Runaway - A DEVIL'S NIGHT FANFICTION (PTBR + ENG)

Chapter 8 - Ivar

Four years ago...

"One week!" – I complain when it's time to leave and walk to Mads' chair. – "A whole week! Where is she?"

He doesn't answer me and frowns, gathering his things in his backpack and getting up. I know he misses her too. I mean, I know for sure that I'm not enough company for him at school and that he likes to watch while we argue, which is basically... all the time.

However, this week, as we all returned to classes after the holidays, a week had passed and Nini Scott had not shown up.

"Do you think Uncle Michael knows something?" - I ask as we walk down the stairs on our way out.

"No."

I let out a breath of air through my mouth in frustration and continue walking towards the exit. The only bad part about winter was that we couldn't come and go on our bikes or skateboards so we had to wait until someone came to pick us up from school, but there was always someone waiting for us on time and this time it was Aunt Rika.

Maybe...

After we enter and she greets us, asking how our week went, an idea starts to take shape.

"Yeah, I guess it's okay, but Mads and I have to do a science project and the other girl from our group hasn't come all week!" – I start and look back, seeing Mads frowning, but he doesn't say anything.

"Maybe she went on a trip with her parents at the end of the year," Aunt Rika considers. – "And next week she might be back. Who is the girl?"

"Nini Scott," I answer. – "She is in our class."

"Scott," she repeats, then I see her eyebrows draw together and her expression look cautious. – "Martin Scott's daughter?"

I bite the inside of my cheek. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea.

"Yeah, I guess, but she doesn't live with her father, right?" - I hazard, asking about what I already know. – "She lives with Uncle Michael's father."

I also know I shouldn't have included Uncle Michael's father's name in the conversation. Aunt Rika really doesn't like him. And for a while all I can hear is the movement of the car down the street, which leads me to put my two hands on the seat I am sitting on and squeeze the foam to keep my mouth shut.

"Martin Scott died years ago, Ivar," she tells me, speaking again. – "After that, Evans Crist married Claire Colbert, Nini's mother, and they are still together today."

Again, the silence falls, but this time I can't help myself and as soon as she parks the car in St. Killian's, I ask:

"And do you know if they are in town? I mean, they didn't just move away, did they?"

Aunt Rika takes a deep breath and turns off the car, taking out the headset she always carries in her ear and turning it off. Then she picks up her purse and before we get out, she tells us:

"Evans would never leave Thunder Bay."

When my father arrives to pick us up, I run to Mads with the excuse of picking up Tavi and get close to his face to speak:

"Tomorrow night I will go to your house and from there we will go to Nini" - I announce. – "Don't tell anyone."

He confirms in a single nod and before I go, I ask him a request:

"And Mads, tonight, find a way and get Uncle Kai's mask. We're going to need it."

At home, I hope everyone sleeps, but I stay awake, because I have my part of the mission to fulfill. After getting the address by going to Aunt Rika's office and writing it down in my notebook, I needed a way to get there without anyone seeing us. So, when I open the bedroom door and see that all the lights are off, I turn on the flashlight on my cell phone and start moving silently. I am wearing socks to muffle my footsteps and I follow the corner of the wall down the stairs. I am not sure where Mr. Crane is, but I would not like to have to make up another excuse, much less have to wait even longer to do what I need to do.