No Happily Ever After

Chapter 20

Thehours of the afternoon dragged by. Stella decided that she wouldsneak out for a couple hours to the Faraway Public Library. Herparents would kill her if they knew she went somewhere on her ownwithout their permission, particularly because she would have towalk. And considering the current state of Faraway, they wouldforbid it, if she asked them. However, for the same reason, Stellafelt antsy to be alone and desperately wanted to be around people. She would have to walk about two miles in the snow, as her home wasjust outside of town. But, it was all worth it to get out of thequiet abode. She made it there and back with time to spare.

Finally it wastime for her parents to arrive home from their workplaces. The sunsunk steadily into a pleasantly purpling sky, beyond the forest thatwas the Rampion family's back yard. She sat quietly at the kitchenwindow watching the sunset, expecting to hear her parents pullinginto the garage any minute.

But another halfhour went by and they did not arrive.

Stella checked hercell phone thinking she must have missed a call. But, her call logwas clear. She frowned, continuing to stare out the window. Shethought back trying to recall any time in her entire life when herparents hadn't turned up where they'd said they would.

When anotherfifteen minutes passed, her heart began to pound. A sick feelingcrept up inside her. She called Eric.

"Hello?"Eric said picking up her call.

"Hey... Uh,my parents haven't come home," Stella informed. Night hadfallen completely by then, and the kitchen window only revealedshadows on the sparkling snow.

"Hmmm,"Eric said, concerned. He was well familiar with the uber reliabilityof Mr. and Mrs. Rampion. Maybe at some other time, it wouldn't bequite so bothersome. Except for, well, the serial killer on theloose. "Have you tried calling them?"

She sighed. "Ofcourse, both their cell phones are going straight to voicemail."

"Well whatabout their work places?"

She glanced at theclock on the stove. Seven p.m. "Both their offices would beclosed by now. There won't be anyone there."

"OK, Stell,I'm gonna head on over. I'll be right there."

"Eric..."she worried. "I will get in so much trouble if you come overwithout them home."

"Honestly, I'mworried. You know, with... Everything going on. I don't thinkthey'll mind me coming over there to look after you until we findthem."

Suddenly itoccurred to her, Aspen's parents had been killed and then Aspendisappeared. And Kimberly's grandmother killed, directly followed byher disappearance. Hysteria began to bubble up inside her.

"OK," sherelented. "Please hurry."

"I'll be therein ten minutes, Stell. Keep trying their phones, and if you feellike you need to, call the police."

"OK," shesaid again, her voice barely above a whisper.

***

In no time, Ericwas seated with Stella at her kitchen table. They'd tried both herparents and their workplaces again. Eric sighed dejectedly. "Webetter call the police, Stella," he said.

Just then, therecame a knock on the front door. Stella jumped up.

"Wait!"Eric exclaimed, also rising. "Maybe you shouldn't answer that!"

Eric towered overher, muscular, fit and darkly handsome. She'd never been afraid ofanything in his presence before. But she saw the fear on his face,and her alarm mounted. "What do we do?" she asked,struggling to not break down.

"I don'tknow," he whispered.

The knock cameagain. They stood absolutely still, afraid to even breathe. Then,her text alert went off and nearly scared them both to death. Shesnatched the phone from the table. She saw the text was from Mrs.Bar.

"Hey, I'm atyour front door honey, let me in."

Relief made Stellaweak.

"Oh gosh,"she said. "It's just Mrs. Bar. She probably came to tell mewhere mom and dad are! I bet she knows!"

Without a secondthought, Stella and Eric rushed to let their guidance counselorinside.

***

"I heard fromyour mom," Mrs. Bar said as she blustered inside out of thecold.

Stella shivered andshut the door behind Mrs. Bar. "You did?" she askedeagerly, feeling intensely relieved.

Mrs. Bar smiled atStella and then Eric. "Yes, not to worry, dear. Your fathersurprised her with a dinner out of town. She said she tried to callyou earlier but you didn't answer and that they wouldn't have servicewhere they were heading so if I could please come over and hang outwith you. She said Eric would be coming over."

Stella put her handover her racing heart. "Oh thank goodness," she gushed. "I was freaking out."

"Aw, I'msorry, honey. I should've gotten here sooner."

"It's OK, I'mjust glad you're here now," Stella said, giving Mrs. Bar a hug.

***

Soon, Stella andEric sat on the living room couch watching a movie. Mrs. Bar busiedherself in the kitchen making snacks. She brought her fare into theliving room where they all enjoyed the movie, junk food, and livelybanter. The hour grew later, and Stella began to wonder again abouther folks.

"Hey, when didthey say they'd be home, Mrs. Bar?" Stella asked.

"Not surereally," she replied. "It is New Year's Eve, could belate."

"Hmmmm,"Stella thought out loud. "So weird. This is all just so unlikethem." She made a move to stand. "I'm gonna grab my phoneand try and call them again. Or see if they called. You said theytried me earlier, but I never got a missed call. I hope I'm nothaving service issues."

"Oh, Stella,"Mrs. Bar said pithily. "Why don't you let them alone for oneevening?" She gave Stella a tight lipped smile.

Stella pondered hermother's friend for a brief second. She was probably right. Maybe aside effect of being terribly over protective parents was creating aterribly over protective child when the tables turned. Except, thatsense of dread was creeping up in her again.

"Um, OK,"Stella said, standing up all the same. "Well, I'm cold though. I'm just going to run upstairs for a sec and get a hoodie."

Mrs. Bar gave her along, serious look, and Stella stood there momentarily locked in thewoman's dark eyes.

What is going onhere? Stella thought.

Then, she turnedand left the room.