Where the Moon will Shine

Chapter 23

I hoisted myself back into my car, dejected. I pick up my phone to see three missed calls from Oliver. What on earth could he want so badly.

I clicked his name to call him back. The phone rang once... twice...

"Hello, Rachel?" He sounded panicked.

"Oliver?"

"Oh gosh. You're okay, right?"

"What? Why would I not be?"
"I called your home phone and your mom said you went out. What are you doing so early, Rach?" He sounded frustrated.

"Wait, what? You called my home phone? Oliver it isn't even 8 AM yet!"

There was silence.

"Rach, I think we should talk."

"Yeah... I think we should."

"I'm going to send you an address. Meet me there in 15 minutes."

I wanted to say more but the call ended.

At this point everything felt so cynical. All I cared about was my hunger for the truth. What had happened to my life. And why Anika's ne- Kaleb... couldn't tell me.

I put the car into drive and started to make my way to the weird address that Oliver sent me. I had never heard of it before and when I typed it into my phone it wasn't even showing what the location was. A building, parking lot, house? No idea.

I felt so overwhelmed. The second I pulled out of Kaleb and Anika's neighborhood, a sickening wave of worry hit me. Like something wasn't right.

I needed an opinion. Something... anything.

Before I could think twice I pulled over, grabbed my phone, and called Lucy.

Ring... ring... ring... nothing. I called again. Finally, much to my relief, I heard Lucy's voice.

"Rach? Do you know what time it is? On a weekend?" She groaned into the phone.

"Luce." I breathed. Suddenly serious, I could hear her voice stiffen.

"Wh- what's wrong?"

"Everything. Everything is wrong Luce. I have messed up so many things in my life and I don't know how to fix them... but the thing is.. I don't feel like I'm pulling the strings anymore."

"Wait what? What do you mean?"

"Everything that has happened this past year... Anika, her neighbor, Oliver, the stalker, my concussion... Brianna."

"Rach, what are you saying?"

"It's all connected."

"Babe I think you need more sleep."

"Kaleb practically admitted it."

"Kaleb? Who is Kaleb?"

"Ugh, long story. Can you just... trust me. Please?"

"Okay. But I'm confused. How? Why?"

"I don't know, I just- Luce. I love you like a sister. There's more than just that, that has happened to me. Like a lot. I have been getting these feelings... gut feelings almost, but stronger. And I just know something isn't right. And Oliver, he dropped his wallet and there were hundreds of dollars in it.

He doesn't even know I have it and he's asking me to meet him at some weird address and I'm just having one of those feelings right now... that something is wrong."

"Yeah, I would say that would be your gut telling you to not go get murdered."

I smiled, for the first time in a while.