[color=lightgray][center][h1][color=red]FLASHBACK[/color] [color=5486ae]John[/color] & [color=D0B4EC]Charlotte[/color][/h1] [h3]Part 3[/h3][/center] [color=5486ae]Time:[/color] Ignis 1 Afternoon [color=5486ae]Location:[/color] Sorian Park [hr] The library’s hush gave way to the loud symphony of the Sorian streets as they stepped outside once again. Warm afternoon light spilled across the street. After a brief stroll, stone gave way to greenery as they crossed into the broad expanse of Sorian Park. Winding paths curled beneath canopies of trees. Families lounged on picnic blankets, vendors gave out treats from stands, and children raced between flowerbeds. The smell of warm bread and grass mingled in the air. At the center of it all rose the great stone fountain. And situated quite prominently beside the fountain was a neatly painted sign that read: [b]NO SWIMMING[/b]. Charlotte slowed, eyes sweeping across the fountain’s rim. Faint chalk smudges trailed along the edge: little doodles and half-wiped markings only a child’s hand could have left. [color=D0B4EC]“If Maurice was right,”[/color] she murmured, fingertips brushing the traces of chalk, [color=D0B4EC]“then they must have been here.”[/color] Her gaze drifted to the sign, then back to John, inviting him to draw the next conclusion. John observed the hints. It was easy to conclude that they really were there because of the chalk they carried, and it most likely was the case, but any kid could have made this as well. But the no swimming sign. Really determined kids meet the law. Didn’t seem like an awfully unpredictable scenario. [color=5486ae]”I’d probably ask one of the frequenters like we did with Maurice.”[/color] John suggested, his fingers gesturing towards the vendors. [color=5486ae]”If we have any guards here, we can ask. It might get us closer to the truth.”[/color] It would be rather hilarious if the ‘No Swimming’ sign was added today just because of the kids. That’s how it works often times. Charlotte gave John an approving nod, her expression brightening with purpose. [color=D0B4EC]“Yes, of course. Someone must have seen them. Let us inquire!”[/color] She glanced around, then noticed a uniformed park guard making his rounds near the path. With a wave of her hand, she called out: [color=D0B4EC]“Excuse me, sir, might we trouble you for a moment?”[/color] The guard paused his stride and glanced toward them with a face that suggested he had been through the ringer the last week. [color=4FCDE0]“Afternoon. What can I help you with?”[/color] Charlotte stepped forward. [color=D0B4EC]“We’re searching for a missing boy named Steven. About ten years old, blonde hair. We believe he may have come through here yesterday.”[/color] Recognition flickered instantly across the guard’s features. [color=4FCDE0]“Oh—[i]those[/i] three.”[/color] He planted his hands on his hips with an exasperated sigh. [color=4FCDE0]“Aye, I remember ’em. Tried climbin’ into the fountain like it was a public bath!”[/color] He jabbed a thumb toward the [b]NO SWIMMING[/b] sign. [color=4FCDE0]“Ran over, told ’em to scram. Too young to be out unsupervised anyway. Told ’em all three the same thing—‘Off you go, home!’”[/color] He shook his head. [color=4FCDE0]“They weren’t havin’ it. Kept mumblin’ about bein’ [i]determined[/i] to swim. Complained about the beach bein’ too cold, so they wanted to try here.”[/color] The guard continued: [color=4FCDE0]“One o’ the boys ducked into the bathroom while I was lecturin’ the other two. They left while he was in the bathroom. When he came out, I told [i]him[/i] the same—‘You too! Home!’ He wasn’t happy about it.”[/color] He scratched his cheek thoughtfully and shrugged. [color=4FCDE0]“Kids that age get ideas in their heads. There’s no stoppin’ ’em.”[/color] [color=5486ae]”Right?”[/color] John, per usual gossiping etiquette, nodded along and added friendly, non-committal opinions here and there. [color=5486ae]”Parents really need to drill lessons into them nowadays.”[/color] He tipped his cap politely. [color=4FCDE0]“Hope you find ’em. They looked awful set on trouble.”[/color] With that, he continued down the path. [color=5486ae]”Thank you.”[/color] Charlotte watched him go, then turned to John with a thoughtful crease between her brows. [color=D0B4EC]“If the beach was too cold, and the fountain forbidden… then where would those boys go next? And the one that got separated…”[/color] Her gaze lowered as she had been thinking, and then locked on a strange chalk drawing by the fountain. She crouched, lifting her skirt slightly off the damp stone. [color=D0B4EC]“Doctor…Look here.”[/color] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/lvQOovL.png[/img][/center] The first thing in John’s mind was that these kids were talking in languages too cryptic for his liking. What in a 10-year-old’s mind compelled them to communicate like this? [color=5486ae]”From my best guess, these two triangles seem to be the two kids that the guard lectured, while this drawing is the one who hid in the bathroom.”[/color] John crouched down by the drawing, theorizing the second thing that came to his mind. [color=5486ae]”The two goes right, and the one goes left.”[/color] The third thing, however, were the numbers, and that one… [color=5486ae]”Ugh, I have no idea what the numbers mean though.”[/color] John tilted his head back and forth. [color=5486ae]”What do you think?”[/color] All the while, he looked up and around to see where the kids may have gone. [color=5486ae]”Only Steven was missing? Or all three of them?”[/color] John probed further. [color=5486ae]”Could the one going to the bathroom be him?”[/color] Charlotte tilted her head. She had been staring at it for some time before she finally spoke up, [color=D0B4EC]“I suspect,”[/color] she began softly, [color=D0B4EC]“that the two boys who ran off left this as a message for the one who stayed behind in the bathroom.”[/color] She crouched to tap the scribble at the corner—the faint [i]A equals 1.[/i] [color=D0B4EC]“This here is the key,”[/color] she murmured. [color=D0B4EC]“If A is worth one, then the numbers in the code must correspond to other letters of the alphabet… ”[/color] [color=5486ae]”Then the second letter is A.”[/color] John recognized instantly, while counting the letters in his head as his fingers slowly fan out with each count. [color=5486ae]”Fourth is E, Third is K and first is L. Lake.”[/color] [color=D0B4EC]“Lake…”[/color] Charlotte echoed, as though testing the word for weight. Then her eyes brightened. [color=D0B4EC]“Both Maurice and the guard said the boys were utterly determined to swim, no matter what.”[/color] She straightened, brushing the pale stone dust from her palms. A genuine smile followed. [color=D0B4EC]“Very well done, Doctor.”[/color] John’s head perked up and looked in the direction of the Lover’s Lake. [color=5486ae]”The forest before the Lover’s Lake could be a place the kid can easily get lost under.”[/color] John theorized. [color=5486ae]”Let’s waste no time.”[/color] On the way, John turned to Charlotte, his instincts from familiar instincts compelled him to advise. [color=5486ae]”If there are guards posted there, tell them there may be a missing boy in the forest.”[/color] He said. [color=5486ae]”They don’t have to help, just keep them on high alert.”[/color] [color=D0B4EC]“A very good thought,”[/color] Charlotte agreed, already adjusting her pace to match his. [/color]