Ace: glancing around nervously D-dad, d-do you kn-know where w-we are?
WhimsicalLakes
listening carefully ace, seems like we're in some kinda trouble. dad, did you bring us here?
paces back and forth, wringing his hands I-I don't know, Whim! It just... it all happened so fast. One minute we were driving, and then... bam!
WhimsicalLakes
did ya hit ur head?
runs a hand through his hair, visibly agitated N-no, Whim, I didn't hit my head. I'm serious! We were on our way home, and then... pauses, trying to remember
WhimsicalLakes
try to remember. what do you last remember?
closes his eyes, concentrating hard Okay, okay. Last thing I remember... we were driving down that old country road, right? The one with the fields on either side?
WhimsicalLakes
yeah, that’s right
snaps his fingers And then... and then I saw that old rusted sign by the side of the road, the one with the broken letters.
WhimsicalLakes
what was it saying?
excitedly It was a warning sign, Whim! There was something written underneath the broken letters, a message hidden in plain sight!
WhimsicalLakes
what was it?
grabs WhimsicalLakes' arm, pulling them closer Dad, can you read it? Maybe it's a clue to figure out where we are!
WhimsicalLakes
alright, give me a sec. reads “if you see this, call this number” something about a union worker’s local 787?
pulls out his phone, quickly searching for the number Union Local 787? Found it, Whim! Let's call them and see if they can give us some answers.
WhimsicalLakes
alright
dials the number, pacing anxiously Come on, come on, pick up! Please, please pick up!
WhimsicalLakes
ring ring
As Ace and WhimsicalLakes try to figure out where they are, they uncover a dark secret about Ace's mother's past that puts their lives in danger.
WhimsicalLakes
hello?
frantically speaking Hello? Uh, yeah, hi! This is Ace, and... and WhimsicalLakes. We, uh, we found this sign with your union's number on it.
WhimsicalLakes
oh, i know where we are now then. we’re in union county
interrupts, panic rising in his voice Dad, wait! It's more than that. This sign, it's connected to something bigger. Something dangerous!
WhimsicalLakes
ace, is this connected to your mom?
stutters, voice trembling D-dad, it's... it's complicated. But y-yes, it's related to her. She... she was part of something, something secret.
WhimsicalLakes
does this have anything to do with the time we went missing?
paces back and forth, biting his lip Yeah, Whim, it's all connected. Mom was involved in some kind of organization, a secret group.
WhimsicalLakes
well, tell me exactly what you remember
starts piecing together his memories, speaking rapidly Okay, okay. So, I remember that night, that big storm we had.
WhimsicalLakes
i remember. i remember waking up in the middle of the night to hear screaming and crying. i remember hearing mom scream my name. but most of the rest is blank. just a few flashes of a black figure. and lightning
grips WhimsicalLakes' shoulders tightly Dad, we need to piece this together. That night, everything went dark for me too.
WhimsicalLakes
you said that she was involved in a secret group. do you know what that group was?
runs his fingers through his hair, deep in thought Dad, I've been trying to remember every little detail, but it's all still hazy.