2009-06-13, 03:22 AM
Entry 39. June 15, 2009.
[x] Stop by Speedy Sam's.
"Yeah, I know neither of us want to go there and be reminded of the pain, but we have to face it eventually. Melanie wants to say good-bye. We have to move past this every way we can."
Felix and Melanie drive to Speedy Sam's and aren't surprised to see that it's still blocked off for investigation. Felix parks as close as he can and the two get out of the car. They stand facing the diner they've known and loved for so long. They hold hands, mourning the amazing friends they had made here. Melanie cries as she remembers the times she had growing up with Tiffany. Even Felix manages to let himself go and begins to cry, despite his vow to never again do such a thing. He regrets never getting a chance to call him. He regrets his last words. He regrets never being able to honor that promised favor...
Back inside the car, after their special farewell to their lost friends, Melanie suddenly says, "Felix, I don't want to hide from this. You shouldn't give in to what I want so easily just so you don't hurt my feelings. You're right. We are a part of this now, and we will solve it together." Felix looks surprised and responds, "You know how dangerous this could be." "Yeah, I do. I've always stuck by you, Felix. I've always told myself I'd do anything for you. And now I'm running away and acting like someone fake after we're finally together? It just doesn't make sense," she says, sorting through her feelings; "No, we're going to figure this out. Together." Felix is filled with a sense of pride after listening to the words of the woman he's called his best friend for years. "Now let's go back home and talk about us and where to go from here," she tells him.
Inside the Swinson residence, Melanie asks Felix to talk about that fateful day four years ago. "I never told you the real reason I said those things to you..." Felix begins.
---
Flashback 1. June 27, 2005.
It's 6 AM in the Legard residence when a 16 year old Felix is awakened by the sound of his father screaming downstairs. He rolls out of bed and runs down to see what's wrong. Chad is lying on the floor, crying and screaming--a broken image of his former self. Felix notices a letter sitting on the table above his father. He walks over to read it...
"To my husband,
You are a fool to think you could hide it from me forever. You will sign the divorce papers without debate or I will ensure everyone is aware of your little secret. Trying to use me as your pawn was your first and last mistake. One day your foolishness will be the end of you. Mark my words.
To my son,
It is unfortunate you had to be born into such a horrible family. Don't grow close to anyone, for they will only betray you one day. Trust is a human's greatest weakness, remember that. I will see you again someday, Felix, my boy.
- Rose"
After reading his mother's letter, something changed inside Felix that day. The voices he had combated his whole life grew stronger, more present. They demanded to be heard. He grew darker and skeptical of everyone he called a friend. He suddenly longed for a life of peace...by himself.
That day in school was the last day Felix was kind to Melanie for several years. The voices inside Felix's head told him he couldn't trust Melanie. She was going to betray him when he was most vulnerable, just like his mother did. "Break her heart first! Get rid of her! Stop being nice to such a person!" they would taunt him. After school, on their usual walk home together, Felix shoved Melanie to the ground and screamed, "I HATE YOU! TO THINK I EVER TRUSTED YOU! I WON'T MAKE THAT MISTAKE A SECOND TIME!" Melanie lie on the ground, confused and crying. She couldn't understand why her best friend would suddenly become so cruel. She didn't know what she had done...
After that terrible day, Felix would never pay Melanie much attention. He blew her off every chance he got. He was rude when she'd try making conversation. He would often completely ignore her. Despite all of this, though, Melanie never stopped watching and caring for Felix.
---
"I see... Why would you change so suddenly... Just because of what your mother wrote? I never understood how you could be so cruel..." Melanie asks. "My mother changed something inside me that day. I can't really explain it," Felix hesitates, "but I wanted no one in my life anymore. Even you." Melanie tries to take it all in and understand the pain Felix went through. "It must have been very traumatic for you. Maybe you can't tell me everything yet...so I'll wait for the day when you can," she says. Felix feels guilty he can't explain the voices inside his head to her. Melanie notices the look of confliction on his face and hugs him. "Thank you for explaining to me this much, Felix," she reassures him and adds: "You really were a jerk, you know, right?" Felix laughs.
After taking these steps further into strengthening their relationship, they begin to brainstorm on solving the mystery that has entered their lives. "It's obvious we have to talk to Patrick when we can," Felix tells her, "but he's not an option for some time." Melanie thinks thoroughly about all the clues Felix has shared with her. "With the FBI around, it's going to be harder to do any of our own investigating, but maybe we can use them to our advantage," she suggests, a plan brewing in her mind. "Tell me what you're thinking, Mel," he asks. "Well, I'm sure we can find out some clues by talking with the agents around here. There's some at Sam's, your house and NewFuture. And who knows, they will probably even expose everything about NewFuture," she says, hopeful. "Perhaps. But Tom and Patrick made it seem like it was near impossible to find out anything about that project. Unless, of course, they were to read my dad's diary," he remembers. "That diary... That reminds me, we still know nothing about that burglar or the note he gave Chad," Melanie mentions; "What did it say again?" "Speedy Sam's. June 27th... HEY WAIT A SECOND!" Felix yells as he realizes something.
"June 27th."
"Melanie, that date. It's the exact same day that my mother left us her farewell letter," he tells her. "It could be a coincidence Felix..." she reminds him, to prevent jumping to conclusions. "True, but think about it Mel. What if... What if someone used that date to meet my father to add an extra taste of aggravation to the stealing of his diary? If they knew about my parents, they'd know it was a date that always made my dad extremely upset," Felix's mind races. "It could make sense..." Melanie thinks. It's 2:30 PM.
[] Thoroughly compile all your clues and try discovering something else.
[] Drive around town and try your luck with the FBI.
[] Begin physically retracing your steps from the beginning to see if you find anything.
[] Head to the hospital to find out when you can meet with Patrick.
What are the voices inside Felix's head telling him to do?
[x] Stop by Speedy Sam's.
"Yeah, I know neither of us want to go there and be reminded of the pain, but we have to face it eventually. Melanie wants to say good-bye. We have to move past this every way we can."
Felix and Melanie drive to Speedy Sam's and aren't surprised to see that it's still blocked off for investigation. Felix parks as close as he can and the two get out of the car. They stand facing the diner they've known and loved for so long. They hold hands, mourning the amazing friends they had made here. Melanie cries as she remembers the times she had growing up with Tiffany. Even Felix manages to let himself go and begins to cry, despite his vow to never again do such a thing. He regrets never getting a chance to call him. He regrets his last words. He regrets never being able to honor that promised favor...
Back inside the car, after their special farewell to their lost friends, Melanie suddenly says, "Felix, I don't want to hide from this. You shouldn't give in to what I want so easily just so you don't hurt my feelings. You're right. We are a part of this now, and we will solve it together." Felix looks surprised and responds, "You know how dangerous this could be." "Yeah, I do. I've always stuck by you, Felix. I've always told myself I'd do anything for you. And now I'm running away and acting like someone fake after we're finally together? It just doesn't make sense," she says, sorting through her feelings; "No, we're going to figure this out. Together." Felix is filled with a sense of pride after listening to the words of the woman he's called his best friend for years. "Now let's go back home and talk about us and where to go from here," she tells him.
Inside the Swinson residence, Melanie asks Felix to talk about that fateful day four years ago. "I never told you the real reason I said those things to you..." Felix begins.
---
Flashback 1. June 27, 2005.
It's 6 AM in the Legard residence when a 16 year old Felix is awakened by the sound of his father screaming downstairs. He rolls out of bed and runs down to see what's wrong. Chad is lying on the floor, crying and screaming--a broken image of his former self. Felix notices a letter sitting on the table above his father. He walks over to read it...
"To my husband,
You are a fool to think you could hide it from me forever. You will sign the divorce papers without debate or I will ensure everyone is aware of your little secret. Trying to use me as your pawn was your first and last mistake. One day your foolishness will be the end of you. Mark my words.
To my son,
It is unfortunate you had to be born into such a horrible family. Don't grow close to anyone, for they will only betray you one day. Trust is a human's greatest weakness, remember that. I will see you again someday, Felix, my boy.
- Rose"
After reading his mother's letter, something changed inside Felix that day. The voices he had combated his whole life grew stronger, more present. They demanded to be heard. He grew darker and skeptical of everyone he called a friend. He suddenly longed for a life of peace...by himself.
That day in school was the last day Felix was kind to Melanie for several years. The voices inside Felix's head told him he couldn't trust Melanie. She was going to betray him when he was most vulnerable, just like his mother did. "Break her heart first! Get rid of her! Stop being nice to such a person!" they would taunt him. After school, on their usual walk home together, Felix shoved Melanie to the ground and screamed, "I HATE YOU! TO THINK I EVER TRUSTED YOU! I WON'T MAKE THAT MISTAKE A SECOND TIME!" Melanie lie on the ground, confused and crying. She couldn't understand why her best friend would suddenly become so cruel. She didn't know what she had done...
After that terrible day, Felix would never pay Melanie much attention. He blew her off every chance he got. He was rude when she'd try making conversation. He would often completely ignore her. Despite all of this, though, Melanie never stopped watching and caring for Felix.
---
"I see... Why would you change so suddenly... Just because of what your mother wrote? I never understood how you could be so cruel..." Melanie asks. "My mother changed something inside me that day. I can't really explain it," Felix hesitates, "but I wanted no one in my life anymore. Even you." Melanie tries to take it all in and understand the pain Felix went through. "It must have been very traumatic for you. Maybe you can't tell me everything yet...so I'll wait for the day when you can," she says. Felix feels guilty he can't explain the voices inside his head to her. Melanie notices the look of confliction on his face and hugs him. "Thank you for explaining to me this much, Felix," she reassures him and adds: "You really were a jerk, you know, right?" Felix laughs.
After taking these steps further into strengthening their relationship, they begin to brainstorm on solving the mystery that has entered their lives. "It's obvious we have to talk to Patrick when we can," Felix tells her, "but he's not an option for some time." Melanie thinks thoroughly about all the clues Felix has shared with her. "With the FBI around, it's going to be harder to do any of our own investigating, but maybe we can use them to our advantage," she suggests, a plan brewing in her mind. "Tell me what you're thinking, Mel," he asks. "Well, I'm sure we can find out some clues by talking with the agents around here. There's some at Sam's, your house and NewFuture. And who knows, they will probably even expose everything about NewFuture," she says, hopeful. "Perhaps. But Tom and Patrick made it seem like it was near impossible to find out anything about that project. Unless, of course, they were to read my dad's diary," he remembers. "That diary... That reminds me, we still know nothing about that burglar or the note he gave Chad," Melanie mentions; "What did it say again?" "Speedy Sam's. June 27th... HEY WAIT A SECOND!" Felix yells as he realizes something.
"June 27th."
"Melanie, that date. It's the exact same day that my mother left us her farewell letter," he tells her. "It could be a coincidence Felix..." she reminds him, to prevent jumping to conclusions. "True, but think about it Mel. What if... What if someone used that date to meet my father to add an extra taste of aggravation to the stealing of his diary? If they knew about my parents, they'd know it was a date that always made my dad extremely upset," Felix's mind races. "It could make sense..." Melanie thinks. It's 2:30 PM.
[] Thoroughly compile all your clues and try discovering something else.
[] Drive around town and try your luck with the FBI.
[] Begin physically retracing your steps from the beginning to see if you find anything.
[] Head to the hospital to find out when you can meet with Patrick.
What are the voices inside Felix's head telling him to do?
Spoiler