Mysterious adventures in the shadow of trees

Chapter 8: Search

-Scarlett-

I was drowned in worry. I never cared much for Amanda and her gymnastics but what if she wouldn't... survive?

Recently, I've been learning about how to survive in the wild at school so I'd know how to. Amanda won't.

"Hey Scarlett, I've got the news that Amanda is not expected to come back until the summer holidays," Dave said.

I kept as silent as possible and waited until he walked away.

I had no idea what else to say.

Suddenly, I came up with a plan to help Sofia and maybe Amanda to escape the dark, dense forest.

Sofia would have not believed that I would do this but I sent a message saying, 'Are you ok?'

Of course I knew she wasn't ok but it was all part of the plan.

Plan A:

Sofia answers the message and tells m- I mean Scarlett, all that she knows. Then, I will tell the same thing to the police and they will search the forest.

Suddenly, a thought struck me. What if there was no internet connection in the forest?

I was in despair when mother interrupted my thoughts by saying that Sofia had been sighted by a tourist in the woods.

"Oh mother! I was so worried about Sofia, and I- "

"Now, now Scarlett, you've got to calm yourself before I tell you the story," mother said calmly, but I could see that she was much more excited than me.

She's literally acting like I'm a two year old, waiting for her to read Peter Pan to me or something.

"Mum! Just tell me please! I'm dying to hear about my sister," I cried. I could not believe the fact that Sofia was still there, surviving.

I listened, as mother spilled the story, happy tears of hope started forming in her eyes.

"Mum, so you're saying a tourist saw a girl around the age of fourteen and she was wearing Sofia's clothes and she was standing outside a wooden house in the middle of the woods?" I said, confused.

"Yes Scarlett, I am," mother sighed and looked away.

I felt butterflies in my stomach. What if someone or something hurt Sofia? I felt a pang of guilt. I shouldn't have been so snappy with her.

Without hesitation, I darted outside and towards Amanda's house. My feet crunched across the gravelly path and stopped.

I could hear sobbing beyond the door and it sounded like Mrs Smith, Amanda's mum. Oh dear, I thought. It must be the fact that Amanda's lost that's upsetting her.

I didn't bother to ring the doorbell, because the door was slightly ajar. "Oh, Anna, I know sometimes Amanda can be a pain but she was your sister, I should've never left her to wander by herself," Mrs Smith cried, as I tiptoed along the hallway.

I daren't go in that room, for fear of interrupting her and embarrassing her. Instead, I silently tiptoed up the stairs and to Amanda's bedroom.

Know-it-all: But if you literally creep in you'll give Amanda's poor mum a fright!

Me: Just stop, alright? I'm just trying to help.

I closed and locked Amanda's door once I was in. Amazed by the special ornaments in her scented room, I explored a bit more.

I did not care for the cabinet with all her medals and trophies or her award from school framed in a special frame.

What caught my attention was a letter. I know, right? A boring, long forgotten letter was all I wanted to see.