In The Scenes

Twelfth

WARNING: May be mentions of abuse, panic attacks, trauma, blood, etc. If you are sensitive to these topics, please don't read.

Jane POV:

It's been two weeks since Alex and Lia disappeared. Every news channel is talking about their story. The police questioned me, Mindy, Bryce, Micah, Mattheo, and Asha. We told them as much as we could, but we didn't know where they were. The students who last saw them were also questioned, but they barely knew Alex and Lia's names.

"It's okay. We'll find them. Remember everything that happened last year? We didn't think we would survive it but we did. Okay?"

Bryce tries to cheer me up, but I can't. My sister and her boyfriend are missing. My role models. My idols. My best friends. My partners in crime. How can I be okay?

"No. We barely survived last year. This year is even more intense. They could be dead for all we know."

Bryce looked away. I felt guilty for what I said. Bryce is the oldest. He feels like Alex and Lia disappearing is his fault. He thinks it's his job to make sure everyone is okay no matter what and he feels like he failed. He didn't. He's still trying to pull our team together to work this problem out.

"I'm sorry. I should've know where they were that day. I'm the oldest and I . . . "

"You should know how much we appreciate you pulling this team together. You're right. We survived last year and we'll do it again. We can do this."

Bryce smiled at me. As he opened his mouth to respond, his phone rang.

"Hello. Is this Bryce Lynx?"

"Yes. Who is this?"

"This is the Solaris Police Department. We want to update you on the Alex-Lia case. Are you able to come to the station along with the other individuals we questioned?"

"Yes, we are, sir. What time?"

"As soon as you can."

"We'll be there in 10 minutes."

"Thank you."

"No problem."

10 minutes later (actually 15 minutes because Micah was late), we were in the sheriff's office.

"I'm sure you're wondering why I called you all here. I want to run a theory by you."

We tensed. A theory might not be much but it's all we've got.

"We've figured out they disappeared somewhere here."

He pointed to the sidewalk near the school.

"We've found footprints that weirdly stopped and they found two other people's footprints that also stopped. Car tracks were also found. We believe we know where they are."

"Where?," I asked, speaking for everyone.

"Here in this abandoned house. Nobody wants to live in it because a woman was murdered in it. We decided to check it out and we found something. Something I need to ask you about."

He pulled out a ring.

"Do you know the owner of this?"

Bryce gasped. He looked at all of us with a grave look.

"It's Alex's."

Lia POV:

"Lia?" Alex asked.

"I'm here. Are you tired?"

"Yeah."

He stayed in my arms.

"How long has it been?"

Alex keeps track of the weeks since he has a better memory.

"Almost a month."

I looked at him. His shirt was ripped and I could see his ribs. I touched my stomach and was thankful to feel my skin. I try to convince Alex to eat some of my meals but he refuses. I sometimes wish he was selfish.

"Do you think they'll ever find us here?"

"Yes."

I was surprised by the sudden optimism.

"Either they'll find us alive or dead," he continued.

Never mind. I closed my eyes. I dreamed of a faraway place. All eight of us would be there. The police would guard the place and make sure nobody would hurt us. The more I dreamed, the more I could imagine the police sirens.

"Lia."

I jerked awake. I realized I wasn't dreaming about the sirens. There were police officers outside. We could hear people talking outside. The talking stopped. We thought they left but the door slammed open and five police officers entered the room, scanning it and noticing us.

"I need help in here. Male and female severely injured," one officer yelled

Alex pressed his face into my shoulder. His heart was beating fast. Four of the officers looked for our kidnappers while the remaining officer tentatively approached us.

"What's your name?" she asked me.

"Lia. His name's Alex."

"Hi, Lia and Alex. My name's Maria."

Alex refused to look at her.

"I promise I won't hurt you."

Alex looked at me. I nodded. He looked at her and seemed to calm down.

"I need you two to come into the ambulance to be checked out."

"I wasn't hurt. He was the only one who was . . . hurt."

"Okay. I'll need you to help me help him into the truck."

I helped Alex into the ambulance. I was about to get in myself when the police officer called my name.

"I'll need to question you here. Can he ride alone?"

The word alone scared Alex. He started shaking violently.

"If it's better for you, I can question you in the ambulance."

Alex calmed down. I climbed into the truck and hugged him from behind.

"You're safe with me."