The Darkness comes hunted

Chapter Four: Heart of Darkness

Riding out from Lakewood High, to escape reality and heading back to his own imaginary world of Lakewood, Cole heading to the south side of town, pull up, and sitting down in a booth at his favorite Arcade game place, Cole pulls out his laptop from his side bag, open up his diary word app and continues writing about what happened in this town since the day the Bulldog disappear.

"Sometimes, I felt like this town was cursed, bad things always happen to the people of Lakewood, never understand why?... Back to the tragedy that happens right now in Lakewood, Oregon, it has been 5 weeks since the disappearance of the Bulldog team and a week since the discovery of Lakewood's very own crown prince, Nathan Prescott's body, but his and the other team member death are not the first, nor would it be the last casualty that the town of Lakewood would suffer, with Captain Hopper knocking on every door, and neighbor suspecting neighbor, it not gonna end anytime soon. every day that passes is becoming more like Salem during the witch trial, and meanwhile, the girl next door. our friendly neighborhood Hitchcock blond, Betty Wheeler was wrestling with the knowledge that her Ex-Boyfriend and my best friend, Mike Sinclair was caught up in a mess that he shouldn't be involved with in the first place."

The doorbell at the Wipeout Arcade and Cafe rings, Betty, Jimmy, and Mason come in through the door, trying to find their friend, Cole that has been avoiding them since afternoon."

"Cole, my man, we been trying to find you all afternoon, didn't know you also knew about this place too, not gonna lie man, this place always has the energy and the vibe that can cure all my sadness and loneliness,"

"Yeah, man me too, but if you don't mind I need my "Me---"....Betty what are you doing here? and Hi to you too, Jimmy?" Said Cole looking at Jimmy and Betty standing behind Mason, while Betty and Cole try to avoid each other eyes contact, but in Betty's heart she really wants to fix all of this drama-mess and go back into Cole's life but not as boyfriend-girlfriend, but on the other hand, Cole's think that he and Betty still can work out their problem and be together again.

"Can we sit with you, Cole, if you don't mind?"

"Yeah--yeah sure, have a sit ?"

"What are you writing there, Cole?"

"An article about the mysterious kidnap and murder of the Bulldog Football team, and I'm trying to find more information about this case but the police station keeps dodging my call all weeks."

"Ohh, Did you hear the news?"

"Hear what, Jimmy?"

"They just found another body at Lakewood abandon cinema, this time it Toni Lopez."

"Ohh, Jezz, same scar and marking on the body."

"Yeah, 3 claws on the back and a bite to the neck, it the same the Kill MO, but I still don't understand why Nathan kill is different from the other, a bullet to the head, Jezz!"

"Yeah still trying to connect the dot about that too, but Thanks, Jimmy for the update, but if you got anything new from your father give me a text, Okay?"

"You got it, Colie."

"So about this afternoon, Cole?"

"I'll--- I'll try my best to get over it, Betty, don't need you to worry about me?"

"Okay, I'm sorry, again, Cole, but can we still be best friends like before, Please?"

"Yeah-yeah we can, if you cool about it, I'm also cool about it, don't worry"

"Now forget Lakewood mysterious murder, as the godfather of indie cinema, Quentin Tarantino, likes to say--"

"Please, God, --- Jimmy, no more Quentin Tarantino references."

"What!! Why? I'm pissed right now, and not just about my family drama bullshit, but about the town, they are now planning to close the drive-in, the only cinema left in town, what is Mayor Blossom thinking?"

"In this age of Netflix and the Internet, do people really want to watch a movie in a car? I mean, who even goes there?

"People who want to buy c***k, popcorn, sitting in their comfortable car seat and relax, Jimmy, right Bett?"

Back at Betty Her mind still thinking about a way to fix her relationship with Cole and didn't pay any attention to what Mason and Jimmy has been arguing for the last 30 minutes, Bett just went along with it" Yeah totally,"

"Anyway, even me and the other has been protesting about the closing of the drive-in on Twitter all week, The Mayor still decide to close it anyway, because someone give Mayor Blossom a s**t ton of money for him to sell that chunk of land to Pharmaceutical company call Merrick Biotech, to build their research lab there."

"A research Lab? here in Lakewood? a town with a population of 20,000, I don't think it a good idea for their company and their stocks price"

"Yeah, I never agree on something with Jimmy, but he brings up a good point here? and what kind of medical s**t are they making anyway, Drug?"

"Let's me search it, ... In here it said Merrick Biotech is a Pharmaceutical company founded in 2000 and is part of The Merrick Enterprises founded by Martin Merrick, based in Chicago. and it also said Merrick Enterprises had influence in the production and sale of cosmetics, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, industrial machine production, consumer products, health foods, the transportation industry, and tourism,"

"Well that a big f*****g company, but why are they building a research lab here of all the place in America."

"I mean it obvious, you build a research lab where there are not a lot of people live near it, it the perfect a place to hide all of your dirty little experiment, don't you think?"

"I'm gonna stop you right there, Betty,...This one article was public 2 years ago, it said...Merrick Enterprise is losing a lot of money and market share to its competitor in the sports energy drink and boost drug sector,... do you see the pattern here guys?

"Yeah, the Drive-in sent out the closing announcement, 1 week before the disappearance of the Football team."

"I don't see anything related here, Jimmy."

"Duhhh, a multi-million dollar Sport boosting drug company decides to set up shop and build a research lab here, the same month our football team mysteriously disappear without a clue, see the pattern now, new drug need someone to test it, and the perfect person to test it is ...?"

"The one who plays the sport, our football team."

"Ting Ting Ting, see, now I'm gonna start digging up all of this new biotech company dirty secret and blow it up sky-high for the public to see."

"Do you mind we join your little detective adventure, Cole?"

"You all welcome, and if you have any information, you know where to find me."

All the teen put their hand on each other hands and swore an oath to not keep secrets from each other from now on, but Mason seem little off about this little detective thing, he seem to know more about this new pharmaceutical company than he tell the other,

after a long night of research and discussing, the teen decides to call it a day and went on their separate way to go home and get a good night sleep.

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Morning comes up, the sunlight shining through the peaceful wood of Lakewood, Oregon.

A Bell of Lakewood High starts to ring when a clock hits 8:00 am, calling the student to their classroom, Meanwhile, the little detective squad of Lakewood high still standing in the hallway waiting for other members of their group to come.

"Where the hell is Mason? it's 8:10 AM already...we should go, Betty, I think he is sick today?"

"Really, Jimmy, he seems fine yesterday?"

" it Mason we talking about, maybe food-allergic from last night or he just want to skip school for a day, who knows..... we must go to class right now, Betty, I don't want Principle Parker getting on my nerves and call to my dad again? the last time he called, my dad busting me around all weeks, I don't want that nightmare to happen again, ever"

"I agree with Jimmy here, Betty, we should go, he gonna be fine, it's not the first time Mason missed school, you know how he operates?"

"Yeah, let's go then, sorry to keep your guys waiting with me."

Before Betty, Jimmy and Cole can walk to their classroom, Principle Parker walks out from his office and stops them.

"You three, my office now!"

"Now that just f*****g great!"

The three students walking behind Principle Parker back into his office with a worried face and shaking hand, sitting across his desk, is Captain Hopper standing beside Principle Parker, he looks really serious while holding a police file in his hand.

"May I ask, why are we here principle Parker?"

"I summoned you three here on the request of Captain Hopper, I want you to three provide any information about the whereabouts of your friend and my student, Mason Blossom to Captain, if you any, consider you three are the last people to see him left dinner."

"Mason consider missing, it not been 24hours yet and beside you know Mason, he's a trainwreck, just wait another hour, he will be home by then."

"Yeah, Cole, I'll try to tell that to the Mayor too, but he said his son never late or missed their annual family tradition ceremony, ever."

"Oh this year, he gets tired of his family ceremony BS and takes a day off, who knows?"

"Okay you three can go now, but if any of you have any information about Mason's whereabouts or saw him somewhere around the town, CALL me ASAP, you understand."

"Sir, Yes sir." The three all rush out of the office and decide to skip their class for the day and go straight to the parking lot.

Right at the parking lot, Jimmy stop, and have a second thought, about this whole conspiracy that Cole just cook up after their discussion with the Captain.

"Do you really think Merrick Biotech is behind Mason missing? and why him and not us, and how did they know that we investigated them, I mean we just start investigating them last night?"

"There is only one way to find out?"

"And what is that, Betty?"

"Mason's room, I think he knows more about Merrick Biotech than he tells us, I think his family is also part of the Merrick's Drug empire."

"And why is that? and first of all, they have two completely different last names to start it off with."

"Yeah yeah about that, last night after I got home from the Arcade, I do a little more digging and I found this, Martin Merrick is Manila Blossom’s brother, Mason Mother.”

"What, when are you gonna plan to tell us this, Cole?"

"I'm planning to tell you guys this afternoon, jeez."

"Okay, that a good theory you got there, Cole, but do you think Mason knows about this too, I mean his family connection with the Merrick?"

"I think he does, after I bring up Marrick Enterprises, I noticed that his facial expression change 360' instantly, and there is only one way to find out, it's his bedroom."

"Okay, I already regretting this...breaking into Blosson estate with Cole Walker and Jimmy Hopper, can't believe it happening?"

"Don't worry, Betty Bet, I'm gonna get you out in one piece."

Before the teen can leave the school parking lot, A classic red Porsche 911 Carrera RS pull up, It's Mason Blossom setting next to Valentina Prescott in his car.

"Hey, Lad, where are you guys going, don't you have school?"

"Don't you? You, Dad, worried sick, dummy, he even asks Captian Hopper to declare you as missing?"

"Yeah, Mason, we been worried too, where have you been all night?"

"Ohh, sorry Betty, that I got you worried after I leave the Arcade with you guys, Valentina texts me she all alone in her house and she needs someone to stay with her, so gentlemen like I am, I accompany her for the night?"

"Jesus, At least call your parent.... and I am not gonna lie I thought you had been kidn*pped, asshat?"

"Don't you worry, Colie, I'm not gonna go down that easily?"

"Alright big guys, don't forget to come to school this afternoon, we have something to talk to you about?"

Mason winks his right eyebrow at Cole's as an "I see you this afternoon" sign and then drifts the parking lot annoying the other and before blasting off with Valentina in "Maxine Mason" kind of way.