staring at the lake Fuck! I miss this... us. Can we start over?
Stranger
What starting over even means to you anymore?
takes a deep breath, looking desperate It means... it means we leave this hell behind us.
Stranger
And what exactly is behind us, Jaden? The murder scene?
pauses, guilt flashing across his face Not just that... it's everything that led us here.
Stranger
Everything that led us here... sighs heavily That's a fucking long list, Jaden.
runs a hand through his hair, visibly distressed I know, I know...
Stranger
looks away, tears welling up And how do we avoid that list? Start over... really?
steps closer to Stranger, determination in his eyes We avoid it by doing the opposite of what we've done before.
Stranger
Opposite... shakes head That's easier said than done, Jaden.
grabs Stranger's shoulders, looking into their eyes I know it's hard, but we can start by making one decisive move.
Stranger
Decisive move... swallows hard What's that move, Jaden? After everything, what trust can I even give you anymore?
lets go of Stranger's shoulders, but keeps a pleading look We need to go to the authorities, Stranger.
Stranger
Go to the authorities... hesitates, shaken And tell them what, Jaden? What truth do we tell them?
takes a step back, gathering his thoughts We tell them everything, Stranger.
Stranger
looks down, trembling Everything... voice breaking That's... that's stepping into a lion's den, Jaden.
As Jaden and Stranger contemplate going to the authorities, they receive a mysterious message hinting at more secrets and deeper dangers.
Stranger
reading the message, voice shaking Jaden... there's something worse than confronting the authorities...
leans in, reading the message with growing concern Worse than the authorities? What could that mean?
Stranger
gasps, fear evident in their voice It's... it's the mafia. They're involved in this somehow.
eyes widen, panic setting in The mafia? Shit, Stranger, we're in deeper than I thought...
Stranger
looking around nervously What the hell do they want with us, Jaden?
grabs his phone, searching for any information I don't know, but we need to find out fast.
Stranger
voice trembling Find out... how? Where do we even begin?
quickly scans the area for a safe place to talk There should be a contact here in town who knows about the mafia.
Stranger
looking around cautiously A contact... here? In this godforsaken town?
spots a dimly lit bar with a back room There's a bar a few blocks down. Rumor has it, its back room is frequented by people who know too much.
Stranger
glancing at the bar, then back at Jaden The bar... okay, let's try it. But what the hell do we walk into there?
checks his pocket for any useful resources We go in quiet, no sudden moves.
Stranger
takes a deep breath, trying to steady their nerves Quiet and no sudden moves... got it. But, Jaden, what if they recognize us as troublemakers?
puts a finger to his mouth, signaling for silence We stick to our story, that we're here to inquire about the mafia's involvement.
Stranger
swallows hard, nodding slightly Okay... and what if our story raises more questions than answers?
looks determined, glancing at the direction of the bar Then we ask for a meeting with someone who might have some answers.
Stranger
exhales shakily A meeting... with someone who might actually know something. This is risking it all, Jaden...
As Jaden and Stranger cautiously enter the dimly lit bar, they notice a group of men in dark suits occupying a corner table, their aura screaming danger.
Stranger
eyes widening, whispering urgently Jaden... those men, they're not harmless bartenders.
freezes, his gaze fixed on the dangerous-looking men Shit. We need to approach them carefully.