It was evening time at the Golden Apple Amusement Park. Yes, security is still in development and the news of the Enigma's raid was spreading around the town like wildfire. Some people were now getting suspicious about Gordon and Dale, but they knew there has to be proof in order to settle their suspicions.
Dale: "So I had a small talk with Tavish and so far things are coming into action. All we need are a few new costumes and we will have a slam-dunk living in this town."
Gordon: "So when did he say all this would be completed?"
Dale: "He said he was almost done."
Gordon: "Almost? I hate almost!"
Dale: "Gordon, calm down. Soon the other members will learn that we are back and we can continue our plans."
Gordon: "Yeah, but that depends on the number of members."
Dale: "What do you mean by that?"
Gordon: "Seriously man, I'm talking about that masked freak we encountered the other day. Just knowing that this person is not only responsible for those people going missing, but how he's also had fun on kidnaping our members makes things way too unsettling for me."
Dale: "Well, all we have to do is tell Tavish about our discovery and he'll do something to stop this."
Gordon: "Seriously Dale, it took that man two years to get us out of that jail and he isn't doing a good job with our conditions. Even though he is a member of the Forest Protectors I don't trust giving that man any information anymore than I can kick him."
As Gordon settles down beside a tree and rests his body after all that standing. He continues with his rant.
Gordon: "Plus the man mentioned that there were more member working with him so if we somehow managed to deal with him, we'd now have to worry about several more members lurking about ready to either finish us off when we'd least expect it or start a war with the Forest Protectors animist likely the townsfolk too."
Dale: "So what do you have in mind if you care that much?"
Gordon: "Well, before we can come up with anything else, we have to lay low for a bit and then we can come up with something. But we need to be careful. We don't know if there are other members of that masked freak's clan lurking about spying on us."
And just from mentioning that, Dale and Gordon quickly looked around the place to see if anyone was watching. They may have luck on their side, but they've learned the hard way that it won't last forever.
Gordon: "We just gotta lay low and watch from a distance. Besides, I'm sure Aaron Peterson's friends will get their nose stuck on this guy. I'd been getting visions lately on those freakish people going about getting into all sorts creepy business lately."
At gamers grotto, Maritza and Delroy were having a conversation while gaming.
Delroy: "Look, all I'm saying it's ridiculous to say that the staircase was made with just a hammer and saw. Obviously you can't form the twists nor make the balusters without more sophisticated equipment, like a lathe."
Maritza: "Pal, you calling a burrito a "gift to mankind" is one of the funniest things I heard all day. I'm not even sure why you are talking about houses all of a sudden."
Delroy: "Well of course it is a gift. And I'm surprised you even consider that a joke. And as for houses, it's getting ridiculous seeing all these weird designs in this town. Some of them are crooked, others have stilt-like structures supporting them and most of them look half finished as well. I mean seriously, who even constructed them?"
Maritza: "I dunno, maybe this towns trying to live like birds since their houses do look like nests and this is Raven Brooks after all."
Delroy: "Now what kind of joke was that?"
But this wasn't the time for Maritza to indulge in jokes. There was some serious work that she had been putting off for too long and now it was time for her to deal with her task. After several more minutes of gaming and chatting the two were off returning to their homes. As Maritza entered her room, all sorts of theories and pondering was flowing inside her head. Theory and speculation was all over the mind and the want for information was driving determination into her. The woman then noticed the Golden Apple charm bracelet she and her friends Lucy and Mya owned.
Maritza: "The Golden Apple Park has been facing a lot of activity before. I'm pretty sure this would be the first place where I can begin my search. Besides, I've visited that place many times before and even Nicky's had his time over there many times too. This would be a piece of cake if they didn't had those rules."
Since EarthPro now owns this land and faced many casualties, the company had doubled down with the rules. So if Maritza wanted to enter that place, she needed to be accompanied by someone in order to gain access to certain areas locked off by fences and gates, but the thought of having some random person monitoring her every move wasn't settling right for her. Not only that, but there was a possibility that that person could somehow be a part of the kidnappings to. As Maritza was looking through her photo album, she noticed an old picture of her and her aunt Beatrix. And that was where she got an idea.
Now Beatrix isn't really Maritza's aunt, however she and Quentin are good friends with Miguel family, so both Maritza and Enzo would only call them Uncle and Aunt out of courtesy. She was also a security guard for the Golden Apple amusement Park to. Now don't underestimate this person. She is a tough woman who was skilled on outsmarting dangerous people and skilled with weapons such as guns, tasers, and carries a pepper spray too. She was the right one who Maritza can trust.
Maritza: "Looks like I'm going to be having a girls night out."
As the determined detective was heading downstair with her backpack, ready to leave, her father Miguel, looked as if he were ready to do his own thing too. So Maritza tells him that she was going out with her aunt Beatrix for the night and her father approves. He knew that his daughter would be safe and he could trust her.
Miguel: "Okay Maritza, make sure you listen to everything Beatrix says and don't get into trouble okay."
Maritza: "Yes Dad."
Miguel: "And make sure you don't talk to any aliens too. Narf warned me about them lately and I can't allow them to extract any secrets from you."
Maritza lets a chuckle at her dad's joke. Yes, her friend Nicky for some strange reason believes that aliens are real, but she humors that theory...well, most of the time.
Maritza: "So what are you and Enzo going to be doing while I'm out huh? I hope you two art planning to do any drag racing again."
Miguel: " Well I'm just going to a get together with your uncle Giancarlo, and his spouse Yalem while Enzo..."
Suddenly there was the sound of objects dropping all over in Enzo's room.
Maritza and Miguel: "Trinity."
As everyone was leaving, Maritza arrived at the gates of the park to be greeted by a slender woman opening the gate to a path, leading to the Golden Apple Amusement Park. Turns out it was Beatrix. As Maritza greets her, the two enter the area.
Maritza: "I can't thank you enough Aunt Beatrix. I mean yes I can handle things myself around here but with things getting crazy around here, I could use some help."
Beatrix: "Well Mari, it's always a pleasure to have someone with me while I do my rounds and I don't mind helping you with your investigation too. Also thanks for bringing in the leftovers."
Maritza: "I knew you'd enjoy them."
As the two began looking around the place, checking for any strange activity, the two began chatting about all that has happened these past few days.
Maritza: "And ever since Trinity decided to start that new club, EarthPro seems to lean more on that new club instead of the Engineering Club."
Beatrix: "Hmm, I'll bet Ivan's getting stressed out finding a new sponsor too."
Maritza: "Oh, they don't know just yet, which makes it more suspenseful."
Beatrix: "You do realize that both he and Nicky will blow their heads when they find out."
Maritza: "That's what I told Trinity, but she did say she was going to find the right time to tell them, so I'll hold her to that."
Beatrix: "And you did say that Trinity had not just Enzo and Finch on her side, but a new member too?"
Maritza: "Yep, her name is Jeanette Miller. A pale skin girl who was very much on board with the new club."
Beatrix: "Oh yeah, I've seen her a few times before. In fact I even know Jeanette's mother, Mrs. Miller. She's actually a new employee of EarthPro who had just arrived in this town."
Maritza: "Seriously crazy how EarthPro keeps losing all these employees to this kidnapper."
Beatrix: "Tell me about it. I've had to purchase more weapons recently after I heard what he did to all the seventeen employees. In fact, I still wonder how he'd managed to bring them down in one night without leaving any evidence."
Maritza: "What I want to know is how that person was able to slip away from the cops and still do his job."
Beatrix: "Well that's it. This guy is so hard to profile since he would always strike without warning and leaves no form of evidence behind. No one knows when or how this even started."
Maritza: "But hopefully it will end."
Beatrix: "Yeah, I keep telling myself that a lot."
Maritza: "So, when do you want to have those leftovers, now or later?"
Beatrix: "Now! Definitely now."
As the two were returning to the post, they could hear an echoing commotion. As the two followed the sound, they reached toward one of the gates, on to discover it was at the junkyard next to the Golden Apple Park. So they head straight to the front of the gate, entered Beatrix's van, and drove several miles to the junkyard and parked at a far distance away from the parking lot, to avoid having the van seen. As they entered inside the territory, a cloaked man was rummaging through the piles of equipment and broken parts.
Maritza (whispering): "The Enigma."
Beatrix (whispering): "Who?"
Maritza (whispering): "That's what I call that man. It's something catchy that suits him."
Beatrix (whispering): "Eh, fair point. Besides, that's kinda like how Quentin and I would call our large bird friend the Guest."
The Enigma was searching the area and he did not look pleased. He was knocking down equipment, spouting frustrated words, and keeping a look out for any intruders.
Enigma: "This can't be happening! This isn't possible! No! No! NO! I was a fool to showboat my property like that! I wasn't carful! I was too careless! I need to find it now!"
After minutes of sorting out junk and supplies, the Enigma was looking furious, meaning he had failed on locating whatever he was looking for. The Enigma then punched down a pile of crates and let out a horrific scream... no, roar, starling Maritza and Beatrix.
Enigma: "*Pant* *pant* the park. Yes, it has to be at the park. No, the factory! It must be at the factory!"
As the Enigma was leaving the yard, Maritza and Beatrix knew they needed to see what the Enigma was up to. Whatever the man had planned, it wasn't looking very good. But as the two were ready to track him they noticed a familiar person nearby.
Maritza (whispering): "Him!? Are you serious?!"
It was the famous amusement park designer Mr. Theodore Masters Peterson entering the premises.
Maritza (whispering): "He has to be working with the cloaked man."
But Maritza could never be more wrong. As she and Beatrix were observing the scene, Peterson and the Enigma looked stand offish at each other. They did not look like the type of people who would work well together. Not only that but the way how those two would stare at each other was like they could see something in themselves which they did not like. After the long stare that they gave each other, the two went their separate ways.
Maritza (whispering): "We're losing him."
Beatrix (whispering): "Oh no! My supervisor is suppose to come by and see if I'm still guarding the park! We have to go back to the factory."
But the two release that they would bump into Mr. Peterson if they got out of their spot and right now that man is not the type of person whom some would look at as a safe person. That man also has his own problems and crazy history to deal with. So the two sprint walked and bypassed any material which would alert him to their presence. But Peterson was not an oblivious person. The man can be very studious and alert to the things around him at times. Bypassing Mr. Peterson took great skill and focused concentration. One wrong move could send those two into unknown disaster. As Mr. Peterson scrutinized and searching through the piles of junk for materials, Maritza and Beatrix collected enough stamina to make it out. They managed to enter the van successfully and were driving off, the two saw Mr. Peterson staring at them on the mirror and it almost looks as if it were staring into their souls!
Maritza: "*Shudder* That man gets more weird by the days."
Beatrix: "Still amazed how a guy like him is responsible for the designs of the Golden Apple Park."
As the two were driving to the park, the ride was silent. That is until Beatrix breaks that silence.
Beatrix: "So Mari, your brother Enzo has been telling Quentin that you've been having strange nightmares lately and I am wondering if you're alright. I'm only asking now since you know, just in case this is really our last time together."
Maritza: "Eh, so far so good. But as for the nightmares, I already have an idea what it is but...nah...it's not so believable."
Beatrix: "No no. I'm curious."
Maritza: "But it would sound ridiculous to you."
Beatrix: "Girl, I have seen all sorts of weird things in this town and had my fair share of getting into all sorts of scenarios because of them. I'm sure what you have wont make a difference."
Hearing that made Maritza relived to that and thought it would be a good time to tell someone. Yeah, Beatrix was an aunt figure to her at first, but after she and her brother lost their mother to cancer, Beatrix has been there like a mother figure to she and her brother. It would be best to not only tell her about the cause of her visions, but the mystery behind the thing responsible for them.
Maritza: "There is a weird device that I own. I think it's what's causing me to see these visions."
The girl pulls out the device from her pocked and shows it to Beatrix.
As soon as Beatrix saw that device, she swerves the van off the road to the dirty road. Beatrix slowly looks at the device and takes minutes observing it. Maritza had millions of things going on in her mind. If she was in trouble or if Beatrix had some history with that device.
Beatrix (stern voice): "Where did you get that?"
Maritza (worried): "A man named Norman Darby hand me this. He also had a history with Aaron Peterson...and I'm suppose to...be careful."
Beatrix stares out into the street for a few moments, takes a deep breath, and says something interesting.
Beatrix: "Norman was right to trust you with this. I guess the dreams I had meant something after all."
Maritza: "What dreams?"
Beatrix pulls something from her pocket and reveals something to Maritza which has her surprised!
There in front of her was another device, but it was a different color, meaning it most likely has different properties.
Maritza: "How did you..."
Beatrix: "I found it at the park, after a fight between the Enigma, Dale Tapps, and Gordon Cleave."
This news made Maritza shocked, yes the Enigma involved in something strange was bad enough, but Gordon Cleave and Dale Tapps was bad news! Those two are danger people and are folk never to be underestimated. The thought of those two in action or up to something made Maritza worry what they could have planned. But it did relieved her that the two were in a fight with the Enigma, meaning they weren't on the same side.
Beatrix: "Who else did you show this device too?"
Maritza: "You are the first one."
Beatrix: "Look, while I'm glad you showed me before you showed it to someone suspicious, you need to eventually show this to your father and brother."
Maritza: "I haven't found the time to do that. There is something in me giving me the red light not to do that yet or, someone would come in and would try to eavesdrop on the conversation."
Beatrix: "Well Mari, just remember, it's not always good to have important information sunken down with you. But it's good that you are being careful with the people who you trust. There are dangerous people out there who know the real power these devices have and if the Enigma is behind this, there's no telling what can be done."
As the two continued tracking the enigma down to the park, they were surprised to see him driving to a path away from the park and into a different location. Once the Enigma parks his van and goes deep into the woods, Beatrix parks her vehicle in a safe and accessible spot where the Enigma can't see them. Then heads outside ready to track down the mysterious person. As Maritza was going to head out Beatrix stopped her.
Beatrix: "Ok look, I don't trust this guy right here so I want you to stay right here and be on the lookout."
Beatrix gives Maritza a walkie talkie and a spare taser. She trained Maritza how to properly defend herself in hand to hand combat and how to handle security weapons. So she was confident in her.
Beatrix: "This will only take a few minutes. And don't worry. We'll be fine."
Maritza: "Ok aunt Bea."
Now to Beatrix, this was just like her normal night guarding the park. However, the only difference is that instead of a mysterious person wearing a bird costume, it was a masked man who had a set of unknown skills. As she enters the woods, she tries to keep herself composed while she does her search.
Beatrix: "Deep breathes."
Rustling leaves and sounds of metal parts could be heard from afar. The Enigma was close, but both she and the man were not at the park anymore. It was at the border between Raven Brooks and the outskirts of this county. Beatrix then realize that she was now in the Enigma's territory now. As she was observing the area, she noticed a sign which said Mill Territory.
Enigma: "Once I do a quick set up here I will go to the Golden Apple area and continue my search. That and maybe collect a few supplies for myself. Yeah, that may look like stealing, but the folks did claim that they have no use for any of that junk."
Beatrix (whispering): "He steals?"
The woman quickly covers her mouth after realizing what she did.
Enigma: "Who's there!? Show yourself fool!"
Beatrix was not going to have any danger so she held her breath and hid inside a bush.
Enigma: "Either you come out or I will punish you severely!"
Each moment was making the security guard more nervous than ever.
Enigma: "I do not take kindly to trespassers and obnoxious idiots! Show yourself now or I will deal with you the hard way!"
Beatrix did everything she could to keep the Enigma from discovering her hiding spot. This person was not the type to be friendly and from the aggressive tone in his voice and the look of visceral hatred in his eyes made were more red flags.
Enigma: "This is your last chance! Show yourself, or face the consequences! The consequences of my power and skills!"
The Enigma then rips up one of the bushes and looked all over the area with thorough caution. He was not in the mood to silence and capture anymore witnesses tonight and he had bigger tasks to focus on. As he tore up another bush, a feral pair of raccoons pounced one him, causing the man to lose balance and trip into a ditch.
Enigma: "Argh, not this! Get off me you worthless creatures!"
Beatrix takes this opportunity to run back to the van, only to have the Enigma notice her and follow the woman.
Enigma: "Stop you filthy intruder!"
As Beatrix runs, the Enigma pounces at her, only to get his face smashed by a tree. The frustrated man lets out a roar and proceeds to attack but Beatrix grabs out a pile of stones and flings them at him, giving the attacker a headache. She continues to run until she reaches the van, but her leg gets grabbed by the deranged man. Fortunately, it was dark and he could see what she looked like, but he did tried to suffocate her with his hands. As the struggle was happening, Maritza grabs out a crowbar and proceeds to whack the man's back several times, mashing it like burger meat. Then Beatrix kicks him and shoves the dude down a fence, damaging him even more. But the Enigma wouldn't give up. He searches his pockets for something only to realize he'd lost that too. He tries to fled only to have Maritza and Beatrix shove him down a hill, making him roll and tumble all over like a sack of potatoes. When the two hear a violent thud, they entered the van and drove off not want to risk getting themselves into even more problems.
Maritza: "Yeah, so what was all that back there!?"
Beatrix gets Maritza up to speed on the Enigma's plan to search the park for something he'd lost and how he was going to steal some parts too. They never planned on getting someone injured that night but the man was planing on breaking into the park and create problems for them another time, so that needed to be done.
Beatrix: "We'd better set up some barb wired fences incase the man decides to break into the park."
Maritza: "Agreed."
Beatrix: "I'm sure after all of that, the Enigma won't even think of breaking into the park though."
Maritza: "That and he has been stealing several supplies around the park."
Beatrix: "What?"
Maritza: "At first I thought the people at EarthPro gave him some supplies, but after hearing about him breaking into the park and factory grounds many times, it's become clear the dude has been stealing things."
Beatrix: "I'll try to convince the EarthPro team to set up some security cameras and this time set up more sturdy."
Maritza: "Let me guess, he's been stealing that too."
As the van was doing away, the Enigma slowly walks back up to the parking lot only to see two of his victims leave. With the amount of injuries he'd had that night, he wasn't going to go break into the park and continue his search. However, he knew that things were slowly falling apart for his plan and that if those two had gotten to him then others will. He knew his reign of terror was going to end if this keeps up, so it was time to take drastic measures.
Enigma: "That's it, no more playing around. It's time for me to flush out some people."