eleven

In the shadowy depths of the trees, something unnatural lurked. Hidden just beyond plain sight, barely noticeable without zooming in, two doll heads hung upside down from a low-hanging branch. Only heads, no bodies.

Their lifeless eyes stared into the darkness, their synthetic hair falling straight down like strands of ghostly silk.

'What the heck is this?' asked Adi

'Well, I know a place where this kinda thing is…expected' said Peter

'what place?' asked Anne

'Ever heard of Constitution Lake?' Peter said. 'There's a public trail near it called the Doll's Head Trail. People leave broken dolls, toy parts, and all kinds of weird stuff there. It's like some creepy art project.'

'How can this kind of place exist?' said Adi

'It's pretty fun there actually' answered Peter

'We are in Pittsburgh, so how far is Constitution Lake from here?' asked Anne

Peter smirked. 'Fifteen minutes. And since we're at my place… that means fifteen minutes.'

'Get in the car…it's time to hit the road' said Adi

'But why are we going there?' asked Anne

'Think about it…Dan didn't go that far to make a video. plus, it's not allowed to be there in the dark and he was there in the dark. That alone is suspicious.' said Peter, his eyes had confidence

Adi lifted a hand. 'Wait. There's something else we haven't considered.'

'What now?' frustrated Peter 'It's sunset in two hours'

'Dan's recording by his phone right?' asked Adi

'Yeah' answered Peter

'Then where is it? The phone, we didn't see Dan's phone after his death' said Adi

A silence fell over them.

'Maybe with his parents' said Anne

'They are one minute away on the way to the lake' said Peter

'Good…let's go' said Adi

They piled into the car, Peter taking the driver's seat. The ride was brief—barely a minute, covering less than a mile—before they pulled up in front of a bright yellow house.

They knocked on the door, Mrs. Smith opened the door

'Oh you guys, good to see you all. Come on in' said Mrs. Smith with a sweet smile

'Thank you but we are in a rush, I just have a quick question for you' said Adi

'Yeah, anything dear'

'Where is Dan's phone?' asked Adi in a polite manner

'Oh…they never found it' answered Mrs. Smith

'What?' shocked Anne

'Yeah…they never did' Mrs. Smith said again

'Thank you and have a nice day, Ma'am' said Adi

Back in the car, the atmosphere was tense.

Adi exhaled, staring ahead. 'Alright. I have a rough theory.'

Peter adjusted his mirrors. 'Oh, this should be good.'

Adi ignored him. 'Dan's phone is at the Doll's Head Trail. And if it is, there's a good chance there's something important on it.'

Anne sighed. 'So we're going there to find the phone.'

'Exactly.'

Peter smirked. 'Well, now we have a reason. Lucky you.'

Anne glared at him. 'Shut up.'

Peter chuckled, started the car, and they drove off—toward the Doll's Head Trail and whatever mystery Dan had left behind in his phone.