Between Heartbeats

*Past*

Isla sat in the living room of her home in Bramblewood, the weight of the night pressing down on her. The warm glow from the lamp did little to alleviate the chill of uncertainty surrounding her. Aiden, Lila, and Maya remained close, their support a comforting presence as they plotted their next steps.

"Okay, so what's our first move?" Isla asked, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her.

Maya leaned forward, her expression serious. "I suggest we start by looking into any records regarding your father's accident. If there's anything unusual, it might provide insight into what Tiffany is threatening to reveal."

Lila nodded, undeterred by the gravity of the situation. "We can check local archives in Bramblewood. I've been meaning to visit some of the history centers there. They might have documents or newspaper clippings from the time."

Isla felt a flicker of hope. "That sounds like a good plan. Maybe we can uncover something that helps us understand what really happened."

Aiden squeezed Isla's hand, grounding her in the moment. "And we'll keep an eye on Tiffany. If she's sniffing around for information, we can't let her catch us off guard."

As they strategized, Isla's thoughts drifted back to her father. She remembered his laughter and warmth, the way he made her feel safe. The idea that there could be dark secrets hidden beneath those memories felt like a betrayal.

"What if I don't like what we find?" Isla murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Then we deal with it," Aiden replied softly. "You've got us, Isla. We'll face it together."

The resolve in his voice calmed her nerves, and she nodded. "You're right. I can't keep living in the dark."

Maya glanced at her phone, breaking the moment. "If we're going to check the archives, we should do it soon. Tiffany might be planning something, and we need to be prepared."

"Let's do it tomorrow," Lila suggested. "We can make a day of it—Bramblewood's not far from Edinburgh. A little adventure to shake off the tension."

As they wrapped up their plans, a sense of purpose filled the room, pushing aside some of the heaviness. But as Isla lay in bed that night, the thoughts of her father swirled like a storm in her mind. What had he been involved in? What truth was buried beneath the surface?

~~~

The next morning dawned bright and crisp, the autumn air biting as they made their way to Bramblewood. The leaves crunched beneath their feet as they walked through the quaint village, a place steeped in history and charm. But today, Isla felt the weight of its secrets.

Arriving at the local history center, the group was greeted by a warm, cozy atmosphere filled with shelves of books and archives. An elderly woman at the front desk smiled kindly. "Can I help you?"

"We're looking for records related to a car accident from about ten years ago," Lila said, her tone respectful yet eager.

The woman raised an eyebrow, then nodded. "I can help you with that. We keep records in the back. Follow me."

As they walked through the center, Isla's heart raced. Every step felt like it brought her closer to answers, yet also deeper into a maze of uncertainty.

Once in the back room, the woman led them to a stack of old newspapers. "This might take some time. The archives are not completely digitized yet."

As they began to sift through the papers, Isla felt a mix of excitement and dread. "What if we find something... disturbing?" she asked, glancing at Aiden.