Mysterious adventures in the shadow of trees

Chapter 6: Phone Call

-Scarlett-

My heart pounded like a hammer as I put down the phone slowly. What was going to happen? Was I going to get the blame for Sofia's disappearance?

Mother paced up and down as father drained his mug of tea in at least ten seconds.

Scarlett, have you seen Sofia anywhere before she disappeared?

Scarlett, when was the last time you saw her?

Scarlett, did you do anything to her?

These questions closed in around me as I tried to block them out. The more I tried, the louder they became.

Scarlett...

The blame is all on me

Scarlett...

Stop it. I'm not guilty

Scarlett...

I don't know where Sofia is

I shook myself to the present day as I slowly tried to creep away as questions, begging for answers enclosed around me.

Mother let me slip from the clutches of questions as I let my tensed body relax. Although I knew she was observing every step I took, she still let me go.

Know-it-all: Scarlett, just ignore them. It's no point trying to answer when they don't even give you time to answer.

Me: But how? They say so much that the words literally get stuck in my head. Plus, wherever and whenever I am, they walk towards me, ask loads of stuff, and so I don't get to rest my depressed brain.

I walk up to my bedroom and I look out of the window. " Oi! Scarlett! Are you okay? You wanna come round to my house for a bit?"

It was my neighbor, Amanda. She was so nice and always asked me around her house whenever she thinks I'm upset.

"Sure! I will be round in a sec Amanda! I just need to get my phone and charger," I replied with a grin.

I quickly snatched my phone and charger from my dressing table and I dashed out of the door and downstairs towards the front door.

" Where are you going sis?" Asked Thomas curiously, slipping out of father's clutches.

" None of your business, Thomas!" I sighed as I walked out of the front door. I shut the door just in time!

Thomas has always been the nosy kid since he was three!

The gravel crunched beneath my feet as I strode down Amanda's driveway. I gave the cream-colored door a little tap and waited.

They seemed to have gotten a new door since the accident happened!

Three months ago...

It was afternoon and I was at Amanda's house.

" Scarlett, d'ya want to play catch with this ball I got from my friend?" Amanda asked.

"Sure, you can start." I answered. I took several paces until I was right in front of the front door.

"Catch!" shouted Amanda, but she soon realized that it had gone too high and it smashed the stained glass door into billions of tiny, colored glass.

" Come in, come in!" said Amanda's voice, bringing me back from my daydream.

"Thanks!" I gratefully said as I walked through the clean hallway and the colorful pictures that dominated the walls.

" Guess what?" Amanda said, full of excitement." What?" I asked her suspiciously.

" My family is going to go camping in the woods! Plus, I get to wander off on my own for a few minutes 'cause I'm fifteen and I am responsible. I'm just two years younger than you." Amanda exclaimed, while jumping up and down.

Amanda's literally my third best friend but sometimes she can be a big show-off.

I rolled my eyes and walked uneasily to the garden with Amanda right in front of me.

"Scarlett, do you like gymnastics?" Asked Amanda. I shrugged. My shoulders, asking myself whether I want to or not.

I slowly nodded my head, as I realized that I wouldn't be able to do anything but watch Amy show off her skills then.

As we reached the garden, Amanda started to show me how to do a cartwheel and so on.

To be honest, I wasn't paying much attention to her. " Amy dear, can you please help me and your daddy to pack the food?" Amanda's mom called.

Amanda turned a bright shade of red as her mom said 'daddy'. Amanda is always proud to be a teenager so I just smiled and followed Amanda inside the house. I kinda felt relieved.

Maybe Amy is a bit too proud for me. Although she has a lovely younger sister who is only thirteen and she is so nice!

She might look young but I think she is better than her sister. She doesn't show off and always tries to make me feel better.

" Scarlett?" Said a voice.

"Oh, hi Anna!" It was Amanda's sister. I went with her to her bedroom and I had so much fun.

When Amanda was finished packing up, I needed to go home. I hastily rushed out of the door before she could stop me and headed home.

Three days later

I received the message that Amanda was lost in the forest.