Last chapter depicted a very sad tale. This week, we see things from Andrew’s perspective. While the original plan was to create an alternate chapter for the reader to skip the drama of the one below, I hope this gives the reader a different emotional take on the story’s darkest hour. Without further delay, the monster tale continues.

Leading Up to The First Incident

Mrs Edward had briefed Erica well. Such thorough background information made Erica’s hunt for Andrew’s information easier. However. Erica’s encounter with Andrew had been unexpected.

Forcing herself to wipe the feeling’s slate clean, Erica reviewed all her notes very carefully. Andrew knew her. He spoke to her heart. He moved her soul. He directed her with ease.

The last client who had come close to moving Erica like Andrew had was a widower. This older man had sufficient life experience to move Erica. Her role was to help him get back a degree of confidence to enter the dating world again.

The poor guy was not able to separate his physical attraction to her youth from his dating goals in the opening sessions. She had stayed the course because she had appreciated the challenge of leading him to his own authentic truth.

Andrew was different. His internal compass was intact.

Whatever was his weakness, the Edward Family did not know. They had no clue. The gals who dated Andrew left interesting messages about him.

He was the perfect one who got way… was the consistent theme Erica kept running into.

The research had led Erica to uncover a few other women who had wished to be so lucky as to know Andrew on a personal level. They all had unique stories that had one similar thread of commonality.

Andrew was very private. His trust had to be earned.

Yet, not a single person could say they had his undivided attention. This included those who claimed to be his long time close friends, buddies, and ride-and-die bffs.

Andrew’s circle was very small considering how popular and well known he was. He was very liked. Yet, his circle was out of reach of his family.

After Andrew left his parent’s house, Erica had called Mrs Edward for permission to go through the house. She needed to find more clues. There was no way to help someone if she had no personal insight that could break the most fortified of emotional walls.

How could someone live in a house full of normal vibrant social people and be a ghost?

Mr Edward, using his security app, watched with concern as Erica skillfully searched Andrew’s old room. As he watched her search, Mr Edward began to realize how much he did not know his son. There were things he had taken for granted. Erica was examining the mundane things the family gave little importance to.

Unlike all the other rooms in the house, Andrew’s old room was in the same exact condition it had been when he left. Of course, they dusted, but they left everything as it was.

Watching Erica search brought out the fact that the room felt oddly sterile. It held no memorable stuff. No photos. The sole mirror was covered by a map of the neighborhood. At the time, everyone had made fun of him for not using the wall to hang the map.

But now, what did this mean? Why was Erica so fascinated by this fact as well?

The room was very functional. Everything had a purpose. It was set up with great intentionality. If Mr Edward didn’t know better, he would conclude the room was designed to fool them that everything was perfectly well with their son.

No naughty magazines. No journals. No secret compartments. No hidden anything.

There was one other detail that seemed to puzzle Erica a lot. The closet. It was meticulously set. It was all utility and ease of use. Save one little detail.

A thin blanket that covered a little box. It was an empty cut-out of space in the closet. It had no clear function. Nothing appeared missing.

Mr Edward watched with great intrigue as Erica figured out what the space was used for. It was the right size for a teen to slip into and hide. A meditation type hide out place.

Erica sat in the spot perfectly. Just enough room to fit her alone, not even her bag could fit. Then, the sheet slipped over the entrance and she was gone. Blended into the closet.

What could this possibly mean?

The look of perplexity Erica had was not lost on Mr Edward either. Nor the fact that on emerging out, she caught the hidden camera he was using. She pulled out her phone and called someone.