Duskwood: the man behind the mask

20. The hunt begins

When I heard Richy's voice, I felt an impulse so strong that I couldn't contain myself and rushed angrily towards the door. I wasn't thinking, I just wanted to confront him and have him tell me why he had cheated on us like that. Jake ran after me yelling "MC, wait!" but it was too late, I had picked the lock and my former friend was standing in front of me.

In a hundredth of a second Jake grabbed my hand and pulled me back, putting himself between Richy and me. I could see his back stiffen as he kept his arm behind him, making sure I didn't move from where I was. It was then that, with an apparent calm but using an aggressive voice that I had never heard before, he said to Richy:

Jake: I'll give you two seconds to explain.

The other swallowed, visibly frightened, and lowering his eyes he said in a tone of desperation:

Richy: Yes, I know I have a lot to explain, but there is no time now, you really have to get out of here, you have to listen to me!

He put his eyes on me at that moment and reached out to reach me, but Jake pushed him hard, raising his voice:

Jake: Don't you dare touch her!

Richy apologized and raised his arms:

Richy: I'm not going to do anything to her, I swear it. He's already coming, Jake, you have to get MC out of here.

MC: Who is coming?

Richy: Please, there is no time! I will explain everything, I will go with you... or not, as you wish, but now get out of here.

Jake didn't move an inch. I couldn't see his face, although it was enough for me to see his body and hear his breathing to know that he was about to explode. Richy, on the other hand, seemed genuinely panicked, but I didn't trust him in the slightest anymore, he had fooled us too much.

MC: You sabotaged our investigation and faked your own death. I don't believe you at all, Richy.

He kept looking around as if he was really afraid of seeing someone appear at any moment. He sighed desperately and began to walk away from us:

Richy: Guys, please, come with me. I don't want to be here when...

But Jake didn't let him finish. He cornered him against the wall in a fit of fury saying:

Jake: You're not going anywhere. Right now you're going to spit it all out, and you're going to tell us where Hannah is.

Richy: I don't know! Yes: I helped kidnap her, yes: I took the others, and yes: I wanted MC to pay for what she did, but now everything has changed. If you want to protect MC you have to listen to me. And Jessy! When he's done with you he'll go after her, he tricked her into leaving the library.

Jake's expression changed completely upon hearing that, and I myself couldn't help but freeze in surprise.

MC: What did you say?

Richy: He wants to kill you all... I didn't know, I didn't know... I'm sorry!

Jake pulled Richy into the house and dragged him over to the table where he had his laptop. Without letting go of him, he typed something quickly and looked at the screen expectantly, and then I saw his face darken. He slammed his fist on the table and turned to Richy with eyes full of rage, clenching his teeth:

Jake: You piece of garbage...

Richy: I know where they all are, I'll take you, but you have to go out with me right now!