I blinked in shock. What? How did letters I had no memory of writing end up in some strangers' mailbox? They weren't even addressed. Someone would have had to put the letters there for them to be found. But I didn’t. I didn’t even know Alex existed until he picked up Jay’s phone. I was beginning to become skeptical of Alex. I motioned for Sammy and Maggie to step away from Alex for a moment. Once we were out of earshot, I whispered, “Do you guys trust him? Because I don’t. Nothing he’s saying adds up. Unless I really got messed up in the woods, or he’s leaving out part of the story, he’s lying. That’s the only explanation.” Maggie sighed. “I mean, he has no reason to lie. All he’s doing is trying to help us. I say we trust him.” Sammy looked from Maggie, to me. After a moment of quiet thought, Sammy said, “I agree with Elias, Maggie. It doesn’t add up. I don’t know what happened to you in the woods, Elias, but I trust you over him.” We broke apart, walking back over to Alex. “May I read the second letter?” I asked. Alex handed it to me. This one wasn’t addressed either. I opened it, taking out a sheet of paper. Unlike the first letter, this one’s paper was in great condition. The letter was short.
217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qwR7sQ8PQ
To whoever needs it,
41.7658° N, 72.6734° W
217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkA1KnB1EaR
I refolded the letter. “That’s it?” Alex asked. I nodded. “Again, it’s my handwriting. I have no idea where those coordinates are. I don’t even know how to write or read coordinates. There’s also a weird symbol drawn at the bottom. It’s a bunch of triangles, all connected. I can’t describe it. It's a big triangle, then another, smaller and underside down. Then another one, right side up, and even smaller. Then it repeats. Getting smaller and smaller. I have no memory of writing this.” I was starting to get worried. What had happened to me in the woods? “Okay then. You got your stuff, I’m no longer needed. Bye.” Alex stood, taking the stairs out of the basement two at a time. I looked at Sammy in shock. That’s really all he wanted? “Did he just-” Maggie started, pointing at Alex’s empty seat, then the stairs. “Yes. He did,” Sammy stated simply. “I guess we figure out where the coordinates are,” I said. Sammy sighed. “But in the morning. It’s getting late.” I agreed. We’d all had a long day. I took the two letters, leaving the ash on the table. I never wanted to touch it again, even through the bag.
217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1baGJLuoh
Maggie, Sammy, and I left the Brick. We walked down Boulevard. We passed Maggie’s street, and she left. Then Sammy and I passed his street, and he left as well. I was alone. I kept walking until I got to my street.
217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlE4U0SttNm
Back in my room, I placed both letters on my desk. What did they mean? I turned on my tablet, only to see a new headline in the online newspaper. THE DEMONS HAVE RETURNED! IS THIS THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF SALEF? How had this writer found out about the demons? Was there another demon encounter, or did someone find out about Jay? “Elias? Are you back?” Mariah called out. “Yeah, I’m here!” I shouted back. “Can you come help me with dinner?”
“Coming!” I went downstairs. “How can I help?”
217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZGsI3katb
25 minutes later, Maggie and I had prepared dinner and were ready to eat. “Do you want me to get Logan?” I asked. “Sure, that would be great.” I jogged upstairs and knocked on Logan’s door. “Logan, it’s time for dinner.” There was no response. “Logan. Come on.” Again, no response. “I’m coming in.” I opened the door, looking around Logan’s room. Nothing was out of the ordinary, except for the fact that his window was open and he was nowhere to be seen. I called downstairs. “Uh, Mariah? We've got a problem.”
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