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It's Ty not Tay
First Letter

First Letter

Tyler had been hanging for almost an hour. No matter what the brothers threw at him he didn't cry out or show a hint of fear. The two were both furious and a little shocked. He was bleeding so much he probably couldn't take anymore whether it hurt or not. At this point they wanted to end it quickly.

It was the teacher who picked up a small axe and handed it to the partner. Tyler knew that this was it. The man lifted his arm back, brought it forward quickly, and released the axe, sending it flying straight towards his chest. Tyler didn't blink. He choked and coughed blood. He was dizzy and couldn't breathe properly anymore. He was suffocating as the last of his senses went out. Right as everything blurred Tyler looked up towards that forest path. There was a slight hint of blue in the surrounding green.

From all directions there were footsteps growing louder as they closed in. Tyler however couldn't see or hear anything else. His pulse had already stopped.

When the brothers realized what was happening it was too late. They never expected this place to be found so they were unprepared and immediately detained before they could escape. Eyes wider than ever before the teacher looked at the boy who he had just killed. His face had been calm the whole time and now his mouth was curved upwards in a way that was just barely noticeable. It was like he was staring directly into his soul and laughing at him mockingly. It was as if to say he lost before he even began.

The teacher immediately lost it from this humiliation and started to flail around yelling and shouting nonsense. He cursed these two kids who beat him. The cops had forcefully held him down. His partner was a lot quieter. He didn't understand why it turned out like this. There shouldn't have been anything that could leak their location so what happened?

As they were taken away an officer exiting the cabin called out: I found it under the couch. The angle matches. Also there's a new recording that was still on when I found it.

The brothers saw the phone in the corner of their eyes as they were dragged away. The partner furrowed his brows in distaste but kept silent. The teacher also recognized the phone. He had tossed it back to Taylor to prove that it didn't work.

Why did it suddenly send a message now?

In his confusion he finally stopped yelling and only mumbled nonstop about how he was cursed from the beginning.

The officers and paramedics got Tyler down but it was too late. He was still warm so anyone could tell that they were just a few minutes late. Nobody's faces could conceal the regret in their hearts. They all lamented about this kid who suffered so greatly. A few officers came from around the back saying that they found the other bodies. Everyone immediately got to work.

Joseph and Mia were told to stay away for the time being but after they saw the two men being taken away in cuffs they couldn't wait any longer. They ran past the officers and saw the boy laying on the ground covered in a deep red. Mia already learned that this wasn't Taylor but was still shocked when she saw his face. She remembered how Taylor looked in his video. Joseph didn't say a word. He was too shocked. He had done his best to stop Tyler from disappearing the way Taylor did. But the result was the same.

To the side the officers were removing the bodies from the flower garden. A lot were too decayed to recognize. Only the two newest still looked recognizable. Both Joseph and Mia looked over. They needed to see with their own eyes. The people they loved disappeared without a trace. What they wanted more than anything was the truth. To see them with their own eyes if they were really gone. They both went over to identify the bodies.

The chief stayed with them the whole time. This happened under his watch. Shame such as this should be remembered for the rest of his life. He wouldn't let any officers under him ever make this mistake again.

The bodies were covered and lined up together. Joseph and Mia looked at the three in front of them. The cloth was moved and the tears they refused to shed all this time finally fell. They could see how many wounds they had. Pain could be felt just by looking at them. They had suffered alone. Neither Mia nor Joseph could do anything for them now. It was too late. They couldn't even say goodbye.

Both of them didn't stop crying for hours. They eventually passed out in a spare room at the police office. They slept a long time. Neither of them had a decent sleep in a long time. The answers to their questions were finally found. After a month everything was finally over.

Thirty-first day of May.

Plenty of advisors were replaced and all the officers did everything in their power to review and solve every case properly, not allowing for any mistakes to happen ever again. The people in town had now learned the truth and we're disgusted that such a thing happened so close to home. Everyone recognized their own faults in the matter and didn't make a fuss blaming each other. Mia had stayed in town for the rest of the month going over any other details needed. She wanted to be there for her friend's funeral as well as for the two boys who found the truth for her.

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Both Joseph and Mia were still depressed despite being prepared for the outcome. Neither one tried to console the other knowing it wouldn't matter. No one but themselves could understand the things they were feeling right now. Instead they met up to talk about the people they lost. Mia went on to tell him about her experience with Taylor and told stories about her friend and her. Hearing the mention of a puppy Joseph recalled the one Taylor and Tyler would feed.

Seeing the dog her friend wanted to raise still alive released some of her stress. Joseph also smiled a bit when he remembered how the dog would follow Tyler around. At the time he was so focused on finding Taylor he didn't make the connection.

Joseph would also tell Mia about how he and Taylor used to be. Mia remembered something and handed Joseph the letter that Taylor had made that day. He didn't open it immediately and instead pulled out another letter addressed to him.

Mia asked: Why don't you open them?

Joseph: This one's from Taylor and this one's from Tyler.

At the time Joseph had thought that Tyler was dragged into his mess because of his own plan to use his resemblance to Taylor. Later after questioning the murderers the police discovered that wasn't exactly the case. Which meant that both Tyler and Taylor had gone in knowing the risks and they both wrote him a letter beforehand.

Mia questioned: You're worried about why they might have done such a thing?

Joseph shook his head: These are the last words sent to me from Taylor. This is most likely a letter saying goodbye or something. I just don't know if I'll be able to handle it.

Mia: I see. To be honest I told him to write that. He said that people like us are the same. If given the chance we would have taken their place. When I think about her I just wish that we could have had a chance to say something more. I didn't get that final message. If Taylor was right and we are the same then I think you should read it so we don't have the same regrets.

Joseph was quiet for a moment. Taylor was right, he and Mia were the same. He could tell since they first met. If Mia regrets not getting that final message then he would too.

Joseph: Can you read them with me?

Mia nodded and Joseph opened the letter. The two sat on the bench and read the letter quietly. After reading they paused and looked at eachother. Then for the first time in a long time they burst out laughing.

Taylor wrote: Dear Joseph. I'm writing this because I'm doing something that might not work out. If so then Mia was instructed to give this to you. Personally I don't prefer such an outcome. You seem strong but I know how much you hate being alone.

First of all I should probably apologize for not telling you. I hope you aren't too mad about that. Secondly just because I'm gone doesn't mean I'm not watching so if I find out that you've thrown your life away because of this I'll refuse to talk to you in the next life. You're really smart and I know you like to find new things so don't confine yourself to this place. If you're worried then don't be. I have a feeling that you'll be able to have a good life even without me. I've done a lot of good in my life so I'll use everyday to wish for you to meet someone like me who can help you. If such a day comes where I'm no longer around I know someone else will pop up. I know it isn't like to be superstitious but I'm willing to do anything to protect you so thank me when such a person arrives.

Now then to prove I'm watching. Mia, I've seen how strong you are. You might blame yourself a little but like I said before I'm doing this because I can. Please continue to live well and one day it'll be your turn to protect someone else. Anything else doesn't need to be said. If you regret not protecting me, protect someone else you two.

P.S. I have a feeling that the dog will be just fine so you two can discuss how to raise it. Also I better be buried by that tree or I'm ignoring you for three more lifetimes. Got it!!!

Joseph and Mia were both shocked at how perceptive Taylor was. Thinking about it made them laugh and made them cry a little. Being scolded from beyond the grave was really something. The most noticeable thing was that he didn't say goodbye. It's hard to say whether he forgot or simply didn't care to. Knowing his personality the two wondered if he did it purposefully to keep them thinking he really was still there watching.

Mia didn't get a last note from her friend but reading this she felt that had she'd been given the opportunity her letter would have looked something like this. The shadows in both of their hearts faded a little. Joseph closed the letter and put it back. He held onto Tyler's letter before opening it.

Mia and Joseph both had doubts about Tyler. There were too many questions surrounding him. Joseph told Mia where and how he met Tyler. As they discussed his interactions the list of curious things grew. Who was this boy? Where did he come from? For him to look so much like Taylor and then appear after Taylor vanished. Why did he choose to risk his life to finish Taylors plan? Were the answers in this letter?

Even the cops had some unexplained mysteries about the case. Taylor had left the phone hidden with messages and a recording set to send when the phone had a connection. It was a last resort for if he couldn't escape with his life. He had already been in contact with Mia beforehand saying where he was going and who his suspect was. He even predicted whereabouts he might end up after being taken. If he didn't return Mia would come back as soon as possible and give her phone to the police as a lead.

It was possible that the police would find the cabin but not have enough evidence to find the bodies. This was why Taylor planted the phone under the couch after hitting record. He got the answer he wanted. He knew where the bodies were so he only needed to escape. When the police would find the phone they only would have needed to charge it and connect it to a signal for a clear recording of the man's confession and the whereabouts of the corpses.

When Taylor was instead caught and brought back to the cabin the place where he was killed was in clear view of the camera. If Mia couldn't get back in time and the murderers found the phone first. Then the evidence Taylor lost his life to obtain would be lost.

Tyler had gone in with no knowledge of Taylor's original plans. He could only make assumptions on Taylors character. He didn't know about Mia but he knew that Taylor wouldn't have had no back up plan. He would have planned something in case of his death and Tyler only needed to find it. And then he found the phone.

But what no one could understand is how he did it. Why did the phone turn on when it should have already died a week before Tyler arrived? And how did it connect to a nonexistent signal and even start a new recording creating more evidence? There wasn't a clear answer no matter what they tried. The only person who knows how he did it is Tyler and Tyler could no longer answer anyone's questions.

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