The Grabber

The Paper

Al glanced up at the clock as he had just come in from walking Samson. Max was in the living room with the morning paper. He was cutting out a section of it.
"Is Andrea up?" Al asked.
"I think she's still asleep. She hasn't come in here yet." Max sat down the scissors and the rest of the paper as he pinned the new additions to his board. Al didn't pay attention to what it was as he removed Samson's leash.
"She's gotta get up for school. She's gonna be late," Al said as he sat the leash to the side and walked briskly down the hall to his room. He knocked first to make sure Andrea wasn't already up. "Andrea?" He listened with his ear to the door. No response. He then slowly opened the door, barely peeking in, hoping he wouldn't walk in on her changing. He sighed and opened the door more for him to walk in as he saw Andrea was still in bed. "Andrea," he softly sang as he rubbed her shoulder gently. She began to stir. "Wakey wakey. You're gonna be late."
"Fuck school," Andrea cursed in a groggy voice. "I'm way too tired." Al chuckled a bit at her first words of the day.
"I know, doll, but you can't skip."
"Why not?" She barely opened her eyes to see Al crouched next to her.
"You don't want your parents to find out you skipped. You'll get in trouble, and I don't want that. I know you don't either." Andrea let in a deep breath to sigh as she turned on her back, allowing some of the blanket to move away from her.
"I'd rather stay here with you two."
"Most people would choose school over the Grabber," he joked softly. Andrea smiled a bit.
"I'm just different."
"Different is what makes the world so interesting," he said as he stood. "If everyone was the same, that'd be pretty boring." Al looked at the clock beside the bed. "You don't have very long. If you're quick, I can make some oatmeal before you leave."
"Fine, I'll get up," she dragged out. "School sucks." She sat up and rubbed her eyes. Al rubbed her back as he remembered how much he hated school growing up. He didn't blame her a bit for hating it herself.
"Just think. You're almost done. Your last year. You've done great so far. Just a little more and you won't have to worry about it anymore."
"I guess," she sighed. "I hope today goes by fast."

...

"Is it just me or does everyone just seem a little more on edge today?" James asked as the three sat in the cafeteria. Andrea was spaced out.
"Yeah, everyone just seems more nervous. Did something happen that we're not aware of?" Rebecca and James looked at Andrea, who hadn't responded in a while. "Andrea?" No movement. Rebecca moved her hand to snap in front of her gaze. Andrea blinked.
"Huh?" She looked at the two.
"Are you alright?" Rebecca asked with concern. Andrea sighed a bit.
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine. Just.. a little tired. A rough night."
"Rough night?" James echoed with a raised eyebrow.
"Something just... doesn't feel right," Andrea mentioned as she ignored James' question. "Does anyone else feel that way?"
"It seems like everyone feels that way today," Rebecca sighed. "I don't know what it is."
"Is it something in the paper, maybe?"
"You don't think the Grabber got someone else, do you?"
"No, no, surely not," Andrea perked up a bit. "He couldn't have." She noticed Rebecca and James' expression. "Not this quick, surely. Right?"
"It has been a few days," James shrugged. "Maybe not, but I wouldn't rule it out."
"I haven't heard anything from my parents, and there's no rumors of anyone missing. Maybe it's just... one of those days?"
"Maybe.." Andrea looked down. She began to worry. Had Al taken another kid without her realizing? Without her noticing? It couldn't still be Finney. Al told her he let him go. Surely he wouldn't lie to her, right? "Um, I'll see you guys later. I gotta.. yeah," she said as she quickly stood to leave for the restroom.
"Um, okay." Rebecca and James watched as she left.
"Are we missing out on something?"

...

Andrea rushed into the bathroom, quickly acting normal and calm as she noticed another girl washing her hands. She had seen her bolt in. Andrea nervously smiled as she slowly walked to the last sink. She girl gave her a strange look, but dried her hands and left. Andrea watched as the door finally closed.
"Oh my god," she breathed as she gripped the sink. "I swear, Al.." she prayed Al didn't take someone else. Not after all the trouble he went through to release Finney. However, she knew Al had lied to her before. More than once. This was what worried her. She looked up at herself in the mirror, thinking back to the day she was taken. The first lie she discovered about Al. "Just like the first time..." she muttered to herself. "I just hope I don't find out about another lie like the first time." She shook her head with a sigh as she hung her head. "Please tell me I'm just worried for nothing. For once, I want to be told I'm worrying too much."