On The Run

Part 6 ~ Reading Between The Lines

I looked towards the clock for the first time since I woke up, the early hour only just registering. I sighed softly, leaning my head against the dark oak headboard and drawing my eyes closed. I had school today, the second to last day I had to endure before I could say I had officially finished my qualifications.

I had already taken my exams and got all my certificates last month, but still they decided to continue my education up until I left. We covered only the basics here, choosing to spend the majority of the time gaining practical skills used in the real world of work rather than actual facts and knowledge, and although I hadn't failed my exams I hadn't done exceptionally well either. My grades were average, nothing special but enough to hopefully help me later in life in obtaining what I wanted.

I shifted the covers, trying to let the gentle folds of sleep envelop me, but to my dismay they had been firmly pulled away. There was no way I would be able to sleep now after the nightmare I had just experienced, and so I turned back to staring at the locket around my neck.

The room was still dimly lit, therefore I made my way quietly towards the window, drawing back the curtains and choosing to sit on the window ledge. The space between the window and my curtains was considerably cooler, the air holding little beads of moisture that pressed against my skin, sending a shiver running down my spine. But at the same time it was a lot brighter, giving me ample light in which the re-read the letter.

I skimmed my finger over the page, again only choosing to read the key facts and not the sentimental, soppy words which encased each sentence. My gaze focussed on the bit about the book, this time noticing that of the time deadline, "before the seventh day."

My mind started to race, numbers and dates skimming through the fringes of my imagination. The seventh day? From what? From when? From now? From my birthday? From when the locket opened? Questions flooded my brain with both rational and irrational suggestions.

I pressed my cheek to the cool glass as I tried to calm the onslaught of rapid fire thoughts. Surely there was a more simple explanation? I'm pretty sure my mother wouldn't have intended it to be something highly complicated, especially if it was as important as the note made it out to be.

Today is Wednesday 11th of March, six days till my 17th birthday, so in theory six days until I should leave according to the letter. But the seventh day? Well seven days from when the locket opened would also land on my birthday, but the way it is phrased makes me think again about it being the same day. I'm pretty sure it's not the seventh day of the month as it's already 11th and I would think if I have to leave in six days then I would have to find the book before I do so.

However, there was the possibility that I have to leave in order to find the book. But where I would start I have no idea? Although the fact remained that it was the first piece of information written in the sequence, which makes me think that the book is what I should to find first.

I sigh in frustration, watching as the condensation from my breathing rolls down the window, the delicate droplet coming to rest at the base of the wooden surround. I had to be looking too deeply into it; I just need to take the surface meaning, the very basic of all explanations. I started counting days on my fingers, my birthday landed on a Tuesday and well I'm not sure how that could be the seventh day....

That's when it hit me; the seventh day is a Sunday!

I can't believe how obvious it was! I have never been that good at solving puzzles, but over looking something as simple as that was poor, even by my standards. I laughed slightly, both in relief and disbelief.

If today is Wednesday, then that left me only five days to find it.

I replaced the letter in the locket and moved off the windowsill, going back over to the clock, ten past five in the morning. I groaned slightly, running a hand down my face. Despite the time I knew there was no chance of me getting back to sleep, once I was up I was up for good, especially now that I was so excited about having figured it out.

I sat on my bed, slipping on some thick slipper socks and then stuffing my feet into the pumps next to me. I plumped up my pillow and smoothed out the duvet before tugging a jacket on around me and doing it up. I moved towards the tiny remaining shard of mirror hanging on my wall and flattened down the mess that I call hair. Taking one last look around, I decided there was no time like the present and so I might as well start my search for the anonymous book now.

My first thought being to check the library...

***

Eeek!!! I saw my book in the charts the other day and every time I check it I can still see it in the ranking somewhere or another! Thank you so much for helping me get it there! 

Please keep commenting, voting, fanning and telling me your thoughts! 

I welcome any and all feedback!!! :D 

Thank you sooooo much :P