inside the lighthouse," his lips tightened waiting for her response.

She quizzically looked at him, “The tours are not scheduled until July, so what’s the reason?”

Alexander leaned on his left hip, “We have this project assigned to us in class and I need private access to it.” He moved a few steps closer to impress as if his physical presence portrayed his seriousness. “Normally I wouldn’t ask this, but I need the information to obtain the credits to intern at the historical society.”

Arms folded Igia looked away from him. Alexander stood there somewhat apprehensive, waiting for an answer. She looked back toward him, "I see no problem with that, but it will have to be two days after tomorrow," she permitted.

Alexander's eyebrows narrowed as his gaze shifted over toward the right. He cogitated on why she postponed the visit to that late in the week. "Oh, that's fine I guess," he replied.

"Three thirty in the afternoon then," she stated as she went to get Alexander's jacket. After Igia gave him his jacket he put it on, and then she showed him out. He heard her voice echo in the outside air wishing him well. Alexander waved his left hand back as he walked home.

On April 27th it was a very dull and sodden day. The tides on Alki beach gushed forth on the sands and not one avian in sight. The silver linings were dim as the clouds thickened. A noise of deep reverberation went through the sky.

Olemilia had driven herself and Alexander to the beach. They walked toward the lighthouse wearing their hoods. Upon approaching the construct, Alexander saw Mrs. Viser conversing with someone under the porch canopy to his dismay. He sighed deeply and muttered indistinct words at seeing Arnold.

Arnold could make out two people coming up to the entrance and went to meet them. "Hey Alex, y-y-you made it," slapping Alexander on the back in jest.

Arnold,” Olemilia sighed, putting her hand to her forehead.

Alexander gave Arnold wry looks, ''of course he’d be here. The bastard that got all the others to harass me all through school. Arnold stood there with that idiotic smirk'' Alexander despised for years.

Olemilia stepped between them. "I can explain this Alex, Arnold has been staying with me," she claimed. "The reason he's here is because I allowed him to be part of our project. He just needed time away from his father for a few nights."

Alexander could not believe what he had heard. He knew she wouldn't lie to him about this considering how long they have been friends, but she knew how he felt towards Arnold.

He was ready to tell Arnold off, when Igia approached them and said,"I hope everything is all right."

Alexander chose not to make a scene in front of Igia and would tolerate Arnold best he could for now. He forced himself and made a sincere smile, "Everything's fine Mrs. Viser."

Arnold put his right arm around Alexander's shoulders, "Just peachy between us, right Alex." Igia raised an eyebrow to their claim. She observed their demeanor and then lead them to the lighthouse. Alexander moved the arm off of his shoulders and went ahead.

At the main door of the lighthouse, after Igia unlocked it they all quickly went inside. Alexander, Olemilia and Arnold looked around the Victorian style interior, while Igia locked the door.

They all removed their coats and placed them at the coat hooks. The four of them spent hours in the lighthouse. During that time Igia would show them around and explained the history of the lighthouse.

"On June 1st, 2013 the lighthouse celebrated 100 years of helping keep Puget Sound mariners safe," she stated. "Much of the early Alki Point lighthouse equipment has been preserved in good condition for the public to view. There is a 4th order Fresnel Lens the same size as the original lens in the lighthouse." Alexander took shots of what she showed them. Olemilia eagerly listened to the in-depth history and Arnold went along uninterested.

Within that hour the downpour became worse as the four of them were now in the main foyer. Alexander spotted a unique lantern hung on the wall hook. He focused his phone's camera and took a picture of it. In doing so, he saw a brief glare go by the screen and then the sound of thunder followed. He adjusted his phone's brightness, "Must have been a flash from the lightning outside."

Minutes went by; Arnold walked a few inches forward and stepped onto a loose part of floor and called out, "Hey, check out this floor.” Olemilia, Alexander and Igia came over and saw what he found. Igia did not seem pleased at Arnold as she began to tell them, "I see you found the door to the cellar," politely imploring him to get off it.

Alexander was curious to see all the history the cellar held within and asked Igia, "You don't mind if we take a look in it?" Igia stoically replied, "I am afraid you can’t.” She went on to explain, “With the faulty lighting and it cluttered with priceless antiques, you three might get hurt.”

All of a sudden a loud thud was heard by everyone. Startled by the unexpected noise Igia caught her breath and glanced over to the threshold. Alexander had dropped his phone thinking a cannon blast hit something, but thankfully caught it and said, "Bloody hell! What was that?"

Being equally startled by the sound, Olemilia fixed her glasses. “It sounded like it came from upstairs.”

Arnold who jumped at the noise and trembled a bit agreed, “Y-Yeah upstairs.”

Igia addressed their misgivings with a calm demeanor, "The noise is nothing to worry about. Wait here while I go check." Igia walked away leaving them in the main foyer.

After waiting close to ten minutes, Alexander felt stagnate waiting for Igia to come back, and wanted something to interest himself. “Well I’m going to take a look around,” he said to himself.

Olemilia smiled at hearing him and humored herself saying, “Don’t go too far in case she comes back.”

Alexander left the foyer and explored the main floor. He sensed a sudden foreboding atmosphere within a hallway, this feeling frightened him. Finding a corridor with a staircase halfway down its path he concluded, "This place has changed since Ms. Viser took over. It's like a mansion now."

Near the end of the hall Alexander came across a dark study. He flipped on the light switch by the doorway and could see a magnificent room with a bookcase against the wall, a sofa and a table with an antique mirror on it. Alexander explored the room seeing the painted portraits of the Viser ancestors.

Soon he came near the table, and spotted a small framed picture of two kids. Picking up the picture he recognized the two in the image, "This is Eathan close to his older brother as kids." Alexander put the frame down and noticed slight gleams behind the mirror. He glanced downward behind it spotting a black, obscurely designed key tapped to the back.

Wanting to get a better look he snapped it off it's tape. He tilted his head a bit observing the queer key, what kind of key is this? It doesn't look like any key I've seen in books. Believing it to be an antique he stuffed the key away in his other back pocket. As soon as he left the room he bumped into Arnold at the doorway. "Seriously, now you're following me," he said with a scowl.

Arnold threw his hands up and stepped back from him, "Whoa calm down. I just wanted to say something before you wondered off."

Alexander didn't think Arnold was going to say anything decent, "Well what is it?"

Arnold looked down and off to the side frowning, "Don't blame Olemilia, I begged her to let me come, so I can say I'm sorry for all the things I’ve done to you.” He looked back at him, “I'm actually grateful you tolerated me tagging along.”

Alexander's eyes narrowed in disapproval. Glancing off to the side he believed, this can't be true can it. Suddenly Olemilia came around the corner end of the hall. She saw them and ran toward their direction.

"I wondered where you both got off to," relieved to see them. "Any sign of Mrs. Viser?"

Arnold shrugged, "Nah, she's probably still upstairs," he assumed.

Olemilia glanced behind herself, "I wonder if something happened. That thud sounded big."

Arnold raised his hand up to volunteer, "I'll go see what's taking her so long.”

Alexander did not think Arnold would find his way back to the main foyer on account of the size of the mansion. "I can do it. Plus I know how to get back to the foyer faster."

Olemilia and Arnold agreed and went to wait in the main foyer. Alexander went down the corridor from earlier, finding the stairs again and went up them. Nearly halfway up the stairs Alexander could overhear a voice talking. He believed it to be Igia, but she sounded softer as if talking to an infant.

What he heard confused him, "... will get fixed and no louder incidents will occur." Alexander's face was quizzical from trying to understand what she meant.

Alexander came further up the stairs and saw her in front of a black door. Her right hand gripped the knob as if she were about to close it. He could see her reach into her pocket and take out a strange black key. Alexander peered closer to get a glimpse of what was inside the room, but in doing so lost his footing and slipped.

Igia hearing the thud quickly locked the door. She put the key back in her pocket and went over toward the stairs. Realizing she was in front of him he hesitantly rose up and spoke out, “Um, Mrs. Viser.” She saw his fallen state and showed embarrassment, “Oh, forgive my delay dear. I’ll be down shortly.”

Alexander wanted to ask what she was talking about earlier, but didn’t want to sound intrusive. "It's okay," he replied successfully being casual as if he saw and overheard nothing. He turned around heading back downstairs.

Back in the foyer, Igia met Alexander and the others, "I trust you got everything you needed.” At first Alexander did not hear her, his thoughts were focused on that room behind the black door. Noticing Alexander distracted Igia asked, "If you all need to I can bring you back here tomorrow."

Alexander heard her this time, "Huh, I-I-I think we got enough," catching his stutter.

Noticing how late it was getting from the window Igia suggested, "We should leave before nightfall." Alexander and the others agreed it was time to leave.

Outside the lighthouse, Alexander and Olemilia walked together with Arnold behind them heading for her car. Igia looked up at the lighthouse and then stepped back. Moving her right hand over her heart, she looked down in mourning then turned away calmly and left.

That evening, an enigmatic figure was skulking around the lighthouse. He used a hairpin and small knife to break the lock. Once inside the lean framed figure removed his hood and took out a cell phone using its flashlight to pierce the darkness. "Olemilia would kill me for this,” Arnold said.

He walked over toward the cellar door and crouched before it, "Whatever is down here though, is going to be my ticket to a better life and away from that drunk at home." He lifted the door and went in.

Down in the cellar, he was in awe at the collection, "Man this place is loaded!" He walked around observing all the antiques. Arnold then heard a trickle, he aimed his cell phone around and spotted a leak at the upper right wainscot. Ignoring it he began picking through the antiques for the most valuable.

After finding nothing he believed to be valuable, his cell phone suddenly vibrated. He saw a message and pulled it up. A box popped up with a question asking, "Eathan suffocated?" Along with two, answer boxes "Yes," in the right box and "No," in the left box.

Without a second thought he deleted the e-mail, "Nice try with a joke e-mail jackass.” The email erased itself, but suddenly the cellar door slammed shut. Startled by the sound he jumped dropping his phone, "Whoa!” Picking up his phone shaken, he saw the closed cellar door and hissed, "I can't believe my damned luck." Arnold went toward the ladder leading up to the door and climbed up.

He reached the door and struck it repeatedly, "Oh, come on!" Unsuccessful, he climbed down the ladder and stepped back onto the floor. A message came in on his phone, he saw it was the same one like before. His brow arched inward, "Who the hell is this?”

His phone's light began to flicker, Arnold shuts it off and looked around the room expecting to see someone, but still found nothing. Trying to turn his phone's light back on, but failing, he soon heard more dripping accompanied by a grotesque gurgle.

Arnold desperately darted his eyes around finding no one. Suddenly he looked up and saw a dark mass attached to the ceiling hanging over him. His face adopted horror as the dark liquid melted off, revealing a head staring down at him. Arnold's distressed scream echoed throughout the cellar and then feebly fell into silence.

A week went by and the rains lessened. Word of the disappearances spread around town like wildfire. Even at the beauty shop in the Uptown area, where talk became more rampant of the incidents.

A middle aged woman sitting in the second stylist chair was talking about Arnold with another woman dressed in formal clothing. The owner Kelly Diana became irritated by chatter, "I swear you two are the most gossiping people. What if his parents walked in and heard you."

At that time, the bell at the front door had rung as the door opened. It was Olemilia coming into the beauty shop, wearing the store uniform of black khaki pants and a white buttoned up dress shirt. “Sorry I’m late Ms. Diana.”

“It’s all right just get started on her,” ordered Kelly. “I’ll work on this one.

Olemilia went toward the back room and quickly put her things away. She went over to a formal dressed woman and asked, “Do you want the usual style or something else this time?”

"The usual this time around," the woman replied. "By the way, how's that writing coming along?"

She began styling the woman's hair, "Well I finished the story and sent it off to a publisher." Olemilia reached back to get a comb, "Hopefully they will accept my story."

The middle aged woman leaned out a bit from her seat, "You know the woman they found near Elliot Bay, they identified her as that Arnold boy's mother."

Olemilia focused on the gossip after hearing it was Arnold's mother. She glanced up at her boss's annoyed expression and went back at her client's hair, quietly listening.

The formal dressed woman shook her head, "I can only imagine what her husband is going through. It's no wonder we don't see him volunteering at church much anymore."

"That still don't write him off as the culprit in my book," the middle aged woman stated.

The bell chimed again and this time Olemilia and Alexander’s substitute history teacher Jack Langley came in. He approached Kelly, put his left arm around her waist and quickly kissed her on the cheek, “Hey, how’s work going?”

Kelly gave him a warm smile, “It’s going fine Jack.” She stopped and faced him, “Not that I’m complaining, but why are you here?” Jack put his hands in his pocket, “Well besides to see you, I came by to speak with her.” He pointed over to Olemilia with his right thumb.

Going back to styling hair, "All right, but make do it quickly, I know how you get carried away talking."

Jack patted Kelly on her side and went over to Olemilia. Focused on her work she did not bother to look up at him. "I have to talk to you can you spare a minute," he asked.

Olemilia looked up at him with a quizzical stare, "What about?" Jack leaned in close enough so no one could overhear, "It's important."

Pausing on her work, "I'll be back soon." Kelly gave an approving nod, Olemilia followed Jack to the back rooms. Once there he closed the door while she leaned on her right hip, "If this is about my written screenplay, I'm sure Alex could carry the scene better without me."

"It's not that, it's about Arnold. I'm hoping you've seen him," he answered. Jack put his hands in his pocket, "I've been trying to contact his father, but I never reached him."

Olemilia peered off to the side with suspicion on her face, "That's strange, I saw him a week ago at the lighthouse." She looked back at Jack hopeful, "Did you ask Ms. Diana?"

Taken back by her suggestion he replied, "Kelly? She'd just think it's gossip." He fixed his jacket, "Besides, now I'm questioning their motivations."

Appealing to the officer's better nature, "They are still looking for Eathan's killer, so I'm sure they're doing all they can."

"Heh, we'll see," scoffing them off. "Anyway I know you stopped participating in plays after Eathan's death, but try to give it another shot. I'll see you around."

As Jack left Olemilia gave a solemn frown, "I'd rather just write the scripts." She followed Jack out and went back to work.

In the upper area of Alki, Alexander rode the bus going toward the city district. After exiting the bus, he went up the street and entered a bike shop. Alexander approached the front counter and stood before a clerk. He signaled to the clerk with his left hand, “I’m here for my bike I left here two weeks ago.”

The clerk came over and brought up the log book on the computer. He read down a list of names and paused at one, “And your name is Alexander Renbauld right?”

"That's me," he assured him. Alexander showed the clerk his receipt of the day he brought his bike in. He held it out for the clerk to clearly see, "The mechanic said it would be ready by now." He gave the receipt over to the clerk. After it was verified on the computers log, the clerk gave the receipt back.

The clerk went to check on Alexander's bike. In the meantime Alexander looked around at the apparel being promoted. Most of which he owned or seen before. As he looked around, he could overhear two girls around his age he guessed, talking about the recent strange events.

One girl mentioned that a few days ago where she had seen her neighbor leave to work. She claimed when she came back home the neighbor was still gone. Alexander rolled his eyes. When the topic changed to Arnold he tuned them out. Alexander continued his perusing when a sudden chirp echoed in the shop.

He reached into his back cargo shorts pocket and looked at his phone. A message came in from an unknown source. Opening the message he saw it asking "Eathan suffocated?" with two answer boxes below.

Alexander's grip tightened around his phone as searched over it confused. Alexander went to delete the message believing whoever sent it is sick in the head.

The clerk came back to the counter and addressed Alexander before he could delete the message. "Sorry about that, we're a little short-handed today," the clerk apologized.

Alexander stopped and turned to face the clerk, "It's no trouble." he replied with a polite smile. He put his phone back in his pocket and ignored the message.

The clerk explained how his bike is ready, but not here. He offered to deliver Alexander's bike instead. Alexander looked blinking at the clerk by how helpful he was being. "Uh, thanks..." He turned away from the counter and started to leave.

Outside the shop Alexander walked down the sidewalk. He almost forgot about that message he received and reached for his phone to see it again. He opened the message and went for the delete icon again. However, he stopped and stood leaned on his left hip. ''Whoever sent this is twisted in the head. Although I should answer and save it that way I can track his IP address later. That sounds good.''

Alexander answered the question tapping the "Yes" box and then for no explicable reason the message erased itself. His eyes widened witnessing that. Alexander looked back into his in-box and saw all his messages erased. Whatever happened to the messages he was relieved, but worried at what caused the mass deletion. He put his phone away and continued walking trying to forget the occurrence.

A half hour went by and Alexander was on the bus heading home. He sat by the window with a free seat next to him. Putting his earphones on, he looked over and saw a child sitting next to his mother. Alexander sat back looking at the people on the bus and then stared out the window.

The ride made Alexander doze off for a time, when a loud slam was heard. Alexander sat up, his eyes focused to the front of the bus. Everything appeared the same, so he looked behind him and to the side. No one on the bus seemed to have heard that sound or they were ignoring it.

He sat back again and glanced over at the kid hitting the seat with his hands playfully. Alexander gathered the boy was listening to music too. The bus stopped at a streetlight, Alexander tapped his foot to the song. All of a sudden the music ceased and a distorted gasp was heard.

His eyebrows knitted close together as he removed his earphones. He looked at the kid again who now sat quietly, so Alexander looked over toward his left. His stare froze and mouth gaped at seeing a wraith like face in the window. Alexander's eyes darted around to see if others saw what he did.

No one seemed aware of it; he then looked back and saw nothing. He did however, see a grimy, black hand-print on the outside of the window. Alexander got up and sat in the vacant seat ahead, wary of that window.

At home Alexander went up to his room and closed his door. He sat on his bed and ran his left hand through his hair shaking, periodically glancing at his window. He took a deep breath and took out his cell phone. Skimming through the pictures trying to distract himself, he noticed the lighthouse photos were missing.

Staring blindly at his phone he fell back on his bed, arms splayed out and gazed at the ceiling, "Sigh, now I need to retake them." Alexander called Igia to ask permission. However, he could only get her voice mail. He left her a message and hoped she would get it.

He sat up thinking about the image he saw on the bus and looked at the black key he left on his desk. His phone unexpectedly rung, he checked it and saw it is his mother and answered, "Hello."

"Hey, did you need a ride to the cemetery today," she offered.

Shaking his head in refusal, "I'm kind of busy with school work. I'll visit Eathan another time."

"Just checking in case I had to leave the office early. Talk to you later, bye."

"Bye," he replied ending the call. A shadow went past Alexander making him glance at the window again. Unsure at what it was he left his room in haste.

(I know this is annoying constantly looking at this, sorry. I am however, grateful for all the paitence and advice I've been given).  