MysteriousFlowerField436: It’s funny everyone thinks this is only happening in Forkfield.
Badgeofthestorm113: Do you know another town that’s had similar deaths? Because if you do, maybe we can connect them somehow.
MysteriousFlowerField436: The question should be, what towns don’t have their lies and deceit? However, if you’re looking for a specific town, try searching for towns locatednorth of Forkfield, particularly those situated in the middle of the woods.
Badgeofthestorm113: That description fits many towns.
MysteriousFlowerField436: True. But you say you’re an officer, so you should be able to figure it out. No crime can be wiped entirely clean unless you get rid of all the weeds. And that’s never possible. Weeds always grow back.
The officer doesn’t respond, and that conversation happened over a month ago.
Strange, but even more strange is the nameMysteriousFlowerField436. I could be overthinking, reaching too far, basing the assumption on hope. But I can’t help but think of Clover. Flowers and Clover. And Camilla said Clover hid her secrets in the daisies. Maybe this girl in the thread is Camilla. Perhaps she’s the girl pretending to be Clover.
Or if I’m being my totally crazy self, maybe this is Clover.
I’m seriously losing my mind, but there’s no going back now. I may regret what I do later, but I might not.
I create an account, using an alias and creating the handlerrunnermountaingurl387:
Then I type a reply:
runnermountaingurl387: Is the town you’re referring to Star Meadows? Do you know what happens in the woods out there?
It might be a risky move, but I’m learning that playing it safe isn’t always the best way to get answers.
It’s how secrets stay buried.
28
AVA
Meditation doesn’t help Clara remember more details about the night at the bar. I didn’t really expect it to, though. Whoever carved this on my flesh didn’t want anyone to know who did it. They drugged my drink and could’ve done the same thing to Clara.
Once I show Clara my response to the thread, she suggests we turn on that movie. She’s freaked out. So am I. And I can’t shake the feeling that we’re being watched, even with all of the curtains drawn closed.
We’re about halfway through the movie when Bailey starts growling. At first, it’s just a few low rumbles, but then he hops off the sofa and walks over to the front door with his hair standing on end.
“Ava,” Clara whispers as she pulls her blanket tighter around her. “What is he doing?”
“Something’s scaring him.” I pause the movie and scoot to the edge of the sofa, looking at Bailey. “It could be an animal outside.”
It’s not a lie. Star Meadows has an array of wildlife, ranging from bears to mountain lions, to moose, elk, and deer.
“How do we find out?” Clara asks worriedly. “Because I sure as hell don’t think we should open that door.”
I start to get up. “I’ll peek out the window.”
She grabs my arm. “You can’t peek out the window. If it’s a person, they’ll see you.”
“If it’s a person, they probably already know we’re in here,” I tell her. “We need to see who or what it is, because if someone is out there…” I trail off.
If someone is out there, I can’t call the police, not after what I witnessed today, how they covered up a crime. I could call Ellis, but I’d wake him up. He did tell me before I left that if something bad happens, to call him even if it’s in the middle of the night.
I pick up my phone from off the table. “If someone’s out there, I’ll call Ellis. But I need to check.”
She gives an uncertain nod then releases my arm. “Just… Please be careful.”
I nod, then with my phone clutched in my hand, I pad over to the window beside the door where Bailey is growling and snarling.
