WHERE ARE YOU CHARLIE?

NOW - CHAPTER 14

"Nervous?" Dennis asked me.

"Petrified..." I admitted.

I hadn't been able to sleep the night before and school had dragged on forever until the final bell. He squeezed my hand gently.

"I'm sure it's going to be alright..." He then said to reassure me but I didn't miss the flash of doubt that crossed his eyes.

"Right..." I muttered to myself while wiping my clammy hands on my jeans nervously.

"I'll be right here, Zoe..." He added so I took a deep breath and pushed the passenger door open.

I walked to a door where VISITORS was written in big block letters and rang the small bell to indicate my presence.

A click in front of me told me that the metallic door had been unlocked for me so I pushed it open and entered the small room. Everything looked grey and unwelcoming, even the air smelt rancid, and I was suddenly tempted to just go back outside in the fresh air.

In front of me there was a counter with a protective glass wall going up to the ceiling. Only the tiniest opening at the bottom could enable visitors to pass documents to the prison's employees.

A huge man gestured for me to step closer from behind the counter so I did.

"Can I help you, miss?" He sounded almost too nice in the current environment and it took me a few seconds to realize he was waiting for my answer.

"Y-yes. I'm here to visit my brother, Charlie Doe..." I was so nervous that my hand was trembling when I slid the letter Mrs. Fields had given me through the tiny opening.

A strange expression crossed his eyes but he was quick to mask it.

The glass door on the left of the counter opened in silence and the man asked me to walk through the metal detector that had been set up right behind it.

I was literally shaking when I took the few steps that separated me from the man who I could now see was wearing a dark grey uniform with yellow hems.

He led me through no less than three guarded doors before we reached a spacious room where a dozens of tables had been set. He stopped in front of a table and asked me to sit down while he was going to get Charlie.

I fidgeted in my chair and bit my lower lip knowing that that was it. I was about to see Charlie.

"Zoe?" His familiar voice was like a caress to my soul. I jumped to my feet and turned around to face him. Time seemed to stop when I finally saw him. My beautiful brother, who was currently studying me with glistening eyes.

He looked as lean and muscular as ever in his light grey sweats and white tee-shirt. His thick shaggy brown hair was longer than the last time I'd seen him and almost reached his shoulders now. Only the dark circles around his eyes and his pale skin betrayed his current situation and it broke my heart to see him look so vulnerable.

I took a tentative step toward him and was instantly filled with joy when his arms opened invitingly. I didn't think twice and threw myself into his arms. I closed my eyes when his smell enveloped me. I was home. I ignored the light tremble of his arms around my body and his suddenly erratic breathing and just enjoyed how good it felt to have him back.

"Maybe I could ask them to keep me with you..." I muttered after a while. He stiffened and took a step back as if I'd burnt him.

"Sit." Old Charlie was back so I quickly took a seat and he sat next to me. "How are you?" He asked.

I shrugged.

"I miss you..." I admitted in a small voice. "It's like I'm useless without you..."