"You're sure his first name was Brett, Violet?" Todd inquired in his usual nonchalant tone, staring at his computer screen with a puzzled expression

"I'm positive," she replied. Her voice was incredibly hoarse from crying. She had to speak as loud as she could just so the boys could hear her. "Why?"

"I'm unable to find any record of an officer by that name."

"Huh?"

Larry, Sal, and Violet all moved to look over Todd's shoulders, skimming the list of names on his computer screen. Sure enough, Brett's name and picture was nowhere to be seen, nor was Deb's.

"We saw him with our own eyes, man," Larry insisted.

"I believe you. This isn't the first time this has happened. Do you remember Mrs. Sanderson's murder?"

"Shit, those cops disappeared too?"

"Yes."

"Hold on," Violet interjected. "You mean that there's no trace of my mom's case or anyone involved?"

"That is correct."

"The cops weren't going to help anyway. I don't think this changes anything," Sal reasoned.

Larry nodded. "I second that, little dude."

She looked at each of the boys, her expression shifting into one that none of them could quite read. "They're hiding something. They weren't too busy for me, they just didn't want me on their trail."

"That's not an unreasonable conclusion," Todd said. "We'll need to develop a plan to uncover what exactly it is that they're hiding."

"I-I don't even know where to start..."

The red-haired boy's eyes flitted over to where Sal was standing. Judging by the purposeful look on his face, he already had one in mind. Sal, on the other hand, stared back at him with confusion.

"You still have the Super Gear Boy, right?"

"Uh, yeah, it's in my room. Why?"

"We have eyes on the other side. Perhaps they could be of some help."

Violet turned to Sal with a frown. "Other side?"

"Guys, I can't—"

Larry stopped him before he could continue by placing a hand on his shoulder. "Dude, you gotta take her. This could be her only hope."

"What are you guys talking about?"

There was a long, agonizing silence as a massive battle broke out in Sal's head. He vowed to never involve Violet in anything cult-related or paranormal just weeks after she moved in. For all this time, he did well to keep the secret from her. Alas, Larry and Todd were right. The spirits he'd befriended throughout the building may be their only shot at finding her mother. He had no right keeping her away from it.

"Alright," he breathed. "You guys keep researching. The less of us that go, the better."

He gestured for Violet to follow him toward the door, which she eagerly did. A flood of questions had already rushed into her mind. She had no idea where Sal was taking her or what this "other side" the boys referred to entailed. What she did know, however, was that it could help her find her mother. She was prepared to do whatever it took.

"Sally, what is going on?" She questioned the blue-haired boy once the two stepped out of Todd's apartment. "Where are we going?"

He sighed. "Listen, Vi, I'm not gonna give you more information than you can handle right now. Long story short, I've been communicating with the ghosts that are trapped in the building since before you even moved in. They could have information we need."

"Like...if she's dead?"

"No, no, no. Nothing like that. Just if they've seen or heard anything about her."

"Oh..."

> > >

After retrieving the Super Gear Boy from Sal's bedroom, the pair ended up on the 5th floor of the apartment complex. Violet hadn't been here since the day she explored the building when she first moved in. This also happened to be her second ever encounter with Sal.

The 5th floor was just as dark and musty as she remembered it to be. The thick layer of dust hanging in the air made her sneeze as soon as the elevator doors opened. Nonetheless, she stepped straight into the darkness, looking down both ends of the hallway.

"Careful," Sal warned, protectively grasping her upper arm. "I'll lead the way so you don't hurt yourself."

With that, the two made their way further into the eerie darkness of the hall. Sal kept his eyes glued ahead of him while stepping over nails, wooden planks, and broken glass as though the motions were programmed into his brain. Of course, he kept his pace rather slow for Violet, who feared that her foot would be impaled if she lifted her gaze as much as an inch from the floor. Even so, she stubbed her toe several times.

"A little farther, Vi. You can do it," Sal lightly encouraged her. He gently pulled her toward him as he noticed her foot nearing a rusty screw.

"Jeez, Sally, how often do you come up here?"

He chuckled. "More than I'd like to admit."

Several moments later, they stopped outside of apartment 504. The numbered sign hung crooked on the door. Sal released Violet's arm to grasp the handle and push it open with a rather loud creaking noise.

The layout of this apartment was identical to that of every other one in the building. Although, it was completely empty. As if the moldy smell of the hallway wasn't bad enough, it somehow got even worse once they stepped inside, causing Violet to cringe. Sal must have had lungs of steel to not have died from frequent exposure to this.

"A ghost named Megan lives here," he informed her, guiding her toward the bathroom. "She's 7 years old, but she's very sweet."

"Nothing like that demon, right?"

"Nope, not at all."

Upon entering the bathroom, Violet felt herself growing anxious. What if Megan had no answers for them? Then they'd be thrown right back to square one. No plan, no ideas, and for her, no hope either. The fate of the quest to find her mother laid entirely in the hands of a 7-year-old ghost child.

"Meg? It's Sally Face," Sal called out to seemingly no one. "I brought my friend Violet with me. Do you want to come out and say hi?"

Silence. Violet inched closer to him as chills crept up her spine.

"Vi would love to talk to you, Meg. She's very sweet."

Another few moments went by. The teen girl felt her heart sinking deeper into the pit of her stomach with each second that passed. Not having any answers regarding her mother's diseappearance was becoming unbearable. She needed this more than anything.

Suddenly, a small apparition flickered into view beside the bathtub. The pair found themselves looking at a young child with purple hair and cloudy blue eyes. Her skin was gray and incredibly dehydrated. Yet, she wore a beaming smile as she looked up at the two teens.

"Hi, Sally Face! I like your new friend!" She chirped.

He smiled. "Thanks, Meg. Do you mind if she asks you some questions?"

"Okay!"

Violet shakily cleared her throat and knelt down to the child's level. "Megan, I'm looking for my mom. Her name is Josephine Sinclaire. Have you seen or heard anything about her?"

"Ummm..." She tapped her chin several times. "Yes! My daddy talks about her sometimes!"

"R-Really? What does he say?"

"He says 'That Josephine doesn't know what she's getting herself into!'"

"Do you know what he means by that?"

"No, I'm sorry, Violet."

Sal crouched down beside the teen girl, placing a hand on her shoulder and squeezing. "Is there anything else you've heard, Meg?" He questioned.

"That's all I know. But, I have to go now. My mommy is waiting for me. I hope you find your mommy!"

Before either of them could open their mouths to speak, Megan faded into nothing, leaving the pair alone once again.