Number 667

Chapter Fourteen

Vivian fingered the locket, looking at it again. Her parents were completely oblivious as to her abscence when she was in the Snatcher Woman's "home". Of course, they did ask about her extra credit work. She said it was a mistake, that she had already done it. Vivian was not accustomed to this much lying.
Vivian gasped as she looked around her. There was dirt everywhere. She didn't know how, she had made sure to wipe her dirty shoes on the mat and to change her ragged clothes. She had even made careful watch of the dirt on the clothes as she disposed of them, as they were far too ripped and stained to ever wear again. Though, knowing Vivian, she would not have kept even her best shirt if it had even one tear in it.
She got up to clean it, the cold metal of the locket shifting against her collarbone.
The door creaked open.
Vivian turned around to face the intruder. It was a girl with hair that flew in all directions like a frizzy halo, who had bright green eyes that were open wide in fear. "H-hello," the girl said. "I'm Carrie. I was at this boarding school, but they sent me home, - it's complicated - but my parents wouldn't take me, so, long story short, I came here." Vivian felt to be sincere to this strange girl. She hah had a change of heart since she was captured. Well, really, a change of Vivian. She hadn't been acting like herself lately, besides her Obbsessive-Compulsive habits. Her frosty demeanor and lack of friends was diminishing.
"Oh," she said, smiling. "I'm Vivian." She turned back to her cleaning, but then abruptly dropped the sponge on the soggy carpet. The girl turned to Carrie, her black hair swaying as the now-wet tips brushed against her stomach. "Can you... Help me with something?" She asked Carrie, her eyes almost as wide in sheer terror. "I was captured by this... This thing, and I escaped but... I'm afraid she'll come back for me." Carrie backed away from Vivian.
"I-" "Please, I can't just put my trust in this locket. You have to help me!" Carrie's sneaker squeaked against the hardwood floors. Tears were filling her eyes. "No," she whispered. "I-I can't help you." She said aloud. "You don't know who I really am." Tears were streaming down her face, and she brought a limp arm to her cheek as she swiped a tear away angrily.
And with that she ran into her room and shut the door.