all images made and rendered here on homestyler. assume all potted plants are weed. hopefully you can tell which side is ollie's and which side is jacqui's. I think you can.
@jacqui-velazquez
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT TASK 001: MEET THE FAMILY [REDUX]
Family Aesthetics: ‘you know you can tell us anything, right’, a completely filled ash tray, working terrible hours and coming home late at night, 90s grunge aesthetic, a teeny tiny apartment with no AC and a shitty water heating system, a fridge full of cheap knock off brands, been there done that, cheering extremely loud while the rest of the parents give them strange looks, terribly played out of tune guitars, ignored knowing looks, constant memes in the family group chat, lovingly giving each other shit, doing anything for their child and not understanding a word that comes out of his mouth, late night conversations over takeout.
PRE OLLIE
REN INOUE [ 48 yrs old ; mechanic ] [ fc yutaka takenouchi ]
Ren was born in Hiroshima Japan, and would be the only child his parents had. He lived in Japan for three years before his parents moved him and themselves to New York City, so he honestly doesn't remember much of it.
Like a lot of first gen kids from foreign families there was a lot of pressure put on Ren to become successful, and assimilate into a new country. Unfortunately for the Inoue's, Ren was an extremely rebellious person and that is what he spent most of his youth doing.
He created a band in High School with some of his friends called Drink the Kool Aid (he's the lead guitarist), and spent most of his time fucking around with them, fucking around with random people in bars, getting drunk, getting high, and partying. So, no, he did not graduate high school. He never saw the point in formal education.
When he was about 23 he met a girl named Faye and the two hit it off pretty fast. She was fun, she liked the same music as him, she thought his band was cool, the partied together literally all the time. They liked hanging out they were friends.
Until one day when he was around 27 Faye told him she was pregnant and thus Ollie was born.
FAYE INOUE [ 45 yrs old ; hostess & cashier ] [ fc christina ricci ]
Faye Bright was born in Hoboken New Jersey, the youngest child of the Bright family and the only daughter. Her mother left shortly after she was born leaving her and her three older brothers as her father's responsibility.
Her father was a drunk, and much much worse more often than not, and her older brothers weren't much better, so Faye often found herself anywhere but at home from the age of eight until she moved out on her own at the age of sixteen. She hasn't spoken to her brother's or her father since moving out.
She was mostly getting into trouble in those years. Going out and partying way too young. But who was going to fucking stop her?
It wasn't all fun and games, though. Faye often worked multiple jobs while finishing High School, supporting herself, because nobody was going to do it for her. Her life was rocky, and difficult, but she still managed to do it all on her own without needing anybody else.
When she was about 18 years old one night, wandering into some city pub playing some shitty punk band is the night she met Ren. He was fun, and interesting, and the two of them developed a fun little friendship.
She never planned for it to become more than that until she realized she was pregnant with his child, and everything changed for the both of them.
POST OLLIE
The first years of Ollie's life were rough for both him and his parents for many reasons. Ren, who at the time was also dealing with his father's death, wouldn't have known responsibility if you pasted the definition onto his forehead. He was great with Ollie but damn if he'd ever be able to take care of him. Faye on the other hand was almost the opposite, she had a job, she could buy food for the baby but … she was sorting through her own trauma and to say she was a bit cold towards the baby would be an understatement.
If it was not for Ren's mother, Yumiko, Ollie's Obaasan, he likely would have had a much much worse time during his early development. She set down an ultimatum, that unless they wanted her to take Ollie for herself, and move back to Japan they needed to shape up. It was rough for both of his parents. His father got clean (besides casual drinking and smoking pot), got his Equivalency, and started a job as a mechanic. Faye struggled a little more, but went to some free counseling at a shelter, and as time went on had an easier time building bonds with Ollie.
By the time Ollie was five his parents were making enough to move into an apartment of their own that was big enough to house all of them, not Ren's mother's one bedroom apartment they had been living in. And once Ollie was six Yumiko Inoue moved back to Japan feeling like his parents were up to the task of taking care of their child.
Ren and Faye were legally married pretty soon after that at a local courthouse, mainly for the benefits it would bring, rather than being in love with each other - but who needed to be in love to get married? If anything their relationship was much stronger than almost every single one of the married couples around them, they've shown that years and years over now. Ollie's never had a reason to complain about their relationship.
While the bonds between the Inoue family were quite good, it was still rough going. Ren and Faye were working more often than not and Ollie found himself home alone often. They did their best to make sure he wasn't left up to his own devices hen they could, and there were many free children's programs Ollie was stuck into. Everything from children's tumbling, to summer reading programs and everything in between. It was many of the people in charge of those programs that told Ren and Faye that Ollie was showing signs of being an extremely gifted child. He was learning at a much faster rate than any of his peers, had a reading level far beyond someone his age, and was frankly just very smart.
They didn't ever have the means to put Ollie into any advanced private schools, and any time someone offered any sort of opportunity for a scholarship Ollie outright refused. He just wanted to go to school with his friends, and all was well about it, really. He did eventually get tested officially, and it was determined his IQ was 169 (nice) which put him in the .03 percentile of the world's population.
His parents did what they could to insist Ollie take advantage of the skills he'd been given. He had a real opportunity to become something much better than either of them became. He could really do something to help all of them in the long run. They didn't mean to but there was a lot of pressure put on Ollie, and he didn't want to disappoint anybody. So, eventually Ollie agreed to advance his classes, and was put into High School a year ahead of his peers.
Ollie became a lot to handle for his parents through out his teenage years, despite how hard they tried. They fought all the time, Ollie would be gone for days at a time with only a few texts telling them (lying) about where he was, and the signs that Ollie was using drugs (to two people who also got into drug use when they were younger) were probably pretty obvious. But it was hard to really do anything about it. Ollie was still getting top grades in school, he was turning in all of his work, he was so skilled at fleecing the system that neither his parents, nor his school could really … do much unless he was the one who reached out. And he never did.
It was clear that Ollie was a troubled teenager, but his parents worked so hard and so often all they could really do was make it clear that if he ever wanted to talk they would listen. He never did.
So, despite the underlying worry that always lingered around their son, they were always extremely proud and supportive no matter what he was able to accomplish. He graduated the top of his class, and they were so excited for him. He got accepted into such a great school, Ogden, and was the first person in their family to go to college and they were so excited for him.
There were a lot of rough years for the family, but things have come full circle. Ollie's matured a little bit (shocking I know) and realizes his parents aren't actually out to get him, in fact if anything they've been probably a little too soft with him but he appreciates them. And the longer he's been away from home the more he's come to appreciate them (hard not to when he's surrounded with the terrible stories everyone else at Ogden has of their parents). Over all things with the Inoue family are going well. At least as far as Ollie is concerned. He sees no reason why his parents would still be worried about him, or anything. He's doing great.
OLLIE'S OPINON
First of all, write this down: his parents are really fucking cool. They're both still very 90s grunge type of people, and it's obvious to tell just by looking at either of them, or their aesthetic. It was fairly often that Ollie was brought to some shitty dive bar to help his dad and his dad's band set up for some set they were playing. They were never good, but it was always a lot of fun, and Ollie has a ton of fond memories hanging out with his mom and dad, eating some real good bar food. Most of his childhood was honestly a really good one, from everything he can remember. And even though things got tougher as he grew up (mostly thanks to him) it's extremely hard not to look at his relationship with his parents and see it positively. They fought a lot when Ollie was a teenager, Ollie did a lot of shitty and stupid things just to be a brat. But he is aware that despite how busy they were working they were doing it all for him, and they tried so much to be there for him. He's not stupid, he's not blind, he saw it all. He resented them for it at the time, but it makes him love them even more now.
All that said they put a massive amount of pressure on Ollie. They knew he was the only way they were all getting out of the hole they live in, he knew that too. They told him multiple times everything was his choice and they'd never make him do anything he didn't want to do but he saw the disappointment every time he turned down some opportunity that would have really done something for him. Eventually he gave in, and that is likely why he is where he is now, but it was never something he actually ever wanted. it was simply clear that… he had to make it. They made that clear. He couldn’t waste what he had- skill, potential, natural talent. They never were mean about anything. He never felt like if he screwed up that they wouldn’t love him. And that made it so much worse but he constantly feels like he’s fucking up. That he’s living on this precarious edge that any wrong move he makes will show all the ugly, messy, fucked up things he does, and feels, and this image that they have of him will be shattered. He’s terrified of that happening, but he feels like it’s only a matter of time.
SOME FUN FACTS
Due to dad and his grandma mostly handling his very early childhood he learned Japanese before he learned English, but he doesn't know how to write it. And he doesn't necessarily consider himself fluent, because beyond his grandma and dad the only real place he heard Japanese was in anime or movies. Which is a bit different than how people speak if he were to actually go to Japan and speak with people. But it was technically his first language.
No one in his family cooks. Ollie can bake, but cooking? Most meals in the Inoue family were sandwiches, mac & cheese, instant ramen, rice, and onigiri. Also anything you can microwave. That was basically it.
Ollie's parents always try very very hard to go to school functions when they can. It's not easy since Ogden is about 6 hours away from New York, but they really try hard to show up when they can to important things. Ollie doesn't hold it against them, and if they do miss something important they always go out to celebrate on their own together when they can.
The whole family is stoners, sorry. Yes, his parents know he smokes pot, and have said they know. But he's an adult now and can do what they want. The apartment has a ton of snacks in it because they're all stoners though.
Do they know he does harder drugs (yes). Do they know he has addiction problems (probably). Have they ever addressed it? No. Honestly one of the biggest problems with his parents is they're not really good at discipline, it's always been a thing. They probably don't know how to even begin addressing this sort of situation. It's strange. He’s kind of existing in this strange place where like… If they confront him about it he’ll die figuratively, if they DON’T … he might die literally. he really doesn't know what he wants to happen.
[ + one song for each year ollie has been alive ! ]
Ollie set his phone up onto the stand, taking a moment to press play before hopping up onto his bed and laying out dramatically. "Hello," He said, resting his hand against his cheek with a grin and a very cheesy wink, before he dissolved into laughter. Okay he would cut that part out.
"Hello Ogden in fifty years! I'm -" he paused a moment, giving a small snort and shaking his head, "names don't matter. I'm definitely going to be dead, I'm fairly sure I'm going to be dead in ten years tops, but fifty for sure. I don't even know if Ogden is going to exist in fifty years, I'm skeptical if the world will exist in fifty years, and if it does it's probably all very Water World-esque so I hope my pirate students are out there, having a good time. I know I am." Though Ollie's expression turned from something amused, into something more… wistful and he gave another short sort of laugh, shaking his head once again. "That's actually not true. We're all going through a pretty hard time right now, maybe you've already heard."
He sat up straight on his bed, reaching out to once again adjust the angle of his camera, before resting his hands in his lap with a sigh. "To be honest I've had a pretty hard time for the past … seven years of my life - being a teenager is hard for everyone, I guess, but it's different than that. It's not just been teen angst it's… It's like being trapped somewhere you're never going to be able to escape from because it's your own fucking head. And I've fucking tried. By doing healthy shit too, despite what people think. It's not all sex, and booze, and drugs, and getting obliterated until I blackout for a weekend and wake up the next state over."
Ollie gave a small huff, reaching up to push his hand through his hair in a nearly compulsive sort of manner. "I guess the one thing that does help… if anyone is actually watching this and relates at all, I'm sure you have bigger problems like sharks or raiders or whatever post apocalyptic problems you have. My advice is find someone you can talk to. Everyone says that, but fuck if it's not the one fucking thing that's ever been able to bring me peace at all. Whether it's a therapist, or your sibling, or your best bro… There's billions of people in the world, pick someone. And I've never had an easy time opening up to people, even my friends. It's scary. But you never know, I guess. One day you can be getting stoned in your room after a party and some scrawny little shit head from South Dakota will walk in and suddenly maybe you don't want to die as much as you used to…" Ollie shrugged his shoulders a little bit, a smile crossing his face as he lowered his head a touch. Something just on the side of sheepish in his expression. "But I guess there is a lot of shit I still haven't told him. Like, I'm just really ..."
He silenced himself with another shake of his head, and took a deep breath. "… Forget it. Look, after everything I've said I'm probably not the person you want to hear advice from. But uh… Maybe it's more like someone out there just needs to know that shit's hard. It's hard right now, and I'm sure it's hard for you with the apocalypse, with ai taking over careers, with the disembodied head of elon musk still out there terrorizing everyone. Just know that I feel you, bro. We're all going through it."
[ read Ollie's other interrogations: The Initial Sit Downs & First Interrogation ]
He was being advised not to say anything. From his parents ("Just don't say anything, Ollie" "Ollie I swear to fucking god…"). From Gabriel ("Ollie if you try and turn yourself in again you're not going to help Sam, you'll just end up in jail beside her"). From Sam's lawyer ("Mr. Inoue, at this point I'm begging you…"). Honestly if she could write to him right now, probably also from Sam. So, Ollie had a plan as he was called into the offices to speak with the detectives. Just sit there and not say anything. Tell them he was advised not to, sorry. He knew his rights. Sort of. He just had to remember that anything he said could not only be used against him, but against everyone.
Especially against Sam.
So, he took a deep breath that was supposed to be calming, plastered a polite (and very fake) smile on his face and pushed the door to the offices open, taking a seat at the table as he was directed by the detectives.
"It's nice to see you again Ollie," Agent Choi said, friendly and charming as ever. Ollie gave one of those tight lipped smiles, resting his elbows on the table and his cheek against the palm of his hand. "We're calling everyone in to just have a little talk. Help us try and figure out what is going on around here, and as you were so reliable last time, we thought you could bring us up to speed on what has been going on. Have you witnessed anything suspicious on campus over the past year and a half?"
There was a long pause before Ollie leaned forward in his chair slightly, speaking clearly. "I would like to remain silent."
The officers were the ones to stay silent after that, glancing between each other. As far as they knew Ollie had been so willing to help last time. Which wasn't true, but he was good at getting people to see what they wanted to see. He was good at being friendly, and well liked, and seeming to be helpful. That was what the Detectives saw last time. They had wasted all the fake good will Ollie could throw at them. He was done.
Agent Choi shared a look with his fellow FBI agents, before giving Ollie a sympathetic look. "I promise we're only here to help, Ollie. I understand there has been trouble with other students on campus but you're not in any danger here." They said, and Ollie set his jaw, teeth pinching together hard, as the Agent continued on. "Are you aware of any information about Greer Morrison that has come to light in the past year that you haven’t shared?“
He just glared at Agent Choi in response. God! He couldn't imagine what it would be like to have FBI agents here who were not dumb as shit. It took him everything to point out he'd already shared information with them. The Portugal flight. That'd been him and Parker, and they only knew because of them. Saying they could turn in any anonymous information, then turning around and saying if anyone knew who had found out that information should say something. Fuck them. Fuck that. He didn't know why he'd turn in anything else after that. He didn't know why he'd even tried in the first place.
He hated the cops.
Perhaps it was his death glare that prompted Agent Brown to step up and start speaking. Cutting the bullshit, perhaps, and asking what they really what to know. "Did you have any reason to suspect Greer Morrison was dead before this news came to light?"
Ollie's glare shifted over to Agent Brown instead. He was a talker. Ollie had always been naturally chatty. He liked to say things, he liked to get a word in, he liked to be the last one to say something. It was one of the hardest things he'd ever been through to not respond 'yeah no fucking shit'. Of course he had a reason to believe she was dead. As much as he didn't want to believe it. As much as he wanted to believe that she was off on some private island enjoying the tropical weather and hot people.
How could he not suspect? She'd been gone for a year and a half now and nobody knew anything? Yeah no fucking shit he had a reason to suspect she was dead.
"I don't understand why you're being so difficult, Ollie," Agent Choi said when it was apparent he was also not going to respond to Agent Brown's straight forwardness. "I thought you would want to help Greer. Can you clarify again what your relationship was like with her?"
Ollie leaned backwards in the seat, looking up at the ceiling in silence. His mouth puckered, thinking very very hard about steadying his breathing. Just don't let them get to you. Just don't say anything. They couldn't keep him here forever. He hadn't done anything wrong -- Well, yes, he had. But nothing that they knew about!
"How about the other victims there have been on Campus. Penelope Klein and Ida Clarke. People seem to love you, Ollie. You've been voted Homecoming King two years in a row, we've heard nothing but positive things from your peers. Were you friends with them as well?" Agent Choi asked, and Ollie couldn't fight the distressed expression that crossed his face, a moment of weakness the Agent jumped on. "You seem like you have a good heart, Ollie. If there is any connections you can give us between them…"
He turned his head away, eyebrows furrowing. The truth was that no, he hadn't been friends with either Penny, or Ida. Though it was more complicated than just that. Penny was annoying, but she didn't deserve what happened to her. He remembered seeing her body laying outside of the kitchen, limp in the snow at the Chateau. He saw it in his minds eye so often. And Ida… they used to be friends, they related on so many things. But … well it was complicated. Ida was a complicated person. She didn't deserve what happened to her either. She deserved to be out there learning how to become some sort of nefarious cult leader or whatever the fuck her plans for the future were.
Ollie felt his stomach churn when he thought about it. When he thought about how G's text at the end of last year implying it happened because that was what THEY wanted. Fuck them. And fuck these guys too.
“Okay," Agent Choi said, in a tone that was measured. Perhaps their patience was wearing thin. Good. "You don't want to speak about yourself. Could you perhaps help us clear up what Greer’s relationship was with Penelope Klein?”
For the first time that actually got a reaction from Ollie. Maybe his own patience was also wearing thin. He snorted. That's all. A laugh. No. He had no fucking idea what Greer's relationship with Penny had been. Wouldn't it be great if he did. Wouldn't it fill in some fucking blanks. They were on their own with that one, even if he had been saying anything. Instead Ollie just kept his eyes turned to the side, his head shaking in something of an annoyed and resigned way.
Once again Agent Brown cut in, speaking more harshly. "I'm confused Mr. Inoue. You seemed so helpful the last time we spoke. Unless you are hiding something, you have nothing to worry about." He spoke in a serious tone, standing up to perhaps seem larger and more intimidating as Ollie sat in front of him.
"There isn't anything you are hiding is there, Ollie?" Agent Choi asked, looking for all the world like they were attempting to be sympathetic. Like they wanted Ollie to admit he had nothing to do with anything and cooperate. Rat, or whatever. "Could you fill us in on where you were when Penelope Klein's body was found?"
"Why don't you ask Jesse's Dad? The Good Doctor paraded us all around asking a bunch of questions about that for his stupid fucking show." Ollie said, finally speaking up. Hey, he'd been as quiet as he could manage. He looked regretful immediately, and turned his head away.
The Detectives took this as a moment of weakness however, and continued with their questions.
“Perhaps we will," Agent Brown said, walking around to Ollie's side of the table to come into his field of view. Looking down at him with a stony look on his face. "And what about when Ida Clarke was found? Were you at the Commons the night of the fire? Do you know why students even were there when they should’ve been at the Commencement Gala?“
There was a loud CRACK as Ollie's hand slammed down onto the table in front of him. He hadn't meant to hit it so hard, or at all. He loosened his balled fist, and dug his nails into lacquer wood, his breath coming out in a short burst.
Agent Brown raised his eyebrows, and must have been smelling blood in the water as he pushed on. “Over the past year, have you gotten any anonymous messages? Any threatening ones? Or any with…leading information?”
"Fuck you," Ollie said very quietly glaring up at the Agent towering over him. Sam's lawyer's text lingering in the back of his mind. ("Whatever happens do not bad mouth the officers.") Whoops. His voice raised as he spoke again, "don't you fucking know already? Haven't you found all this shit? Isn't that one of the things you're charging Sam with? Or is it like you trying to pin Greer's disappearance, and Ida and Penny's death's on her-- just bullshit you're going to take away. Fuck you!"
"Okay," Agent Brown said leaning over Ollie, faux patience in his voice that made it sound more like sarcasm. "Why don't we talk about that then? Could you explain to us your relationship with Samantha Jimenez? You have been visiting her haven't you? You grew up together, I believe?"
"Fuck you!" Ollie said again, this time standing up so fast the chair he'd been sitting in toppled over behind him. The Agents stances became defensive, as Ollie backed off, his hands raising in a non aggressive manner. Agent Choi got to him first, coming up behind him, and placing a hand on his shoulder. Something that was supposed to be placating, whilst being close enough to be able to subdue if necessary. But Ollie wasn't here to fight, or a raise a hand to a fucking cop. He wasn't an idiot.
Or maybe he was.
"Calm down, Ollie. We understand you and Samantha were friends, but--"
"Fuck you," Ollie said again, through his clenched teeth, forcing himself to take a deep breath, and speak clearly again. "Am I being detained?" He asked, his head turning to look at Agent Choi. He looked between them, and Agent Brown, and Agent Murray, silent over in her corner.
"No," Agent Choi said with a sigh.
"Then please take your hand off of me so I can go," he said, and they did that. He pulled away and walked as fast as he could to the door slamming it behind him. His entire body shaking as he walked out. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck….
The Jiménez household is located in a small 2 bedroom apartment, located on the 4th floor of an apartment block in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. Sam’s grandfather has own the apartment for decades, so it’s not only where she grew up it’s where her father grew up as well. She moved in with her grandpa when she was five years old, and the places has shifted and changed since then. Not just to make it more suitable for a little girl, but her grandpa was never interested in decorating much, but Sam always was. So, she has taken the time to spruce the place up and make it look nice for both her and her grandpa.
However, now that she is in college and her grandpa is getting too old to really be living on the 4th floor of an apartment building with just stairs up and down Sam is a bit worried that their days there are numbered which makes her feel pretty sad. Until that day comes she very much adores her home, and her bedroom, and her neighbors, and the building all despite the many flaws that come with it all.
Living Room
It’s pretty simple. Mostly everything is second hand or thrifted as to be expected.
From about 5-7 years old she used to sleep out in the living room more often than in her own bedroom because the hallway to her room was long and scary and dark.
The main area (living/kitchen) doesn’t get a lot of light, sadly. But Sam has done her best to try and make sure it doesn’t look too much like a cave.
Kitchen
It’s small, but very functional!
They got an air fryer last year and Sam used it every single day.
They also just got updated appliances a few years ago as well! So, everything is still really nice and new. Nothing overly fancy like a dish washer or anything tho.
Sam’s Bedroom
It’s bigger than Ollie’s bedroom because ‘tis what she deserves
She spent most of her time in her bedroom growing up so she has worked hard to make it a place she really really liked being.
Her bedroom used to be the 'master’. They are comparable in size, but it has more windows, but her grandpa is super soft and thought it would make Sam happier to have it when he first took her in.
Other
There is also a bathroom, which is pretty boring and standard. And her grandpa’s bedroom. She literally never goes into her grandpa’s bedroom, ever and feels weird when she has to even though he’s usually the one telling her to go in there and get something for him.
Uhm there’s been a lot of painting on the walls that should not have happened so I really don’t think they’re going to get their deposit back when they leave…
Her room shares a wall with Ollie’s so you best believe they were learning and tapping out morose code to each other.
“Yes, please,” Sam said holding her hand up, already looking like she was about to cry as the very nice bloody zombie man gave her a glow in the dark bracelet. “Thank you!”
Soon the group of random people she was with were escorted through the doorway, and she stood there at the entrance. And stood there at the entrance. And stood there at the entrance for about five more minutes in the dark, with flashing lights coming from around some corner in the distance.
“Hey are you okay? If you need someone to escort you through we can take you to the exit-”
Sam jumped and spun around to see the very nice bloody zombie man. “No I’m okay!” She insisted, shaking her head.
“Okay, well, we need you to move away from the entrance then…”
“Oh! I’m sorry…” Sam said. That made sense. More people had to come inside. Sure, sure, sure… So, she slowly walked away, down the dark hallway that lead into the main area of the haunted house.
Nothing was jumping out at her so far. Though the moment she turned the corner there was a loud crashing sound, and she was hit with a burst of air from an air gun that made her let out a high pitched shriek as she darted forward, burying her head in her arms as she ran. Probably not the safest route to go, but protected her from seeing anything scary. Though she heard shouts and scary noises around her as she responded with “Don’t!” and “Please stop!”
After stumbling a little bit over some uneven wood on the floor she lifted her head a little to watch where she was going, because the last thing she needed was to trip and fall or something. So, instead she just ran through with her face half covered, flinching every time some spooky person jumped for her. “No!” She said, stopping short as a scary clown looking creature feigned grabbing for her. “No stop!” She said, as he did it again. “I’m serious please stop! I know you’re getting paid but really…” She managed to side step the clown, who might have been genuinely laughing rather than scary laughing as she made it around him.
She found herself eventually staring up some stairs at the figure at the top of it, her face scrunched like she’d eaten something sour for … what must have been a good few minutes. “If I come up there are you going to jump at me and make me fall down the stairs?” She asked, her voice high pitched and thin. They didn’t respond. So very, very, very slowly Sam took the stairs up. One at a time. Slower when she got even closer, as she edged her way around the spooky unmoving figure. She passed it, and considered that maybe it wasn’t real when she reached the landing. Though once she was safe on flat ground the figure lunged and shouted as she gave a scream running down the next hall.
After trying to politely ask whatever creatures were in the chain hallway to leave her alone, to a very mild success she came upon the large haunted bride. “I’m so sorry this happened to you,” Sam said as some people seemed to spill out from her skirts, “but please don’t take it out on me I didn’t do anything wrong! Oh my god you’re being so rude!” She pleaded as she ran through the room, covering her face again and running until she came to the mostly empty space with the mirror. Looking around with wide eyes for someone who might be there to jump out at her as she approached the mirror. Not… curious necessarily, just trying to be cautious.
“Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn, and cauldron bubble…” She rhymed to herself under her breath, as she rubbed her finger along the … what she hoped was paint. “By the pricking of my thumbs…” Something wicked this way comes.
What looked like a shadow crossing her path made Sam jump and spin around, squinting in the dark room before leaving again. And continuing her very polite run through the rest of the haunted house.
“You made it through.”
When Sam came out the last door of the haunted house to fresh air she took a deep breath, looking around and waving at the very nice bloody zombie man with a bright, albeit breathless, smile on her face. “Oh hi. Yeah! It was so much fun!” She said, nodding her head enthusiastically.
In all honesty, despite having absolutely nothing to hide the idea of being questioned by law enforcement was so scary. Sam sat in her seat, hands twiddling her lap as she tried to look like this was all okay and she did not have anything to hide. She absolutely did not have anything to hide, but she knew the more nervous you seemed the more it would seem like it! And she was the sort who was bound to say something really stupid just to seem like she wasn’t doing anything wrong, when it was completely true and she really was not doing anything wrong. a little like that scene of Ben in Parks and Rec. So, she tried to keep her cool, and would do what she had been told. Just answer the questions that were asked, and not talk about anything else.
So, she sat there, and gave a polite (slightly forced) greeting and waited for the questions. She really just … hated cops, they made her so uncomfortable.
“When did you last speak to Greer?”
“Uhm,” Sam puffed her cheeks out, and slowly blew out the air considering the question carefully. She didn’t want to get in trouble because she had forgotten some obscure detail. “It was probably the summer before last. I think she had come over to my apartment building because she was picking Ollie- Ollie Inoue, he’s my next door neighbor- up for some concert, or a party or something, and we said hello to each other.”
“When did you last actually see Greer?”
“Sometime last year. Probably in winter or something like that. I think Ollie got a ride back with her from Ogden and she dropped him off.”
“How well did you know Greer?”
“Not well at all, really,” Sam said, shaking her head. “I knew of her more than I really knew her. We went to the same High School, but we didn’t have many interactions or anything. I know people who knew her better, like I’m friends with her younger brother Mitch, and she was friends with my neighbor like I said. So I heard about her more than I ever really spoke to her. We spoke about like… one whole time, besides greeting each other in hallways, or acknowledging when we were around each other.”
“What was your relationship with Greer like?”
“It was okay I guess,” she said, with a small shrug. “I didn’t have any bad interactions with her, or anything like that. She always seemed nice to me. So, if you can count yourself having an okay relationship with someone you didn’t really have an actual relationship with then I guess that’s what it was like for Greer and I.”
“Have you heard or seen anything about where she was this summer?”
“I don’t really think I’m the person who you should be asking something like that,” Sam said, with a small laugh. “You guys probably know much more than I do at this point. But all I know is people didn’t really see her after they left school. That’s as much as I really know.”
“You wouldn’t have wanted Greer to disappear, would you?”
“No, of course not! Everything going on is so terrible, there are so many people that have been affected by this the stress around campus is practically palpable. It’s always very sad to hear about someone losing a loved one, and when there is no way to get closure for the tragic event that has happened because the person in question has gone missing. Whether she’s run away, or something has happened to her – I hope not – it’s not something I would have ever wanted. I really don’t even know Greer well enough to want something like that either way, if we’re being honest. My heart goes out to everyone who did know and care about her, though. I hope someone is able to get to the bottom of this soon.”
