Leo shrugged, still grinning. "Nope, can't do it. Don't you know? It's more like my go-to move when I'm on the search for something."
Zayden chuckled softly and moved ahead. "Alright, you check that way, and I'll check this way."
"Cool, I'll go this way, but we really need to focus," Leo replied, dialing it back a notch. "Let's keep an eye out for any footprints, tracks, bugs, sticks, broken twigs, or even cigarette butts. We should be on the lookout for tech stuff too—like USB drives or drones. They might be using those to find the cabin or track down Zeynep. And if the CCTV went down, it could be due to some malware jamming the signal."
He continue "Also, let's check for any deep impressions, maybe someone knelt down to set something up. And about the cabin, we gotta inspect the doors and windows carefully. If those guys came in, there might be wires, lens caps, or battery pieces left behind. Oh, and don't forget to look for fingerprints on the cabin doors and in the kitchen," Leo lectured, sounding a bit like he was guiding a newbie.
Zayden listened with one eyebrow raised, looking serious. Once Leo finished, he replied, "You're acting like I'm new at this."
Leo laughed harder at that. "I thought maybe you forgot how to investigate because you're too caught up in love. You know how it goes—people often miss things when they're all googly-eyed."
Zayden, feeling a bit annoyed, jabbed Leo in the shoulder, making him sway slightly. "Shut up! I'm just looking out for her; it's not love, you idiot!" he shot back, half-frustrated and half-amused.
Leo couldn't help but laugh at Zayden's defense. "Fine, fine, I believe you," he said, grinning widely.
Zayden shot him a serious look, trying not to smile. "If you're done joking around, can we get started searching around?" he asked, eager to move on.
Leo said, still grinning, "Yeah, sure, why not?"
Zayden and Leo put on their gloves and grabbed the plastic bags, ready for action. They stashed a UV light in Zayden's pocket and held flashlights in their hands as they approached the cabin.
Zayden kicked things off by checking out the right side, while Leo took the left. Halfway through his search, Zayden spotted something alarming—a pool of blood on a nearby tree. He flicked on the UV flashlight for a closer look and was stunned by the amount; it looked like someone had really bled a lot, like they had a nasty arm injury. It seemed as if the injured guy had paused here for a moment, catching his breath before taking off. Zayden couldn't help but follow the blood trail, but it abruptly stopped at the tree, as if the guy had wrapped up his arm and then moved on. It left him with a ton of questions. How the heck did this guy get hurt? Did Zeynep have anything to do with this mess?
Meanwhile, on the other side, Leo was on his own mission. He found nothing but as he was moving forward he see liquid on the leaves, he crouched down and found blood on the leaves and dirt, and his grip tightened on the flashlight as the reality hit him. How had the man gotten injured? he was just as confused, like Zayden. Leo then noticed a piece of torn cloth nearby. He picked it up, figuring it might give him some clues, and tossed it into his bag.
He searched a bit more, but all he found was that scrap of fabric, as if it belonged to the man trying to bandage himself. Just as he was about to head back to the cabin, he felt something hard under his foot. Lifting it, he discovered a small device—it looked like something the injured guy had rushed off without. Leo grabbed the device and tossed it into his bag with the torn cloth, hoping it would help them understand what happened.
Zayden was having a rough time finding anything other than blood. Just when he was about to give up and head back, something shiny caught his eye, hiding in the leaves. He bent down and pulled out a photo, only to see that the face had been ripped off. All that was left were some dimples and one intense black eye. There was a red cross on the picture, making it seem like whoever had it wanted that person dead. The photo showed a girl with short black hair, wearing a black hoodie and holding a laptop, sitting in a café.
Zayden placed the photo carefully in a plastic bag, his mind racing with thoughts. Who was this girl? Was she connected to Zeynep? Did they know each other or have something else going on? As he turned back toward the cabin with all these questions swirling in his head, he felt the urgency to figure it all out.
As Zayden walked up to the cabin, he saw Leo sitting on the steps, looking relaxed but alert. When Leo heard the crunch of leaves under Zayden's feet, he looked up with a curious expression and asked, "What took you so long?"
Zayden laughed a bit and replied, "Nothing! What'd you find there, and why did you get here sooner?"
Leo flashed a playful grin and said, "I'm fast, don't you know? Let's check out the cabin first, and then I'll tell you." He stood up and headed inside with a sense of excitement.
Zayden shook his head, amused, and followed Leo inside. Once inside, he quickly checked on Zeynep, who was still lying on the floor like before. He knelt down to check her pulse and was relieved to find it steady. Taking a deep breath, he looked towards the kitchen, curiosity piqued.
Leo was already busy inspecting the windows, using a brush and tweezers like a detective on a case. It didn't seem like he'd found much, but Zayden had a feeling something was off. He walked over to the dining table, picked up a knife, and turned it over in his hands. Why had Zeynep been holding this?
Noticing Zayden's focus, Leo asked, "What's going on in your head?"