Theresa entered cautiously, calling out. "Hello? Anyone home?" There was no answer and she nodded slowly. "I think we're in the clear," she said, closing the door behind them. Fina's house was seriously run-down and messy. There was clutter everywhere. The main room they entered seemed to double as a living room and a dining room. A dead sunflower rested in stagnant water and papers were spread all across a small table with four chairs. In the corner, a high-chair was caked in something that may have once been porridge and something else that may have been peas. The house was in disarray and Theresa frowned. "Okay. Let's find her room."
Towards the back of the house, he would find a room with the door slightly ajar. When he walked in, it would be obvious that it was her room. It was frighteningly small, with a bed crammed against the window, but it was meticulously neat in here and smelled vaguely like Fina. The bed was made and smoothed down, the floor was swept and the windowsill dusted. The only other piece of furniture in the room was a small, cramped desk opposite from the bed, a small stool tucked underneath to conserve space. On the top were three plants, each potted in old cans that had been painted to cover the labels. Besides the plants, her field guide perched patiently, waiting for Fina's return.
He looked around with a small frown before picking up the field guide gently, returning to the group. "Here it is."
The group gathered around him and Theresa frowned, holding it gingerly before beginning to flip through it. Each page had been meticulously dated, with Fina's flowing script filling the pages. At first, it was mostly writing. As time went on, though, drawings began to pop-up. Little ones, mostly of plants, and then larger portraits of people she encountered. Each drawing had information next to it and as they flipped through, they would begin to see people they recognized. Avery Woodslough. Half-elf. Dislikes caterpillars but loves moths. Birthday is August 16th. A devilish looking junior from their school winked out at them playfully, the moment frozen in time. Theresa Nettle. Valkyrie. Enjoys Earl Grey Tea. Birthday is December 4th. Theresa's face was serious in the drawing, her head leaning on her hand. She was drawn with watercolors that seemed to suggest the movement that was contained inside Theresa, that strange tranquility that seemed constant. More notes had been added under her face, with dates next to them all the way up to the previous week. The most recent entry discussed her character. Theresa is a genuinely good person, I think. It's funny; I think if our personalities were more compatible, I would be incredibly grateful for her presence. Her moral compass is airtight. I only struggle with her confrontational side. She is much braver than I am and I find that wherever I would falter socially, she leaps forward. Theresa pursed her lips, looking down at the entry silently.
They finally stumbled upon Cassian's page. This one had been heavily edited, with notes just about every week. Fina had drawn him sweetly. Contrary to his normal scowl, she had caught him in a moment of rare contentment; the corners of his mouth were turned up in a soft smile, almost as if he wanted to hide it but had failed. His eyes were gentle and his posture suggested he was leaning back in a chair, looking at something off to the side, something that amused him, something that she hadn't bothered to include. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows and his arms were crossed playfully across his chest. She had drawn him warm and open, not the withdrawn and serious persona he portrayed. It was gentle and kind and affectionate. Her writing began simply. Cassian Imber Horreo IV. Triton. He likes long walks on the beach and belly-dancing. I'm kidding, of course. He's very difficult to get a read on. I don't even know his birthday. UPDATE: January 1st. The paragraphs began to update more frequently when he began to give her rides home. The most recent one was only a day before her attack. Cas and I went to the library again today. It was really nice. We studied a little, but we mostly talked. It's shocking to me how quickly he has become a very dear friend. I never expected to get along with him in the first place, but he consistently defies my expectations. I shouldn't be surprised anymore, but I suppose he has a gift in that respect. He is an incredibly decent individual.
Cassian remained silent, his brows furrowing slightly as he read and looked over the page, his posture stiff in the presence of the others.
Theresa, to her credit, moved on without comment. She turned the next couple pages before eventually landing on her most recent one. This was not a portrait but a brainstorm. Maverick said that the person had to be someone good with technology, but not really. I could do all of the stuff that was done to blackmail Everett if I so desired. I have access to the system. All the murderer would need would be that access, and that isn't exactly rare; every single member of the faculty has it. Lots of students, too. And someone like Everett... his grades are being looked at constantly. It wouldn't be suspicious to have someone making tiny adjustments. Just enough to put the pressure on. To show him that they meant business and to provide some validity to the threat. I could go in. I could look at the program's history and see who accessed Everett's grades before the attack. I could. If it turned out to be a stupid thought, I wouldn't have to say anything more about it. But it's a hunch and it's driving me mad. I don't think I can just forget about it."
Maverick looked up at Theresa. "So she was attacked when she went to look? Does that mean she saw something she wasn't supposed to?"
"That or she got too close to something," Theresa said slowly. "Or she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."
As they stood, they heard a car pull into the driveway and Theresa's head jerked up. "Go to Fina's room. Hide. Hurry," she hissed.
Cassian looked up, quickly walking to her room to hide. Lilith followed him. Maverick simply turned into a small mouse, hiding against some furniture.
Theresa and Monty followed, and Theresa closed the door behind them, holding a finger to her lips as the front door opened. As they listened, quick footsteps moved down the hallway and a phone was taken off the receiver. "Grandad? Hey, it's me. Fina's up. She's woken up." Cassian would be able to place this voice as Fina's brother. "She's woken up, so you guys don't have to come down. We can take care of her now." There was silence before he spoke again. "Yeah, she's coming home in a couple days. She's okay. Pretty out of it, but okay." Theresa pointed to the window.
Theresa followed, shutting the window behind her. "She's awake, then?" Monty said, looking around nervously as they retreated to the street. "She's awake at the hospital, yeah?"
