A Tale of Sunflowers

22/04/20

Ava:

Don't be too annoying, don't be too annoying...

"Hello?" Lucas says on the phone.

"Lucas, I need your help. We're going to Steven's place now to figure out what's wrong. I'll need your help along the way." I come straight to the point.

"Oh sure, when are we going?"

"Right now. Meet me where we met yesterday, we'll go together from there."

"Ooh, shall I wear my detective glasses and coat?"

"What?" I frown.

"I have a long black coat, very Sherlock-type. Shall I wear that?"

I swear...

"For god's sake, Lucas! Wear whatever you want - just wear something."

I hang up in frustration - this kid is going to be the death of me.

*at the cafe*

"Hey there!" Lucas has a bright smile, in his flowing black coat. Forget Sherlock, he looks like a rip-off version of Snape.

"We don't have time. Stop flaunting your coat and let's go." He laughs when I roll my eyes.

When we reach Steven's house, we find it locked. Obviously.

"Hey Lucas, how long did you say he'd been out of town for?" I observe the lock but Lucas has other plans.

"OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD AAAAA!" He screams and starts jumping.

"WHAT?" I exasperatedly ask.

"THERE'S A RAT HERE!"

"Are you kidding me?" I facepalm. Literally.

"NO I SWEAR, SHE RAN PAST MY LEG OH MY GOD - wait, what if it was a male?"

"Oh dear god..." Why didn't I assign this joke of a teenager to Harper? "Let's just look around his yard, since we can't go inside." I go in the other direction, eager to distance myself from him as soon as possible.

We return to where we parted pretty soon, though. This yard has nothing except a few sunflowers here and there.

"Was your friend a fan of sunflowers?" I ask Lucas.

"What? No. But look what I found..." He bites his nails.

"I swear if it's another rat, I'm going to kick your ass." I sharply reply.

"No, no more rats. I found something else." He leads me to a gathering of bushes at the far corner.

"Blood." Unmistakable, dried blood. Whoever did this were either clumsy or very clever at creating diversions.

"I need to text Harper."

Harper:

"Thank you for agreeing to this, Ms. Selene Carter."

"Of course, anything for my best friend." Selene nervously smiles. Her face is thin with a hooked nose and close set eyes, and she radiates nervous energy throughout - she's even shaking her leg continuously.

"Tell me about her. Have you noticed any changes in her behaviour recently?" I start making notes about Selene, even her posture seems off. Who sits with their spine so bent you can hardly see their face?

"No, I don't see anything unusual...in fact, she seems sort of happier."

"Happier?" I raise my eyebrow.

"Yeah...like she's finally achieved her dreams or something, you know?"

I purse my lips. This woman is not to be trusted.