Markus nodded when the man accepted, agreeing to take a look. With a breath, the redhead decided it would be best to be upfront and honest. Plus, he didn't know Max well enough to know how he would respond to what Markus had to show, and he wanted to give Max the chance to back out.
Touching the papers and books, Markus would start by grabbing the newer journal. “I brought with me two of Vic's journals, ones that I got from her old employer. As well as the letters we shared in the last year, and a list of names and notes on people mentioned.” Markus said, explaining what all he brought with him. “First, I want you to read this. You deserve to know the truth. I don't know how much you know about what happened to her.”
Markus would hand over the journal but speak up before Max started to read. “The... 'friends'... you mentioned are the ones who killed her. The Exchange knows she was connected to an insane cult performing ritualistic murders. However, how she was killed was concerning. Someone close to her tainted a ritual she tried to cast in such a way that identifying her was... difficult.” A small tear started to go down Markus' cheek as he explained all of this. He took a steading breath. “I won't try and convence you that she was a good person, making wrong decisions. But I have since learned that she tried to leave them. They killed her because she wanted out.”
Markus would look directly at Max. “Some of what is written here is about you. If after reading it, you want nothing to do with any of this. I would understand.”
Markus would finish explaining some of what he knew, and if Max hadn't started to look at the journal yet, he would allow the other man to do so. The journal was relatively fresh; it would have been new if it had been found at her death. There were only five entries, most of which took up a very small part of the pages.
The first entry was written a couple of months before her presumed death and the discovery of her body. With each entry being randomly spaced apart when written. The last entry would have been written at most days before the discovery of her body.
Touching the papers and books, Markus would start by grabbing the newer journal. “I brought with me two of Vic's journals, ones that I got from her old employer. As well as the letters we shared in the last year, and a list of names and notes on people mentioned.” Markus said, explaining what all he brought with him. “First, I want you to read this. You deserve to know the truth. I don't know how much you know about what happened to her.”
Markus would hand over the journal but speak up before Max started to read. “The... 'friends'... you mentioned are the ones who killed her. The Exchange knows she was connected to an insane cult performing ritualistic murders. However, how she was killed was concerning. Someone close to her tainted a ritual she tried to cast in such a way that identifying her was... difficult.” A small tear started to go down Markus' cheek as he explained all of this. He took a steading breath. “I won't try and convence you that she was a good person, making wrong decisions. But I have since learned that she tried to leave them. They killed her because she wanted out.”
Markus would look directly at Max. “Some of what is written here is about you. If after reading it, you want nothing to do with any of this. I would understand.”
Markus would finish explaining some of what he knew, and if Max hadn't started to look at the journal yet, he would allow the other man to do so. The journal was relatively fresh; it would have been new if it had been found at her death. There were only five entries, most of which took up a very small part of the pages.
The first entry was written a couple of months before her presumed death and the discovery of her body. With each entry being randomly spaced apart when written. The last entry would have been written at most days before the discovery of her body.
A new journal, you know what that means. A new chapter in my life. A lot has happened, and not all of it I am ready to write about. But
[...]The remainder of the entry is about random information for her day/week[...]
[...]The remainder of the entry is about random information for her day/week[...]
I dug out one of my old reserach journals. From the early days. I miss working with the earth, trying to preserve culture. Sometimes I read those pages, and wonder what happened to that girl
[...]There isn't much more written on this entry[...]
[...]There isn't much more written on this entry[...]
I got a letter from Markus today. It seems he is gonna be gone for a while this time, and might not be able to respond. I should write him back
[...]The rest of the entry is about Markus, and what he wrote her[...]
[...]The rest of the entry is about Markus, and what he wrote her[...]
Sunako had me working on sorting today, and it gave me time to think. Maybe Max was right. Have I stepped too far? What they are doing... its wrong
[...]The entry takes up a very small amount of the page, and is covered with long dried wetspots[...]
[...]The entry takes up a very small amount of the page, and is covered with long dried wetspots[...]
I'm done. I told them I wanted out. I can't continue to do what they ask. It is too much, I thought I was doing good...
I haven't cried this much in ages.
Just one more ritual, to hide myself.
I am going to leave this here with Sunako in my locker, I won't be able to stop off at home yet.
I should message Max later, to see if he will accept my apology.
[...]There is nothing else written, but the page has numerous dried wetspots making some of the words hard to read[...]
I haven't cried this much in ages.
Just one more ritual, to hide myself.
I am going to leave this here with Sunako in my locker, I won't be able to stop off at home yet.
I should message Max later, to see if he will accept my apology.
[...]There is nothing else written, but the page has numerous dried wetspots making some of the words hard to read[...]