River's Creek: The Disappearance of Erin White

Chapter two

The next day soon arrived. I stretched my body from the uncomfortable mattress. But instead of waking up with a clear mind, I was still stuck on everything. I practically grew up with this strange power. When I would travel to the medium to meet them, I would get transported into their own world. Or the safest place their soul would be. Somehow, the darkness around that house took that from Erin. It was filled with fear and pain. I wasn't strong enough to get close to it. And I can still hear Erin crying for help. When I came down to search for something to eat, I noticed Earl missing from his chair. I went to check his room and he was gone. This was strange. But not important. The tv was left on of course. I was turning it off when I saw something interesting. The White family was making an appearance on the news. Jackson was on the left. The father was on the right. The mother was in the middle. But it was just a chance to continue more information about Erin. They were pleading with the town to find and free Erin. Displaying pictures of Erin. I looked at the pictures of her showing a bright smile. Sometimes I wonder why I was doing this. But after feeling that darkness, I don't have a choice anymore. I just got dressed and continued my plan. Luckily it was Saturday, so I didn't have to worry about school. But I have to worry about cops. When the White family made the appearance on the news, they also urged cops to search more thoroughly. I just need to focus more on the address. The only place I can think to search for addresses is the library. There's some old files and computers that can work. Once I got there, I searched for the house number but I didn't know the street address. It has to be on the same street as the school. Or was. Then another address hit me. Richard. I typed in his name instead of his address and luckily got the information I needed. He lives a few minutes outside town. I rushed to leave the library but ended up colliding into the one person I wanted to avoid.
"Jackson."
He was wearing a hoodie trying to be inconspicuous.
"Emma."
"I'm sorry to interrupt you. I'll be out of your-"
Jackson suddenly grabs my arm. The next thing I knew, I was following him to a private area. My body was bright red from his touch. We stopped in the alley near the library. We waited until a police car passed by to talk.
"What's this about?" I asked.
"It's about Erin."
"I don't know anything-"
"I saw the necklace, Emma."
I was silent for a moment.
"I just found it." I said.
"Where?"
"At the football field. Why?"
"I'm looking for my sister. And I think you are too."
"I don't-"
"Calm down. I was thinking we could help each other."
My cheeks turned red.
"Help each other?"
"All everybody is doing is giving me comfort. And the cops keep coming back empty handed for some reason. I want to be out there looking for my sister. And the only person who has a lead is you."
I had a feeling about this when he saw the necklace. Luckily, that's all he knows. I pulled out the necklace and gave it to him.
"I kept it when I found it. The only person I can think of is-"
"Richard. The PE teacher and football coach."
"How did you know?"
"He had a thing for Erin. I just didn't know if she felt the same way or not. I guess I now know."
He was sad looking at the necklace. He then straightened up and put the necklace in his pocket.
"Why did you come to the library?" I asked.
"For his address. You?"
"The same. I have it with me."
"Then let's go."
"What?"
"I'm coming with you?"
"Just like that?"
"What? Are you expecting a trap? I'm just as curious as you are and I want answers."
I sighed.
"Okay."
I was now walking with Jackson to Richard's house. I never thought this would happen. I felt stiff walking beside him. But he was too busy looking at Richard's information to notice. How did it reach this point? Thinking about it more made my skin red.
"Emma."
I looked up to his eyesight. It made me blush again.
"Yeah?"
"Are you going to tell me?"
"Tell you what?"
"Why are you doing this?"
I was stunned by his words. I mean I had a feeling this would happen, but to be put on the spot now and by him still stunned me. But I cleared my throat.
"I don't know. I guess I just wanted to help."
"I never thought this would be how my day would turn out. We never hung out before so I'm surprised that you agreed to do this with me."
"Like I said. I wanted to help." I chuckled nervously.
We soon left town. Walking alongside the road.
"We're here." Jackson said.
We made it to Richard's house. But when we knocked, it was dead silent.
"Maybe he's not home?" Jackson said.
"No. His car is still here. And he didn't come to school today."
"So he's in hiding."
"Which is more suspicious." I said.
I walk towards the back of the house. It was empty and quiet. He left his side curtain open. I peeked inside and saw blood. Oh god. I tried to look more but the curtain was blocking most of it. Even though I saw the blood, there was still no body. Jackson followed me around the corner. His eyes widened when he saw the splatters of blood.
"We have to open it." He says.
"That's trespassing."
"We have to do something."
"Maybe call the cops."
"They won't help." He says.
Jackson started looking around. While he was occupied, I used my powers to unlock it from the inside. I pretended to pull the door until it opened.
"I got it."
"Good."
He walks in without hesitation. He was determined. We watched our steps around the blood. I followed the trail to the living room. Richard was on the floor, staring at us with lifeless eyes. It was a horrific sight. He was beaten to death by a blunt object. And he's probably been here since Erin disappeared. Which puts us back at square one with suspects. Jackson stood beside me horrified.
"Oh god."
"This is horrible."
"Who could do this?" Jackson questions.
"I don't know."
"Could this same person have Erin?"
"Possibly. We thought it was Richard but he's a victim as well."
"If he hurt Erin-"
"Don't think like that. I'm sure your sister is fine." I said.
Jackson was silent for a moment. It was tough to tell him this. When I'm not even sure myself. Jackson then sighs.
"You are right. We should call the cops."
"Okay. Until then, we can still look around."
"Yeah."
Richard's house seemed cleaned. Way cleaner than his office. Nothing out of the ordinary. What worried me more was Richard's murder. Why go out of the trouble to kill him? Did he know something? And his death was brutal.
"Emma."
Jackson walked towards me with clothes.
"Erin was wearing these when she disappeared."
"So she was here."
"Whoever probably kidnapped her knew Richard too. Maybe they turned on him."
"So we need to figure out who."
Jackson stared at the clothes before putting it down. I waited until he left to touch the clothes. I was transported to visions of that night. Erin was discussing something with Richard. It must have been the urgent news that was on that note.
"How could you do this?" Richard said.
"I'm sorry. It was during that time we broke up." Erin explained.
"And you slept with him." Richard yelled.
"I'm sorry. He was meant to be a fling for just that moment. Then I got back with you. I thought it was best to keep it a secret but I was wrong."
"And now we have this."
Richard sat on the chair to get his mind straight. Erin stood there in shame and sadness.
"I understand if you won't help me. You don't owe me anything."
Richard then sighs.
"No. I said I would help you."
"Thank you." Erin sighs.
Police sirens suddenly echo in the distance. Knocking me out of the vision. Jackson looked out the window in panic.
"We should go. Cops will be here soon."
"Alright."
We had to put everything back and erase our fingerprints. Jackson even left Erin's clothes there. We managed to leave before the cops came. But there was still something missing. The night that Erin went missing, she visited Richard. The conversation that I witnessed was talking of someone else. She was seeing someone else after her and Richard broke up. He must be the other person we were looking for. He could have Erin but who is it?
"Emma."
I looked up at Jackson.
"Yeah?"
"I wanted to thank you." He says softly.
"Huh?"
"I was thanking you for your help today. It may not be much but I feel closer to finding Erin."
I could tell that he felt lighter.
"You and your sister must be close." I said.
"We are. But the determination mostly comes from guilt."
"Guilt?"
"Before she left, Erin was acting strange. And the one time she needed me. I wasn't there for her. Now she's gone and I feel bad."
"The fact that you feel bad makes you a good person."
"If so, then why be so tense around me."
My face turned red.
"You've noticed."
"It's hard not too."
"I'm sorry. It's just that we never hung out like this before. I mean, you are the son of Eric White and I'm just an outcast."
"Maybe an outcast is all I need. You don't have to be tense."
"I'll try not to."
He smirks at my response.
"How about we get something to eat and think about our next move?"
I suddenly blushed.
"Sure."
We started walking with each other to get some food. My mind was suddenly filled with thoughts of being seen with Jackson. I could tell that he's gotten comfortable with me. But I was still stiff with him. We went to a nearby place to eat. But it was what I feared. It was crowded with people. People who would spot us in a second. I wanted to follow Jackson's words but my body couldn't. My body was burning hot with embarrassment. But the only reason I was still willing to move was because Jackson didn't seem concerned with being seen with me. So I was holding my breath and forcing my way through this. I kept looking forward while following Jackson. Ignoring the eyes glancing our way.
"What do you want?"
"I'll just get some fries and a shake." I said.
"And I'll have a sandwich."
The waiter wrote it on a notepad and went towards the back.
"How are you doing?" Jackson asked.
"Struggling to follow your words."
"You are doing good."
"Thanks."
"We can sit in a corner to be more inconspicuous."
"Sure."
We went to one of the tables at the back of the food shop. I saw with my back against the wall, scanning everybody who was inside.
"Okay. So let's start from the beginning." Jackson said.
"You want me to start from the library."
"Actually, I want you to start with the necklace."
"I found the necklace on the football field. With finding it there and seeing "Ricky's girl" it led me to Richard."
"And that's when we ran into each other at the library."
"Yes."
"It was clear that Erin and Richard were in a relationship. But someone else had to be involved since Richard is dead."
"I think it's a stalker. Erin may have someone watching her. Learning about her private life."
The waiter then came with our food. We watch him place it down in silence. After he left, we started talking.
"It could be someone from our school." I said.
"You think?"
"Why else would they start searching the school? I think they know something and are just deliberately saying they found nothing."
"That wouldn't be far off. But why side with the kidnapper?"
"I don't know. The cops didn't even know about Richard. But maybe his crime scene will shed some light."
"The fact that someone took the time to kill Richard and take Erin without getting caught means that they planned this."
"I'm curious to figure out their end game."
"They better hope not to run into me."
Jackson took a sip of his drink angry. I sighed.
"How about we talk about other things instead of Erin?"
"Like what?"
"How about each other?" I blushed.
I was surprised when he said:
"Sure."
Even though our conversation was mostly centered around Erin we did learn a few things about each other. Jackson's favorite color is blue. He likes simple things like watching tv. And enjoying the outdoors like I do. He confessed that he didn't like to stay in the typical life of a rich kid. He doesn't want to live to the expectation. He dreams of being free. Traveling the world and just having fun. Something I want to do as well. I even found myself telling him things about me. Like how I also enjoy the outdoors and my favorite color is red. I told him that living as an outsider wasn't the worst because we were more free. But it wasn't the best because nobody cared. I couldn't tell him why I was an outsider. If he knew the truth, I wouldn't just be an outsider. I would be a monster. But I didn't let it bother me. Having that conversation brought joy out of me. And I saw a side of Jackson I never expected to. We walked out of the food shop together and then went our separate ways. I just continued to walk all the way home. Until this intense headache came out of nowhere. I rushed to my room to lock myself in. At that moment, I let the pain take over. Visions flooded my mind. Erin. The house. The unknown enemy. But it all has to be connected to that house. A house that doesn't exist.