The rifts last began opening around Haling Cove when Luther Gladstone was fourteen-years-old (a freshman) and Cassandra Voss was sixteen-years-old (a junior). It was 1992, it went on for approximately two years, and both were attending Haling High School at the time. This is common knowledge among the students at Finchwood Academy (the ones that pay attention to such things, at least) and helps to narrow down Flint and Scout's search considerably.
While most of 1992 doesn't yield anything unusual, the newspapers from 1993 are frankly overwhelming. They contain an increasing number of articles about violent crimes, an unusual (and still unexplained) outbreak that left dozens temporarily catatonic or comatose, and a number of disappearances. Most notable among these are:
Two elementary school children that disappeared while walking home from school and were found several days later unconscious on the beach. Both recovered but had no recollection of what had happened to them.
Eight high school students that went camping in the woods for the weekend after prom and disappeared for two weeks. Only three came back and they were hysterical, presumably from exposure, and the other five were never found. The assumption is that they died in the woods.
A group of tourists that rented a boat to take out on the bay and disappeared. The boat was found empty by local fishermen and none of the tourists were never found.
A recently-married couple that disappeared from their home. The two were found several weeks later lying in the middle of a rural road, soaking wet, with their hands clasped. While both regained consciousness, one remained catatonic.
While there are a number of these incidents and many are unusual, there do not seem to be any on the same scale as the abducted bus of Haling High School students. Still. It gives them a lot to think about. Before heading back to school, Flint and Scout stop at a local cafe to have some coffee and (quietly) discuss their findings. They haven't been there long, though, when Flint notices a man sitting alone with a cup of coffee in front of him and staring out the window. This would not be unusual (and it certainly isn't the ghost story Liam heard about at the festival), except that...it's the man from the castle. The man that Squad 4 and Squad 1 had rescued, only to have him turn to ash upon passing into the cathedral. He seems sad but, unlike the figure in the Shadow World, he isn't crying.
He's still sitting there when the pair finally departs and returns to school.
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While most of 1992 doesn't yield anything unusual, the newspapers from 1993 are frankly overwhelming. They contain an increasing number of articles about violent crimes, an unusual (and still unexplained) outbreak that left dozens temporarily catatonic or comatose, and a number of disappearances. Most notable among these are:
While there are a number of these incidents and many are unusual, there do not seem to be any on the same scale as the abducted bus of Haling High School students. Still. It gives them a lot to think about. Before heading back to school, Flint and Scout stop at a local cafe to have some coffee and (quietly) discuss their findings. They haven't been there long, though, when Flint notices a man sitting alone with a cup of coffee in front of him and staring out the window. This would not be unusual (and it certainly isn't the ghost story Liam heard about at the festival), except that...it's the man from the castle. The man that Squad 4 and Squad 1 had rescued, only to have him turn to ash upon passing into the cathedral. He seems sad but, unlike the figure in the Shadow World, he isn't crying.
He's still sitting there when the pair finally departs and returns to school.