Page 52 of Diluted Truths
The pieces began to fall into place.
“Okay, I need you all to hear me out. About two years ago Griffin went ‘missing’ for five days. He was in Eugene, Oregon during this time. He mentions it’s Jackie’s turn. When he comes back he… well, he goes bat shit crazy. About one year ago, Joey went missing for five days. He reappears in Eugene, Oregon as well. When he returns he just isn’t at all the same, more closed off. He also mentions it being Jackie’s turn. They both have the sigil associated with these events as well.” I sighed, knowing my next thought would not be well received. “These cases are connected, there is no denying that. I-I think Jackie might be next.”
“Next?” Jackie asked.
“To go missing.” Everyone began to speak up in disagreement. I raised my hand to interrupt. “I know it sounds insane, but it’s too many coincidences to explain away.”
“Tell me then, William, how will she go missing?” Sarah asked, clearly upset by my theory.
“I don’t know. It’s just strange that two people on opposite sides of the country who both went missing ended up in Eugene less than two blocks from Jackie’s home and both said she would be next,” I stated, exasperated at the entire situation.
“The details of Griffin’s drawings are also too exact to be a coincidence.” Jackie responded tiredly.
“What have you two gotten us into?” Bec asked, concerned by the situation.
Rightfully so, I might add.
Jackie turned to me and asked, “Do you remember when I asked if you thought the Cult of Creatio was making its reappearance?” I nodded, urging her to continue. “What if that is what all of this is? The Cult coming back or at least trying to come back? These disappearances are its way of gaining attention?”
“That could be it. But why target Joey, Griffin, and you? It’s an odd trio,” I responded.
“Not really,” Bec responded. “They have more similarities than we think. At least Griffin and Joey do. Both of their father’s worked at an army base at the same time.”
“Which one and where?” Jackie asked.
“According to my sources, it was Dugway Proving Ground in 1977. They overlapped by a few months,” Bec explained. I shouldn’t be surprised she dug up the information. One of the perks of having our last name, it opened doors to even the most top secret information.
“I know the place, I knew someone who worked there for a bit. Another family member. He was working as a contractor there for about three months that summer.” Jackie turned to me, knowing I would ask. “Nate. He was there.”
I nodded in understanding.
“Well then, there is our connection between the three,” Bec responded. “Now what?”
No one responded. We had this information, we had our theories, but no concrete facts. We couldn’t go to the police and tell them that Jackie was probably going to go missing. We couldn’t search down members of a cult we didn’t know much about. I wouldn’t press Joey, a young boy, for more details. I refused to go back to Griffin. There wasn’t anything we could really do but wait.
Wait for what, however? I wasn’t sure.
Chapter 16Dark Paradise by. Lana Del Rey
Jackie
Fear was no longer an uncommon experience in my life. Growing up in my parents' household, I was always scared. I was scared to say something wrong, act incorrectly, not say something I should. I was never enough for them, and the consequences of that were severe. Luckily, I always had Nate and Theo to keep me safe. They did their best to hide the reality of our childhood from me. Our oldest brother, Malachi, did his best, but our parents had always preferred him to us. It wasn’t his fault and we didn’t blame him. Growing up was scary, but my siblings made it easier.
I was always scared after Nate had first passed. I teetered between soul-crushing guilt about his death and the numbness that alcohol caused. When I was drunk I was scared of being sober, when I was sober I was scared of being drunk. It was the lowest point in my life and I had isolated myself from everyone in my life. I was scared they would see the truth of just how badly I was spiraling.
It became easier, more manageable when I met Fai and Sarah. Suddenly, I had a support system separate from my family, from Nate’s death. Life after getting sober brought the fear of being constantly scared of relapsing. I was nervous I would fall into old, destructive habits. People assume the longer you’re sober the easier it gets. In truth, it is just as hard and terrifying, but in different ways.
I had lived my entire life scared. Scared of my past, scared of my family, scared of who I was, and even scared of who I would become. I was still scared. The fear was almost comforting.
The fear that this case brought was different. It was soul crushing, terrifying, debilitating, and unknown. That was the largest difference, it was a fear I didn’t know or understand.
“I can hear your brain going a million miles an hour over there, Sunshine,” Will said, interrupting my thoughts. “What’s going on?”
I shrugged. I didn’t know how to admit just how scared I was. “Just… Well, we just learned so much today from Griffin. I’m not sure how to process everything.”
“And?”
“And what?”
