Trauma of the Forest (Meadema)

~ Chapter 22: The Actual Location? ~

Warning: This chapter contains sexual assault. See for yourself to continue reading or possibly skip this chapter. (If you do want to read a part, I advise you to stop reading at the line, from there on sexual assault occurs.)

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There they were, still in the ambulance, Beth still undergoing the final checks, while they could make a plan to find Viv. Katie, there to support Beth, and eager to help find the men. Rachel and Ben, the second redeemed by two other police officers, who took charge of making the plan. One paramedic, who did Beth's final checks and gave her the necessary fluids and food, the other sat in the front to report Beth's situation. And Beth herself of course, who couldn't wait to have her Vivi in ​​her arms again.

'Okay Beth, Katie told us a few things, but I think it would be useful if we first heard from you what you know. Take your time.' Beth took a deep breath of air, pushing away the tears that wanted to flow from her eyes at the thought of all the scenarios that had gone through her mind. This was not the time. Not the time to start crying because of missing Viv, the uncertainty, the lack of clarity. Not now that they were about to go and look for her. 'Come on Beth, I know you can do this. You are the strongest person on earth,' Katie tried.

Another deep breath left her mouth and then she told it, everything she knew, everything that had been in the letters, everything that had given her a little hint, everything that had driven her completely crazy. Everything from which she had drawn her only hope in the past few days.

'So, me and Viv had gone for a walk through the woods on the first day we arrived, about two miles, then we headed back home. On that walk, at exactly 2.11 kilometres, as my phone indicated, we passed an electricity house that Viv and I had looked at in surprise. It didn't seem like it was an electricity house, because there was only a lightning bolt on it. Viv had written in the letter that something felt familiar. Knowing Viv and the place where she wrote it in the letter, she means the route, because that sentence is behind a part where she talks about the route. She also wrote that it felt like she had walked about two kilometers. I think she is there, in that electricity house, of which I'm actually almost 100% sure that it isn't an electricity house.'

It was painful to say it, silent tears rolled down her cheeks. It suddenly sounded very believable, as if it really was the place where Viv would be, the police officers nodded in agreement, as if she didn't say anything strange. She had never been so convinced as now that Viv was really in the electricity house. The tears that had streamed down her cheeks, which at first had been full of sadness, now that she had said everything suddenly seemed to be tears of joy.

But at the same time, the officer made it clear that they didn't know anything for sure, that they were now going to act based on notes, of which they didn't even know if it was the truth. That they were now going to act on what Viv had written, if it was really Viv who had written it. So her tears seemed to have a new meaning after all. This time fear, as her tears had meant so often in the past few days. Would it finally happen? Or would all the energy put into discovering a location have been for nothing? Had she ended up on the wrong track after all?

Suddenly they all walked out of the ambulance, the officers and the paramedic, only Katie and Beth were left behind. Anxiety shot through them, not knowing what was going on. Beth couldn't hold it in any longer. 'Why the fuck are they being so secretive?'. Beth just couldn't help it. She got angry, without wanting to, but she just wanted to get to Viv, as soon as possible. She had no time for all that talking, consultation, mysterious fuss, action simply had to be taken.

Then suddenly they came back, all three at once, with a mysterious look that didn't tell much. Were they going to the electricity house after all? Were they going to cut the whole operation short? Were they suddenly not believing the story anymore? No of course not, they had plenty of evidence. Beth and Katie waited anxiously, waiting for someone to open their mouth.