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hiramaris · 2 years

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Dusk til Dawn

Part 4

Summary: Following Episode 9. And spoilers for Episode 10.

Author’s note: As Episode 10 is just released I just want to say heads up for those who are not yet finished. Completing the game without spoilers really made a difference, and as much as possible I want everyone to experience that. And for those finished, I’ll gladly welcome you to my domain where MC took a different route.

Disclaimer: I do not own Duskwood or any of the related characters. Duskwood is created by and owned by Everbyte Studio. This fanfiction is intended for entertainment only. I am not making any profit from this story. All rights of the original Duskwood story belong to Everbyte Studio.

Warning: Mentions of blood, suicide, violence, pedophiles, drugs, gun, murder, sex offenders, kidnapping

Gif by @hallmarkmovie

Cleo: Oh my gosh

Damn.

The gravity of the situation hit you like a ton of bricks.

Of course, it is real but hearing Hannah for the first time just made this whole scenario even more real. And she's alive! This shit for brains took and hid her somewhere in the forest.

You tried to focus on the audio, finding something, anything that could indicate where he took her. But suddenly you're unable to hear her anymore. It is almost like her cries are being drowned out by something like some sort of static, a heavy rain, or like water running, perhaps a stream. It technically sounds like white noise but louder.

Dan: What’s this? Cleo: Something is breaking up the connection! You: Damn! Bad timing Dan: Do something hackerman! Jake: I can try filtering out the noise. Lilly: Hurry up!

You're not sure what Jake did but within seconds, the sound becomes even more distorted and indistinguishable with a mixture of high- and low-pitched sounds, it was fizzy and sounded almost like when you're finding a signal for a radio station, but another radio station transmits the same frequency that causes it to overlap. One thing you guarantee is it's not pleasant to the ears but after a moment, clarity soon comes in.

"The noise is gone," you whispered. You can now hear Hannah once again.

Dan: What the hell is he doing to her?! Lilly: I don’t want to hear this You: I’m sorry, Ly You can turn it off. Let us handle it

Soon after you said that, the sound suddenly becomes inaudible until you can't hear anything no more. And then you got kicked out from the server.

"We got kicked out!" Jessy exclaimed.

You: What happened? Jake: We have lost the connection.

Just as you feared. You haven't even gotten to fully get any valuable information, aside from hearing Hannah suffer from whatever Hanson did to her. It's fucking unbearable.

Cleo: Can you get it running again, Jake? Jake: I will try. Give me a few minutes. Jessy: Okay

"I guess we're going to have to wait." Jessy breathed out, clearly disturbed by what she had listened to.

"Jake's got this." You tried to assure her, but it seems like you're trying to reassure yourself as well. "He has to."

"I hope so," she sighed and stood up. "I'll go back to my post then."

"Jessy," you called, also standing up. You tugged her by the hand, giving it a gentle squeeze, "you, okay?"

She hummed softly. "Trying to. Don't worry about me, okay?" With gentle hands, she cupped your cheeks, flashing you a reassuring smile. "Go and sit down. I know you need time to analyze these facts. I can see the gears turning in your head, you know?"

You let out a soft chuckle, "how'd you know that?"

It's not actually further from the truth. You're already trying to note carefully what transpired earlier, but you also want to make sure she's okay first. What you just heard is really disturbing.

"You tend to do that eye thing, like mechanically moving them like you were thinking. It's adorable, really." She tapped your cheeks lightly before retreating them. "Goodluck, Y/n Sherlock."

"You, too, Jessy Watson."

As you went back to your seat, you try to remember the facts presented to you, and what you guys have noted. In case Jake couldn't restore the connection, you could at least narrow down Hanson's location as per what you heard from his audio.

The first thing you noticed is the lack of crowd and the sound of cars or traffic. So, it's safe to say where he drove to is pretty isolated. The second thing is you kept hearing his footsteps against what you assume as dried leaves and twigs, the additional sound of crickets and owls gave it away that he is, in fact, somewhere along the forest.

But where exactly?

The forests in Duskwood are massive.

It's like looking for a needle in a pile of hay. You need to narrow it down further.

You also noted that before you lost connection, you all heard some sort of static. Perhaps a signal interference, a common occurrence in dead zones where reception is practically non-existent, thus disrupting the connection. It could also be a sound that is similar to flowing water like a stream, or river. It could also be rain, but you scratch that thought because it's not a rainy season in Duskwood right now.

Either way, all of those could be feasible, but it doesn't exactly help you to pinpoint a location. But you assume if Hanson is really preparing to kill Hannah tomorrow, he could have not chosen a random place. This place might have some connection to Jennifer, and that's what you currently don't know. Maybe the others have an idea.

With this information at your disposal, you felt a little prepared for the discussion of evidence later. Maybe you could put pieces and pieces together afterward with the help of the group.

You were so deep in thought that when your phone rang, you almost jumped out of your seat. Jake was starting a video call, and your heart dropped. This doesn't sound like good news to you.

You scrambled to your seat and went towards Jessy's place so, you can still guard by the window while you were in a call.

"I am afraid I am unable to re-establish the connection."

Your face fell. Just as you thought.

"Oh, no." Jessy looks so disappointed. Just like you, she has higher hopes for this.

You let out a resigned sigh. "Okay. So, what do we do now?"

"We have to find out where Michael is, at any cost," Thomas spoke up, looking distressed as ever. You can't imagine how the audio affected him, especially Lilly.

"Yeah, and quickly." Dan agreed.

"We need to analyze what we heard earlier." You suggested, determined to turn this setback into a stepping stone. "That way we might be able to narrow down his possible locations."

"Y/n's right," Jessy seconded, she knew you already thought about this. "Let's just recap. I'm sure we'll find something helpful."

"Okay, let's begin."

"So," Jessy prompted. "First, we heard Michael driving a car."

"It has a consistent speed. Neither too slow nor fast, like he's being careful."

"You think Hannah's with him?" Thomas questioned. "In the car, I mean."

"Mhm," Lilly hums in approval. "Possible."

"Or probably not. We did hear Hannah only after we heard some rattling of chains or something." You pointed out. "But then again, Hannah could be passed out that time."

"Yeah, I think that must have been some kind of gate or something," Cleo added, followed by Thomas's agreement.

"I think so, too. Then he got Hannah."

"Did he carry her?" Cleo questioned once more.

That made you pause for a bit, you never thought of it but you remember that "it sounds like he was walking more slowly. It's possible."

"In any case," Dan interjected. "Our feathered friend wasn't expecting any visitors. Otherwise, he wouldn't have walked around with Hannah so nonchalantly."

"That could be true," you muttered. "Maybe he knows the area is secluded and nobody would even go there in the middle of the night."

"The metal sound at the end sounded pretty strange," Cleo mentioned. "Did you all notice?"

"Yeah, we did," Jessy affirmed.

"What do you think it was?"

"I think it's static. More like an interference." You commented. This is what you have been thinking earlier. That sound could mean a lot of things, and whatever it was, you think it could point to where Hannah is.

"Whatever it was," Jessy mused. "The connection broke off shortly after."

"The connection was already getting worse before," Thomas noted.

"He's right," You agreed as you remembered it as well. "When we heard Hannah for the first time."

"You mean that static noise?" Cleo clarified.

"What if that was because of that weird object, too?" Lilly suggested. "The closer Michael got to that object, the louder the noise got.

"Possible," You replied. "Signal interference can be caused by lots of things. A dead zone perhaps. Maybe he entered one."

"I don't know enough about them to say anything." Jessy shrugged. "Maybe Jake knows something."

"Yes, that is correct, Y/n." Jake agreed. If anyone knows something about signals and interferences, your man will be Jake. You got an idea about it, of course, but it wouldn't probably suffice. "However, I would have to research which those are."

You massaged your temples with your free hand. You expected Jake to at least know something about it. Time is running, you won't have enough time for that.

"We don't have time for that," Thomas voiced out your exact thoughts. But you knew you don't really have much choice.

"Anyhow, that static noise, or whatever that was, could be an important clue."

"Hmm," Jessy murmured thoughtfully. "Where could Michael have gone with Hannah?"

"Tomorrow is the tenth anniversary of Jennifer's death. Michael has prepared everything for this day." Jake reminded everyone. "We can assume that this place was not chosen at random."

"I have thought a lot about this earlier," you began, sharing the deductions you'd made prior to the conversation. "Combining what we knew so far, we can start narrowing down potential locations where he could have kept her. Assuming the signal interference was caused by entering a dead zone, he could have entered a place where it blocks all incoming signals, which I first thought is a cave. But" you paused, looking if they were able to catch up on what you have been saying. "I also thought that noise could be something else. If you listened closely, it sounded like it was rain, a water falling perhaps. We heard it for a long time and all it did was drown Hannah's cry before Hanson probably went further in from whatever hole they are which then ultimately caused us to lose our connection. Am I making sense?"

"Now, wait a damn minute," Dan interjected. "I was thinking the same thing!"

"Really?"

"That noise couldn't have been an interference."

"But?" Lilly probed.

"But a waterfall." Dan finished.

"So, Duskwood indeed has a waterfall!" You exclaimed. You gave your phone to Jessy, and you begin to rummage in your bag placed on the bed. You grabbed your laptop out, begin to log in, and went back to Jessy's side.

"What's going on?" she asked you.

Setting the laptop on the dresser, you leaned down to its level. "I need to check the Pine Glade's website. I need to confirm something."

"Cleo," Dan calls her. "That cart thing at the Pine Glade."

"You mean the horse carriage tour?" she corrected.

"Yeah, that."

"Did they have that ten years ago, too?"

"Yes, of course."

"Exactly the way it is now?"

"Uh, yeah," Cleo answered, seemingly confused about where this is going. "As far as I know, it's never been changed."

"I think Hannah mentioned the carriage tour back then."

That made you pause, "before she left Lilly with you?"

"Yes, exactly that!"

"I'm totally confused here," Jessy interjected.

"Look, Hannah mentioned the horse carriage tour. I'm sure. And the Grimrock, too sorta?"

"Grimrock?" You repeated. You just saw that at the bottom of the page itself. You clicked on the waterfall hyperlink, hoping whatever you found there could be useful. It says here that Grimrock is a waterfall that is one of the spots a tourist or local can visit via horse carriage.

"That's possible. The Grimrock is one of the locations the carriage tour visits." Cleo affirmed.

"I think Hannah went to the Grimrock the night of the accident." Dan declared.

"And what we heard as static noise before wasn't actually static," Jessy added.

"That place is a perfect place to hide someone especially—"

"— the waterfall is blocked off every year for the festival." Jake finished for you.

"That's right." You said in realization. "It said so, on the website."

"Wow," Lilly breathed in awe. "Just earlier we practically have nothing."

"Well, thanks to Dr. Sherlock here. Just how long did you deduce all that?"

"Uh, a couple of minutes before this call?" You answered Dan, unsure what to say to that. Did he just compliment you?

"Damn, that brain is really something else."

"Haha is that a compliment, Dan?" You teased and he only grinned back. You went back to the laptop in hopes to find any more valuable information about the waterfall. "Speaking of which, it's not stated on the website why it's blocked off. Anyone knows why?"

"I think Miranda knows something?" Jessy informed you before addressing Cleo. "Could you maybe ask your mom about why the Grimrock is blocked off, Cleo?"

Cleo nodded, "will do. Wait a moment, please." With that, she disappeared momentarily from Lilly's screen.

"I'm curious now." You muttered. There's got to be some way they are related. Just like Jake had said, it's impossible Hanson just used a random place to hide Hannah.

"You always are," Jessy chuckled beside you, "and that's something to be admired at."

"Really?"

"Yeah," Jessy affirmed. "I mean, haven't personally seen you investigate until now. It's amazing to look at. You look so focused and confident, like you really know what you're doing." She says, gesturing to your whole frame; leaning on a laptop screen, typing vigorously with predatory eyes, hungry for answers. "Are you sure you're not a detective?"

A small laugh escaped your lips. "I haven't really denied that, have I?"

"You're such a dork," Jessy playfully pinched your nose, causing you to scrunch it in mock disapproval.

"Ehem," Dan interjected with a fake cough. "We're still here, you know."

"Uh, yes," as soon as it came, you wiped the smile on your face. Your entire demeanor goes back to full detective mode. "Back to business. How are you guys feeling?"

"To be honest?" Thomas spoke up. "For the first time in a long time, I'm feeling hopeful."

"Me too." Lilly seconded. "I know we can bring her back."

"That's good to hear." you mused, leaning in slightly. "We need all the positivity we can get."

"This reminds me of something weird." Jessy suddenly said, turning to you. "Do you remember right at the beginning of our search? Alfie called Cleo 'The dead girl's friend'?"You nodded. You do remember that as you were the one that conveyed that information to her. "Why did he say that if Hannah is still alive? Why would he say something so horrible?"

You had thought about that more often than you should have. That declaration from Alfie affected the group's belief that Hannah is still alive, and the one that caused Thomas to go almost berserk at the poor kid. But then again, it had led you to the legend after all. Now that you're certain Hannah is alive, his claim about Hannah being dead doesn't make sense, which led you back to the thought of Amy.

"What if he meant Amy?" You pondered aloud. "I'm sure he saw Amy and Cleo together at some point as they share the same class."

"Oh, yeah. That could be." Jessy concurred, her brows furrowing in deep thought. "Alfie made that claim long before the police revealed Amy's identity to the public."

"Which means he really was a witness?" You theorized hypothetically. "Assuming Amy is actually abducted."

"I could talk to Alfie if you'd like," Lilly offered. You remember that aside from Jessy, Lilly could have been one of the people Alfie interacted with within this group the most as she once was the receptionist of his mother's motel. "Once we're back in Duskwood."

Thomas was quick to shut down the idea. "That's pointless. I've already tried."

"But Alfie probably knows Lilly better than you," you insisted, raising an eyebrow as you challenged his objection. An undertone of annoyance crept into your voice. "Plus, you broke his toy truck. I'm pretty sure that doesn't count as talking."

"But—"

"I got through to my mom." Cleo interrupted. Looks like her conversation with her mom is through. "And I know now why the Grimrock is blocked off. Apparently, some poisonous substance was found in the waterfall's catch basin."

Poisonous substance?

Your mind suddenly flashed back to those two barrels of dangerous substance back in Michael Hanson's house. You and Jake had wondered what someone like Hanson could, a former bar owner, want from a toxic chemical. Unless he's planning to get away with murder, which Thomas told you back then. Though you found the idea ludicrous initially. Now, you know why. "The barrels full of toxic chemicals in Hanson's barn make sense now. Remember them?"

"But why would he do that?" Lilly questioned.

Thomas was about to say something, but you cut him off, "No Thomas, it's not like Breaking Bad. He did it—"

"—to make sure that nobody would be there on the day of the festival." Once again, Jake finishes the sentence for you. Sometimes, it's scary how both of you almost think similarly. Always following the same trail of thought.

"Yes, probably." Cleo nodded in agreement. "A wide area around the Grimrock has been blocked off. Otherwise, it would have been full of people there tomorrow."

"Smart move," You mused. "I got to give him credit for that. He created a controlled area for himself. But not smart enough for us."

"There we have it. That freak took Hannah to the Grimrock." Dan declares with finality.

"Then I'll drive there right now," Thomas announces and you almost did a double-take. What the hell is he talking about?

"What?" Never in your life seen how irritated Dan is. It's like he didn't expect that from Thomas. And how stupid it sounded.

"Hannah is alive! And we know where she is now! I have to go to her."

"We should think of a plan first." You told him as calmly as you could. "We can't just dive there headfirst."

"Tomorrow is the anniversary of Jennifer's death. Hannah is only alive because he's waiting for that day!" He insisted. "He will finish it. Hannah will die tomorrow. I know it!"

You pinched the bridge of your nose. Feeling a sudden rush of blood rising on your head. "We know that Thomas, but we can't barge in there and expect we will be able to save Hannah that way. If he found out we're there, did you honestly think he's going to wait for another day to kill her? Could you really risk that?"

"If you're right, Thomas why didn't Michael wait to kill Amy on the anniversary, too?" Even Cleo doesn't seem to find his idea appealing either.

"Why? What do you mean?" Lilly asks with confusion in her features.

"Because they're both to blame for Jennifer's death. So, if Michael is taking revenge on them, and specifically waiting for the anniversary... Then it doesn't make sense to kill Amy before." Cleo explained.

"Anyway, Y/n's right." Jessy tried to diffuse the situation from escalating further down. "We shouldn't just head off to the Grimrock without a plan. Waiting for him in a safe house together is one thing. But, under those circumstances, we don't have a chance against him."

"At least not without any more information." You added.

"Exactly."

But Thomas is not hearing anything. "Your words change nothing for me. I have to go to her."

"And then what?" You finally snapped. "Get yourself kidnapped, too? Are you even thinking?"

You understand where he's coming from, you do. But at this rate, he's going to risk everyone's safety including Hannah. He's jeopardizing the investigation.

"Thomas, please." Cleo pleaded but it only fell on deaf ears. "We shouldn't split up now, no matter what."

"Then come with me! We can stop him together."

You took a deep breath and tried to be as calm and rational. "We can't use that we-can-outnumber-him card right now. His advantage to us is he has Hannah. If we all got there, then what? He'll just kill her right there and now."

Again, he heard nothing. "I'll give you 5 minutes. Everyone who wants to join me is welcome. The rest of you can stay here." With that, he left the call.

"Damn it, Thomas!"

"Great," Dan mutters sarcastically.

"That idiot. How could he be so irresponsible?!" You almost threw the phone. "The way he is doing right now, all our hard work will pay off nothing!"

"Y/n," Jessy's voice is soothing as she attempts to calm you down, and after a few deliberate breaths, you manage to regain your composure. But you're still pissed as hell.

"Anyway," You inhaled sharply. "How far from here is that waterfall?"

"A little over 45 minutes if we go by car," Lilly's the one to reply.

"But then we wouldn't really be at the Grimrock yet," Cleo interjected. "You can't drive directly to the waterfall; you have to walk quite a bit."

"In my condition?" Dan scoffed at the idea, finding it ridiculous. "We'd probably take about three and a half years if I hurry up."

"He's putting all of us in danger! It's not enough that we almost couldn't access Hannah's phone because of him, and now this?!" Lilly's frustration is palpable. "Even if he goes alone and we stay here. My sister could get killed!"

"What? He did that?" Cleo's eyes widened in disbelief. You forgot you only told Jessy and Lilly about the phone and Thomas's breakdown earlier.

"Yes!"

Despite her being Hannah's sister, and of course, she worries about her much more than Thomas can ever be, and yet she didn't do anything irrational to sabotage the plan. While him? He had lost his shit over and over again. Thomas has no excuse right now for ruining every single plan you have.

"Somebody's got to talk some sense into him or else I will." You said sternly.

"Cleo!" Lilly calls as Cleo suddenly left her side quickly.

"What's she doing?"

"I think she's gonna talk to him," she sighed. "I'm gonna go after them. He might convince Cleo instead of the other way around."

"Lilly, make sure no one leaves the house, understood?" You ordered with finality. You have to talk to Jake. "We have to stay together."

"Got it."

"I'll go to them, too," Jessy informed you, and you nodded. Maybe they'll be able to knock some sense to their friend because you guarantee it will be your fist who will do the job instead.

"Alright, Jess."

"Welp, thanks to Tommy boy we lost our position."

"They have to convince him soon or before we knew it, Hanson already entered the cabin. Keep your eyes peeled, Dan."

"You, too."

"I'll go downstairs after I talk to Jake."

They ended the call only leaving you with Jake, while Jessy went out of the room. Hopefully, they'll be able to calm Thomas down. God knows you don't really need this extra drama.

"It's no use. We will be faced with nothing but resistance by using words." He told you. He is not exactly happy with Thomas's absurd plan, too. He did not like it one bit.

"They will be walking straight into his arms." You said in frustration. Indeed you already have a location, which even until now still remains vague. Grimrock is not exactly small. That's why it's important to plan all these things out.

"We must find an alternative."

"That sounds like a good plan. Do you have an idea?"

"Unfortunately, not as of the moment." He sighed.

"Okay, I'll come up with something."

"I will also try coming up with a solution."

The call ended. You knew to yourself there's one thing you can do. Jake's not the only one who's got an ace up his sleeves.

This ace can lead to uncertainties but that has never stopped you before, right?

~~~~

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