𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐌𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 (OC x OC) - Full Series

[007] CHAPTER 12 - I SHOULD PROBABLY GO TO BED

"i know in the morning, i'll be calling, saying sorry for the things i said."|| dan + shay

Louis Lupin

The portkey took me to 12 Grimmauld Place. Annie is gone. I don't know what to do. I don't know if Father is still alive. They probably won't let Annie stay alive. I doubt they'll be listening to any orders from Makayla—maybe Mattheo, but that's if he's actually a Deatheater. He hasn't really been entirely forthcoming.

My cellphone suddenly buzzes in my pocket. That can only be one person. Mattheo. I take it out and look at the text message.

'What's going on with Annie? Why did she just tell me that someone has taken her?' it reads. I can immediately tell that it isn't Mattheo. He never called my sister that. I don't think Annie ever let him. There is one person I know of that she did allow to call her that.

Without even thinking, I hit the call button and put the phone to my ear, my heart pounding in my ears as I listen to the ringing tone. After a few rings, the ringing stops, but I can tell that I haven't been hung up on, because there isn't a dial tone. It's obvious that whomever is using Mattheo's phone has never used a phone before, giving me more reason to believe that this is who I think it is. I hear a shaky breath on the other side of the phone. It's clear that this person is outside, maybe in a forest, because I can hear a stream and a few birds chirping in the background of their shaking breaths. I don't need any more proof than this. I didn't listen to Makayla's breathing as she slept next to me and not memorize what even a fraction of it sounds like.

Slowly, I mutter shakily, "Makayla? Is this you?"

I hear her clear her throat. "I thought I was being subtle..."

"You are anything but subtle," I let out a bitter laugh before pausing. "Did you say that you heard from Annie?"

"Y-yeah... I was on a walk in the Forbidden Forest and I tripped on a rock and—"

"Hold on..." I interrupt her, the concern evident in my voice. "You were in the Forbidden Forest? Alone? Do you have any idea how dangerous that could've been?"

"I have a large idea, thank you. Now, if you excuse me," she sighs sassily. "I tripped on a rock and then looked up and saw Annie staring at me. Honestly, it was really creepy. She looked terrified and when I said her name, she jumped."

"I'm on my way—"

"No, don't bother," she groans. "She's not here anymore. I blinked and she just disappeared. Not before she told me that she's trapped. When I asked her where, she said 'home.' I might've laughed... She told me that I'd know how it's possible to feel trapped at home, so now I'm really confused..."

I let out a short snort, pinching the bridge of my nose as I sit in a chair at the dining room table. "Of course you laughed. You're you."

"Is that a bad thing...?" she asks, her voice suddenly abnormally quiet.

A sigh escapes my lips as I ponder over the question. Is it a bad thing that she is herself? Maybe... It doesn't help that I'm in love with her and her lack of personality change hasn't aided my berid of my feelings for her. "I don't know," I choose to say.

It's silent for a long while. Too long. I worry that I said the wrong thing and managed to upset her. She may be evil, but I haven't exactly broken up with her. If she's crying because of what I said, I'm no less evil than she is. Sickeningly, I pray that she is crying. I pray that I am as evil as she is, so I can have a reason to actually see her again and not be running away, fearful for my life.

"That's okay..." she whispers. "I'm sorry for bothering you... I was just worried... About Annie, you know...?"

I nod to myself as if she can see me. "Yeah, I get it..."

"I'm gonna go now... If I can figure out how to turn this thing off—"

"Wait," I try to say before the call hangs up mid-sentence. I sigh to myself, leaning back in my chair in defeat. Did I say anything wrong? I barely said anything at all, but I still feel like I made some sort of grave mistake. Perhaps I'm only overthinking it and things are just naturally off between us now that her secret has revealed. I wish that weren't the case. Honestly, I'd prefer that I did something wrong than for it to be a mutual thing. Mutual problems lead to breakups. If it were my fault, I'd be able to fix it on my own. I can't deal with a breakup with Makayla. She's the love of my life, Deatheater or not.

I close my eyes and run a hand down my face as I remind myself to think on the situation at hand. Annie is missing. Last she's been seen is right in front of Makayla in the Forbidden Forest, but she disappeared right after. There's no way she could've apparated, because that'd be too simple. She could just escape if she apparated all the way to Hogwarts. There has to be a more complex reason for her to be so close to the castle. She's, apparently, 'trapped.' How would Makayla... Oh. I know where Annie is.