chapter 1 part 2

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A body hung from the ceiling, rope wrapped around its neck. It was dressed in a torn white tanktop and its face was bruised, scratched, and cut beyond recognition. Candles circled around under its legs.

Amber opened her mouth to scream, but Trey covered it quickly. She switched it to a whine instead.

"I can see why my parents don't let me down here now," Luca gulped.

Trey left Amber's side and got closer to the body. He poked it with a finger then jerked backward like he had been shocked. At this point, Luca wouldn't have been surprised if he was.

Luca spared a glance in Dylan's direction. The blond boy's face screamed that he was enjoying this.

"Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all," Trey darted back for the exit, grabbing Amber's arm along the way.

"Don't go," Dylan rasped, making everyone's heads snap to him. "This is... family..."

Trey sighed and shook his head. "Dylan, bud, that's a dead body. It's not family."

It was Dylan's turn to shake his head. He reached his hand up and touched it to the cold one of the body's. "This... father."

"Father?" Luca whispered.

Trey dragged Amber with him back inside the basement. He put his hands on Dylan's shoulders. "You're being delusional."

Carlee stepped forward to yank Trey away. "He might be right! Look!"

She pointed to the dead man's face where a single old scar was the only thing not covered in blood. Then she moved it to Dylan's face, the exact same scar in the exact same place.

"If that doesn't scream 'this man is Dylan's dad', I don't know what does," she folded her arms over her chest.

"A scar doesn't prove anything! Anyone can have scars on their faces!" Trey protested.

"But the _same_ shape and in the _same_ place?" Carlee asked. "Coincidence, I think _not_."

Amber took a deep breath. "She's right. Dylan never talks, yet he did and said this creepy dead guy hanging in Luca's parent's basement that they don't let him into is his dad. I think if we were to ever trust Dylan, it should be now."

Trey started to reach for Amber's hand, but she was already at Dylan's side and squeezing his free hand. Luca and Carlee glanced at each other in pleasant surprise and followed Amber's lead. Trey was the only one left. He slumped over.

"...fine..."