Twelve.

Chapter 4.

I was so scared I could barely focus on the road.

"Mom and Charles are going to kill me," I said to myself.

I was barreling down the highway at 75 mile per hour, I was over the speed limit, but I didn't care.

I made a quick, sharp turn into the entrance of the mall and drove straight for Rue 21 where I left her. A couple cars honked their horns at me for pulling out in front of them.

I searched every row of cars, looking for a close parking spot. The closest spot I found was about 9 cars down.

Sighing, I whipped into the spot and pulled out my keys.

As fast as I could, I bolted for the building, the wind blowing my hair behind me.

I threw both hands out in front of me and forced the doors open harshly.

"Can I help you?" The young looking blonde said from behind the counter, looking a little shocked.

"Yes!" I exclaimed, out of breath, "I left my little sister here about an hour ago. Please, is she still here?"

"What's her name?"

"Tanner Anderson," I replied.

She picked up the phone on the counter and pushed a few buttons.

"Tanner Anderson to the checkout counter, please," the intercom blared as she spoke into the phone.

We waited about two minutes, then I'd had enough. I jogged through the entire store, yelling her name until my voice was hoarse. People were looking at me like I was insane, but it didn't phase me.

Finally after about half an hour, I gave up. My voice was almost gone and my legs felt like jello.

"How could I be so stupid?" I thought, "How could I be so selfish?"

I walked back and put my elbows on the counter, cupping my face.

The girl put her hand on my shoulder and tried to soothe me.

"It's alright, you'll find her. Call the cops, they'll send out a search party for her. You never know, maybe she's waiting in the parking lot for you,"

"No," I sobbed, "I didn't see her out there. I looked all over the parking lot. I looked all over the sides of the roads coming here. She's gone. She has to be gone,"

"Don't-," she was saying, but then got cut off by high pitched chatter coming in the door.

It was my best friends, Lexi, Jordan, Camryn and Avery. Lexi spotted me and ran up to talk.

"Hey, Violet! Jordan and I tried calling your house, but no one ans-," she stopped, realizing that I was upset, "what's wrong?"

The rest of the girls walked up and surrounded me, simultaneously asking me the same question. I slowly lifted my head from my hands and my elbows from the counter.

"I-I took Tanner shopping a-and I.. I took off and left her here," I explained. Avery gasped.

"But when I came back," I managed to choke out, "S-she was... Gone."

They all started to chatter again. Then Jordan scurried up to hug me.

"Just go home, call the cops, and tell your parents. It'll all be okay," she spoke quietly in my ear.

Camryn tapped me on the shoulder, "we all rode here together. How about you ride with us? You're obviously too tore up to drive," she offered.

"But what about my car?"

"I'll drive it home!" Volunteered Avery. Avery was a petite girl, with long blonde hair and the prettiest blue eyes you would ever see. She and Camryn kind of resembled each other, although Camryn was a little taller.

Lexi and Jordan both had brown hair, but didn't resemble each other much. Jordan looked a lot like Tanner, which made me a little upset.

We walked in a line out the door. When we got in the parking lot, I threw Avery my keys and she walked to my car. We all piled in Camryn's mustang and she started the car.

We were halfway home when she decided to turn on the radio. On came an Austin Mahone song, which brightened my mood a bit.

"Ew," Jordan scoffed, "Austin Mahone is ugly and can't sing."

I turned around to the back seat and gave her the death stare. Her face got red, "sorry," she said.

--

Later we pulled into my driveway.

"Good luck," Smiled Camryn.

"Love ya," Jordan said soothingly, patting my shoulder. Lexi unbuckled her seatbelt and opened her car door, "I'll walk you in,"

As I got out, Avery hugged me and handed over my keys. I thanked her for driving my car home. She hopped into the front seat of the mustang and waved to me from behind the tinted window.

Lexi stood behind me as I unlocked the door to my house. As we stepped in, the light hit her hair, making her hair look like something out of a magazine. Lexi always was so good with hair, even back when we were in junior high. Her hair color and length went perfect with her hazel eyes and dainty face.

"Okay, I think I'll be alright now," I told her. She smiled and patted my shoulder, "You'll find her. Don't worry,"

She walked out and shut the door easily behind her.

It was unusually quiet and dark. I decided to check the only room that had a light on: the kitchen. I walked into the room and it felt strangely cold.

"Mom," I said loudly, "Charles, I have something to tell you two."

No response.

Worried, I turned around and slowly walked out of the kitchen, prepared to search the rest of the house.

Suddenly, I felt the urge to look over my shoulder. I slowly turned my head and looked towards the kitchen.

Everything seemed okay, until the light flickered on and off.

***

Cliffhanger!

Uh if you could vote, that would be great.

I also like to know what you think so leave comments. (:

Thanks for reading.

I'll update tomorrow.