The Difference

Chapter 14

           Corbin Avearey – Monte Carlo – 154 INT. ST. H5

I still can’t believe Mirian is in Monte Carlo. She’s lodging at The Priceless Hotel. When I came home, she’d parked her car in front of my house and was still seated inside. She didn’t see me when I came so I tapped on the driver’s window. She jumped in fright and turned. I went back as she opened the door to get down.
“Hey,” she said, smiling. She still had that smile that made me fall for her.
“Hey,” I said back. We hugged but it was awkward.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“Won’t you invite me in?” she asked.
I walked her to the gate and opened it. When I showed her in she said, “This is a nice place you’ve got here “
“Thanks”.
“Where’s your dad?”
“He’s at work. Can you give me some few minutes to change out of my uniform?”
“Sure.” I climbed up to my room changed and came back to join her. She had made herself comfortable. When I came down, she had served herself a glass of wine. I walked to the refrigerator and poured some for myself. Once I was seated, I asked here what she was doing here.
“I miss you Corbin. I thought breaking up with you was the best thing to do but it turns out it wasn’t. Aside from you moving, I wanted more in the relationship. More that I knew could never be given to me by anyone. I’ve realized I should have been contented with what you gave me. Can you forgive me and give me a second chance?” she pleaded with tears in her eyes.
“Before I answer that can I ask you a question?”
“Sure”
“How did you find me? Because I didn’t tell you were I was staying”.
“I went to your father’s workplace in New York to ask them which part of Monte Carlo you guys had been transferred to. At first they didn't want to disclose such confidential information to me but after persuasion, they gave me the name of the street but not the house number. I told mummy that I’ll be traveling for some days but I didn’t tell her where to. Once I got here, I kept asking around till I found your house. I then called you and waited”.
“Okay. So you want me back?” I asked.
“Yeah.”
“Well I have to think about it”
“You have all the time in the world to think about it. I promise whatever your answer turns out to be I will accept it.”
“Where are you staying and how long are you staying for?”
“I’ve booked a room at The Priceless Hotel and I’m staying till end of the year.”
“That long, why?”
“I plan to explore Monte Carlo while I wait for your answer.”
“Oh ok. How are things back at school?” I asked. We were almost done with the first half of the year and I hadn’t called to check on my friends back in New York.
“Great. Everything’s great. Justin misses you.” I had totally forgotten about Justin. He was more or less the only friend I had. How could I forget him? I even felt guilty. I placed it at the back of my mind to call him.
“I want to take my leave” Marian said and got up. I got up with her to escort her. We walked to her car and I said goodbye to her. It’s been eight hours since she left. I pulled out my phone to call Shirley to tell her about my unexpected guest but it went straight to voicemail. Thats strange. She always picks my call on the first ring. I called her again but it still went to voicemail. I checked the time. It was now midnight, she wouldn’t be asleep. It’s too early for her. I tried calling Andy but his was switched off. I decided to drive over her house to see what’s wrong. The house was quiet. Too quiet. I pressed the doorbell and waited. A girl of my age came to open the door.
“Yes?” she asked.
“Good morning. Please I’m looking for Shirley.”
“She’s not home. Please who are you?”
“Corbin, her best friend. Do you know where she is?”
“She went out with her siblings but I don’t know where to.”
“All her siblings?”
“Yeah. Well, except for Andy. He was not with them and they all had a worried look on their faces. I thought it was about their dad but it wasn’t”
“Thanks for the info. May I please know your name?”
“Sharon Akamaluk.”
“Nice to meet you, Sharon. If they come home, please tell Shirley to call me.” On second thoughts I said, “You know what? I’ll go look for her”
“Where will you start looking?” Sharon asked.
“Where her GPS will tell me she last was”
“Well, I  hope nothing has happened to them. Take care, then” she said and turned back and entered the house while I entered my car. I sent Shirley’s number to the tracking device on the radio. It said she was at Eastwood Farm. That’s three towns from here. What would they be doing there? I started the car and started the journey. I had a strange feeling that something was wrong so I sped up. I didn’t like the fact that I was speeding but I wanted to get to Eastwood Farm as soon as possible. I got there in three and a half hours as there were not many cars on the road and traffic wasn’t intense.
The place was too eerie and too quiet. I listened closely and heard some noises. I saw a black van with the Walliams’ name on the silver plate. I parked my car behind it and got down, taking the torchlight I normally kept at the back of the car. I switched it on and saw a red barn. I realized the noises were coming from there. I walked over to the barn . I was about to advance and enter but what I saw had me stepping back.