Y/n's sights didn't waver from the transparent exit. His mind was in a state of hypervigilance, transmitting warning cues through his body, making each muscle go taut, and inwardly bracing himself for an execrable startle that would jar his reflexes into acute fear response.
His companions observed the boy's aberrant behavior and glanced among each other, uncertain of how to interfere. Nova narrowed his eyes as his sights briefly sprung to the glass door the e/c eyed male was gazing out of, comprehension evinced through his mind.
He stood up from his seat to grasp the curtains in a firm hold, proceeding to glide the shades over the entryway to relieve the h/c haired of the mental turmoil the outlook appeared to cause him.
Nova swirled around, looking down at Y/n with a stern expression that conveyed an authoritarian tone as he folded his arms in expectation. "Okay, Seriously, What's the matter? You've been wary of your surroundings ever since we got into the car. Not to mention that your mother berated you for something occurring with Avery Emmons and those two friends of yours that resulted in her reprimanding you for being careless, which means whatever happened took a toll on you and is still actively affecting you." As Nova declaimed his exposition, Y/n diverted his eyes, establishing a defensive wall around himself to recoil from the approaching interrogation.
The boy's clear reluctance to explain his apprehensive manners left the group feeling indignant. "Why are you so distrustful of us?" Ezra asked, his voice a mere disheartened plea enfolded with an undertone of shallow desperation that seeped through the crevices of his being.
"We've been nothing but kind to you, despite the fact that you left Runswick without a single goodbye or forewarning, then you came back six years later, didn't bother informing any of us, and you repay us by acting this way?" Y/n sank deeper into his cocoon of penitence as his morals were put on a pedestal.
Each syllable penetrated his heavy heart as he became aware of the validity behind the statement, threatening to split open his soul to let desolation flow out of the cracks and spill out his repressed worries. But trepidation perched him back, knowing that if he unveiled his burdens, the grasp on the situation would be out of his control.
Shudders went down his nerves as the male wondered whether blatant disregard for the warnings he had received would be met with consequences. The ambience around started turning dense, swallowing up the silence in an empty void to wilt in the space.
"Just joking," Ezra's voice broke through the stillness with a jesting tone. Y/n's expression turned into an empty stare as his mind could not grasp the proposition that the detrimental words were meant to be interpreted as comical. Nonetheless, the corners of the boy's mouth ticked up into a tense smile as nervous giggles erupted from his chest to relieve the stress broiling in him. The h/c haired boy buried his face in the palm of his wounded hand as his body trembled and anxiety oozed from his pores.
For a moment, it was silent, with only the h/c haired chuckles to accommodate the environment. The quartet stared at the male with amused looks, anticipating for him to regain his composure. Soon, Y/n's laughter died down, his lungs struggled to let out exhalation, making his breath quaver with echos of chuckles. "Your humor is worse than Roy's and Nova's antics," he sounded out in a mix of stupefaction and earnestness.
Ezra let out a scoff that indicated his disapproval over the subconscious label the comment gave him. "Don't compare me to those two idiots. " Roy gave the ash blond a look of incredulous offense, straightening up his lounged posture to retort the phrase "You don't have to be so harsh, we're right here, you know..." his voice an annoyed utter, Ezra glanced at the deject display with a detached expression that emanated his absent pity toward the prankster.
"Yes, I do, You know why? Because yesterday I and Elio distinctly told you two to tone down your imprudent behavior, and not even a day later, what do you guys do?" a frown etched itself on Roy's features as the question was phrased as a rhetorical inquiry meant to exhibit condemnation over their actions.
Nova listened to the scolding with attentive concentration. "How were we supposed to know that teacher would actually fall for it?" Ezra pointed his irritation toward his brother in a deep scowl that made his steel blue eyes gleam with vexation at his sibling's conceited interpretation "It's about the principle." Y/n observed the siblings bickering with a bemused look on his visage.
"What did they do? It couldn't have been that bad." the h/c haired quizzed, desiring for insight into the discussion that would allow the male to make an unbiased judgment.
"They spilled a honey substance into a teacher's satchel, then let out an intrusion of roaches they obtained into the bag, even though the man is known for his phobia of insects." Elio chimed in, his voice holding a tone of chagrin as his eyes portrayed a deeper state of cogitation, reminiscing about the summary he had acquired from his parent.
Y/n stared at the black haired male in dumbfoundedness whilst his brain processed the explanation and deciphered each word, leaving confusion to poke holes in his mind that raised multiple questions.
The h/c haired boy directed his incredulous expression toward Nova "How-what-where-where did you even get roaches from?!" He blurted out. The ash blond tilted up his chin in pomposity. "Now where would the fun be in exposing our secrets? It's what keeps us endearing, right, Roy?" Nova glanced toward his partner in crime. The boy in question let out a snort at the beguiling comment.
Y/n directed an astonished glower toward the two pranksters who seemed to revel in their parsimonious schemes before fixating his eyesight to doubtfully roam through the group as he took notice of the equivocal change of subject that had obstructed the males' query for the h/c haired's vigilant conduct.
He didn't wish to reinstate the topic of his turmoil, which would force him to face probing questions and deduction under the gaze of the group, so he crammed the solitude that plagued his mind with presaged doubts and fears into the rear corners of his psyche, to be scrutinized over in a more lonesome state.
"Unbelievable..." Y/n mumbled as he failed to comprehend how the two mischievous teenagers avoided repercussions for their notorious acts. 'They appear to have a reputation for that type of behavior, seeing as Clark referred to them as 'The school's gremlins'. He also mentioned they do it to not only the facility but students as well.' Too engrossed in his own thoughts, Y/n failed to sense the looming shadow approaching him.
Unexpectedly, Nova bent down in front of the male's line of sight. The h/c haired jolted at the sudden deed and the ash blond's close vicinity.
Nova curled his mouth into a frivolous grin, tilting his head at an angle in inane "What you thinking about?" both males shared unyielding eye contact whilst Y/n had a momentary shock of reality that left him bereft of speech. His features twitched, impeding his frustration from lashing out at the boy.
His internal conflict ended with a light exhale escaping his lips "What?" Y/n tried to keep his tone passive, but it came out as a strained complaint. "I asked what you're thinking about." The h/c haired boy furrowed his brows as Nova's patronizing act prickled the boy's nerves into a petty bitterness.
Nova nudged his features closer to the boy's face, making Y/n instinctively shrivel into his own skin in an introverted manner at the close proximity. The ash blond's icy sights studied the h/c haired's profile with a fervent stare, memorizing each attribute of the stunned boy. The texture of his skin, the tint of his lips, the hues and shades of his eyes, and the strands of h/c hair that adored his frame.
Nova's analytical expression morphed into an enthralled smirk. His chest began rousing with a fuzzy warmth that spread to his mind like intoxicant gas, making his bones jitter with feverous exhilaration. "You're so beautiful, you know that?" Y/n felt his face heat up in contrast as the flattering compliment filled his perception. Nova simpered at the reaction.
"Aw, you're a little weak against compliments, huh?" The discomposured male scrunched up his nose as humiliation began muddling over his vision, whilst the ash blond innocently focused his attention on his friends with a blithe spirit that radiated around the environment. "Look, he's all flustered," Nova cooed out the remark, indicating toward the teenager, oblivious to the embarrassment originating from Y/n's demeanor.
The three standbys upheld their eyes to Y/n with unyielding attentiveness, the boy felt cogs rotate in his mind at the quartet's zealous semblance.
His thoughts flatlined as a prior notion and discussion formed a mental image.
'They like me... Oh my god, they actually...'
Y/n sensed nervous sensations through his brain as the prospect that people like them, who were held in such high regard by society, blessed by birth with the wealth, appearances, and admiration that the boy himself could only futilely wish to be a part of, could hold fondness over someone like him.
The entire concept elated his self-esteem to an unprecedented high that comforted him in his essence of self-loathing.
But before he could try to comment on their affectionate mannerism. The entrance of the front door was opened, signifying his mother had come home from her working arrangement.
Y/n prepared to greet his parent from beyond the door but was denied as the woman stomped up to the second floor of their residence without sparing a glance into the living space where the teenagers were stationed.
an uncomfortable aura ignited from the detective's cold negligence. Y/n was left in the confusion of his parent's dismissal. The quartet sensed the tension that trailed after the happening and concluded they were overstaying their welcome.
Nova regained a straight posture as he prepared to be on his way together with his housemates. "It's getting late, I think it's time for us to go," He mentioned, looking toward his companions to conserve the ultimatum.
The other males readied themselves to depart from the residence. Y/n put on a polite smile to bid his farewells to his friends at the door.
The four boys each said their greetings to the h/c haired male before stepping out in to the nighttime.
"Goodbye Y/n, take care of yourself," Ezra said as he put a hand on Y/n shoulder to tenderly encourage the boy. "I will, I promise. Bye!" The ash blond gave the male a warm smile that beamed out optimistic over the h/c haired's promise. Before following the other three to his vehicle.
Y/n closed the entrance and swirled around to use the wooden frame as leverage to lean against. putting a palm against his temple to rattle his brain to function.
His mind held his teetering composure together with difficulty as each incident subsequent to the boy's arrival flashed before his eyes like a macabre show. Pieces he had overlooked came together, each occurrence betraying a more sinister perspective. The boy internally cursed himself at his lack of astuteness.
'That freak has been stalking me since day one.'
Y/n glimpsed up the ascension of stairs that led to the chambers of his mother, as well as the person who could soothe his rushing fears with affirming progress. The boy began scaling the staircase with newfound determination. He reached the top of the elongated hallway. His sights fell on the shut door that was engulfed in darkness. The dim light from the boy's own private environment shone onto the wooden structure that inhabited his mother.
the sealed-off enclosure emanated a sense of privacy meant to ward off anyone from approaching, Despite this, Y/n neared the door with the intent to enter the room to regard the older woman.
He knocked on the door as a polite forewarning to alert his parent of his presence. Y/n stayed quiet, as no reaction was given from behind the door to grant him entry.
Y/n secured his fingers around the handle of the door and pushed it down to extend an open gap for the boy to allow himself in. His e/c eyes drifted to a figure sitting by the edge of the mattress of the bed with a slouched posture. "Mom...?" The woman didn't budge from her solemn position nor gave any response to her son's concerned tone.
The boy squinted his eyes in a vehement stare as he tried to gauge for some sort of hint that could betray the reasoning for his mother's desolate state. His attention swirled toward the trash can near the entranceway.
His brow furrowed into a puzzled frown as he spotted the case folder his mother had been investigating for the previous week laying on top of the rubbish. He bent down to scoop it up in his grasp and carefully examined it, but found no anomaly with its condition that could explicate why his mother discarded it.
"Mom, why is the-"
"The sheriff closed the case. All detective work on the Runswick killer is prohibited."
Y/n's mind stopped as his blood grew cold, His surroundings froze in a dimension of affreightment whilst his heart plummeted
However, the confusion was swiftly replaced by exasperation. "What? What do you mean?" The woman stayed silent. Further triggering alarm bells in the boy's head that bursted dread to sprout in each corner of his mind. "Mom, that's- you can't be serious!" he hissed. His mother's lack of response was the confirmation to his rooted fears and he felt hysteria scratch at his sanity, leaving behind a shell of heavy anxiety.
Y/n's breath became uneven, and dizziness set in, making his body waver as his vision started spinning. The distinction between nauseous fright and overwhelming anger was interchangeable.
Fear quickly turned into a driving force, charging his movements. Fear for every victim to come, fear for every injustice done to the families, and fear for himself. Feeling betrayal clench his body into a stiff stance, he stumbled over his feet to exit the chambers and slam the door shut. leaving his mother to her depressed loneliness.
'Why? Why? Why?"
The syllable played through as a broken record as he entered his own private abode with the folder in his possession, clutching it in his hands like a repellent talisman.
His breathing was strained, his hopes of living a neutral and carefree life in the town were destroyed in mere seconds as an uncertain and foreboding future clogged his conscience, his vision got bolstered by splashes of black just when his head started dragging down, simultaneously being too heavy by burden to be upheld.
all his repression started shredding his heart into pieces. The fierce resolve he previously retained was drowned away by familiar numbness.
Just as he felt himself fall over the edge into a spiraling irreversible state. A buzzing sound resonated through the space. Y/n was stabilized in his environment as he was transported back to earth and peered at his cellular device occupying his pocket.
The boy took out his phone and glanced at the noisemaking gadget.
Kiara
Y/n took a while to register the lit up screen as a fundamental truth before trembly accepting the call. "Y/n, Are you okay? We didn't get to see you after the paramedics helped you-..." The concerned voice of Kiara went through the speakers but before the female could finish her worried inquiry, Y/n interrupted her with a blunt tone "The sheriff close the case." the other line went quiet.
"All detective work is prohibited." The male took a moment to ponder over the spontaneous sentence that would follow. "I'm gonna try to solve the case on my own, I can't let this serial killer get away." with the final comment, he hung up.
Y/n dropped his phone to the floor and lamented over his choices 'Solve the Runswick killer case. What am I thinking?' The boy let out a peevish exhale as he advanced to his bed and plopped down to allow his body to sink into a subconscious where he could rest up his aching muscles.
.
.
.
Y/n slowly lifted his lashes as a knocking sound pulled him into a more lucid consciousness. He groaned out his refusal to get out of the comforts of his covers and tried to block out the irksome disturbance coming from the ground floor.
Eventually, the noises piqued his irritation and the h/c haired threw off his covers to tiredly step out of his room with a droopy air around his being.
Y/n moped down the stairs with a disheartened spirit, uncaring about who would uncover his defeatist manner.
The boy opened the door to the caller. "Woah, you look like shit, no offense." The vulgar vocabulary of Clark filled Y/n's senses before his eyes recognized his existence. Y/n stood perplexed by the threshold, taking in the individuals who were in front of him.
Kiara, Alex, and Clark all were present.
"What are you guys doing?" he asked Kiara folded her arms in in a stern position as her stance reflected a sense of annoyance and begrudge "You didn't honestly think we would let you solve this case on your own?" she bitterly hypothesized. Y/n blinked away the drowsiness in his optics "Alex?" he turned toward the blond boy.
"That killer took my sister away from me, I'm helping catch them." Alex clarified. Y/n peered at the brunette, who grumbled, shrugging his shoulders as if the situation was nothing but a lighthearted matter, "I'm already in the middle of this mess; I might as well go all in and help solve it." The h/c haired nodded sensibly as the group constructed their reasonings.
"Now go get dressed, we have a destination to stop by," Kiara said. Clark gave the black haired girl a vague scowl "We're not actually going to involve anyone else in our already orthodox schemes?" Kiara disregarded her friend as she urged Y/n to change into acceptable apparel.
"We'll wait for you, Alex has a car so don't worry about transportation"
Y/n stood in front of a white front door with unresolved qualms scraping against his conscience toward the idea that had been presented to him. The boy peered back at his company for guidance.
Alex and Kiara made an emboldened gesture to pursue him into taking the first maneuver to engage with the individual they intended to confront. Clark continued to adopt an aloof demeanor, still appearing opposed to involving a third party in their covert plan.
The h/c haired male diverted his sight back to the doorway, let out a collective sigh, and raised his hand to knock on the wood.
His knuckles came into contact with the structure, and a hollow echo sounded out around the space. Y/n waited a while for any indicating sound from the other side of the threshold but was greeted with silence that swept around the surroundings. He prepared to connect his joints against the wood once more until his ears picked up on a pair of footsteps from inside the compound.
The fiddling with a lock reached his auditory range, and soon after the clinking sounds, the entrance opened, revealing a young female with dull red hair and silver eyes. The girl held a blank expression that portrayed no reaction as she assessed the h/c haired boy.
"What do you want?" She lulled out in a flat tone, demanding the purpose of the male's visit. Y/n shuffled in his stance at the straightforward enquiry the girl possessed before locking eye contact with her to state his motive.
"Hello, you're Da Silva, correct?" Morgan folded her arms in an endorsed fashion. "That's me, yes." Y/n took in a breath, articulating the syllables in his mind into a sentence. "Me and my friends want to solve the Runswick killer case, and we wanted to ask if you would join us." The boy felt himself inwardly cringe as the request left his mouth.
The silver eyed girl gaped at the boy in bewilderment as she surveyed his exterior for any indication that the question was a mere prank to torment her with the recall of her friend's prosecutor. When no signs of trickery were evident, Morgan scoffed, doubtful of the teenagers' sincerity. "Uh-huh, sure you do, This is funny and all, but I've got things to do." The girl assembled momentum to slam the door shut to finalize the inutile discussion.
abruptly, the feminine voice of Kiara came to try and subdue the doubtful girl's cynical belief.
"Morgan, Y/n's mother closed the case on the Runswick killer." The amaranth haired woman halted her actions in an incentive spasm, her eyes glittered in heavy contemplation, keeping her features neutralistically calm, Kiara took the silence as an indication to elaborate the statement to the expectant teenager. "We know what you witnessed, and I'm so sorry that you lost Rachel and Wesley. This maniac needs to be stopped, we want to stop them, we can't do it alone. I know it's hard to believe we're being sincere with our intentions, but please..." Kiara pleaded.
Morgan glanced toward black haired girl with a speculative gaze as the words seemed to have created an awareness in her mind that overshadowed her previous conviction. "I'll think about it" she mumbled holding an undertone of pacifism that conveyed her changed perspective.
Y/n reached for his pocket and pulled out a rectangular, folded piece of paper containing his personal information, which he scribbled down in a moment of haste. "Here's my address and phone number, when you've made your choice, don't feel pressured to contact me though... " The boy prompted the paper to the girl, hoping he wasn't overstepping boundaries and squandering their attempt at pursuing the girl.
Morgan stared at the object presented before her with a calculating look for an unknown while, prolonging the stifling tranquility.
Eventually, the girl cautiously took hold of the tucked paper that served as a nonverbal reciprocation to the boy's submission, before fluctuating one last lingering glance between Y/n and Kiara then closing the entry to her premises.
Y/n stayed behind in the stillness of the encounter in deep thought.
" I'd say that went splendid!" the contradicting pitched voice of Clark resonated through the group. Kiara rolled her eyes at the brunette's remark "Well, she said she'd think about it, so that's something." Alex replied, oblivious to the clear tone of sarcasm.
Clark sent a disgruntled glance toward the blond before releasing a strained grunt at the predicament he had put himself in. "...Ugh, let's go, Y/n!" He called out to the distracted boy. Y/n blinked away the engulfing fog around his perception and peered back to the group who was preparing to depart back to Alex's car.
"What you doing? Move your feet." the h/c haired swirled around to follow the gravel path out of the perimeter.
Timeskip
The five teenagers were sitting around in Y/n's room in expectancy for a sign from Morgan that implied her denial or agreement over their offer.
Clark was the one to break the waiting silence "This is extremely stupid, why can't we just start the stupid investigation or whatever?" he commented with a sourness that held adjudgement over the set of circumstances.
"It could take days before she makes up her mind-" On cue, contact with the front door was heard from below the stairs. "-Are you fucking kidding me?" Clark spat at the irony that appeared to be too convenient of a timing.
Alex snorted at the brunette's misfortune as Y/n got up from seating position, to descend the staircase to the guest.
Just as predicted, Morgan stood on the front porch, her features displayed a strength of fixation that spoke for her as the attitude held a flame of willpower she hadn't been able to uncover under the layers of grief and trauma she had experienced.
"I'm in."