Heart's Games

Heart's Games|Chapter 28: I've Been Better

Heart's Games|Chapter 28: I've Been Better

For a small moment, I thought I was hallucinating. I had to blink like five times to finally realize I had read right. What kind of sick joke was this? The guy had disappeared and he was found dead instead of Harry. But I had to remember that was only a theory, so I texted back:

What do you mean? Ash, don't mess around with me.

In just a matter of seconds, I got a reply.

It's not Ash. It's Arthur. He told me to text you from his phone while he and my parents talk with the detectives.

To say I was shocked would be an understatement. I had so many things to ask, but such little breath to talk. Screw that! This boy has some explaining to do. I dialed, impatiently waiting for him to answer. It rang once. He didn't answer. Twice. Still no answer. What was up? He had the phone in his hands just a couple of seconds ago. Thrice...

"Hello?"

It was him. That was his voice. It was a bit raspier, but it always sounded like that after he cried. I should know; he'd come to me when he'd cry.

I wanted to cry, not really knowing why. A lump had formed in my throat while I tried swallowing my tears. It's really you, I thought. You're still alive. But the words that came out of me were, "When did you get home?"

His chuckle rang in my ear. "Hello to you too, Kate."

"Sorry, I..." I trailed off, because I didn't know how to finish that. I am shocked? I am confused? I am glad? I am...scared?

"It's fine. Haven't gotten there yet. I was found just about ten minutes ago," he said, sounding a bit tired. I couldn't help but think that Ash knows how to work instantly. The boy was just found ten minutes ago and he was already talking to me. Ash must have asked him to talk to me. He must be relieved that his brother was found alive, but I am afraid he won't settle with this.

"Are you okay?" I asked, realizing that was the real important question right now.

It took him a hell lot of time to finally answer, and I couldn't blame him. Is there really an answer for that?

A second passed by. Then two. Then three. It eventually turned into ten before he could finally say,

"I've been better. Both physically and mentally."

So have I, I thought.

"Why did you contact me out of all people?" I finally asked.

"Well, Ash had told me to. But I actually have some things I have to talk with you. I need your school's address."

"Why?"

"I'm coming to see you tomorrow."

He was mad, but I figured that we all had to work together to make our way out of this.

~*~*~*~*~*~

"You guys are crazy if you think you're getting information out of us," Gracie told Whitney, Tanner, and Tommy.

We were in the common room; the same room where I was supposed to meet up with Tyler the day Lorena was shot. The three of them sat on the couch, while Bryan, Gracie, and I stood there in front of them trying to settle things down.

"But baby, we're concerned-"

"Don't you 'baby' me!" Grace cut Tanner off with a firm tone. "And there is no need to be concerned. We're alright. We can handle things on our own."

"But you guys need my Walkman," Whitney pointed out.

She had been insisting all along that she deserves to know more because- and I quote- "she is the genius we're missing." But all she got from us was that we didn't know anything about the cassettes and that we are concerned this might be related to the death of my best friend. Most people would be terrified once they hear the word 'dead', but for Whitney, hearing death is like hearing juicy gossip. Her eyes had widened and she began to ask questions that we all found our ways to bat them out of the way.