Wild Heart

Chapter 8

~Rhydian POV

Closing the door behind him and Tom, Rhydian continued down the hallway of Maddy's house. What use was looking? The place was so trashed it was hard finding something unbroken.

Still, he pushed open the door of the next room and stepped inside; this one was Emma and Daniel's. What remained of the bedding was strewn across the floor, the double bed overturned. He checked both wardrobes and found nothing but dusty clothing.
His heart thumped loudly in his chest- or maybe it was his sensitive hearing. He was never going to find anything, the clue that she might have hidden, the key to getting Maddy back.

This was yet another room too vacant, too empty. Rhydian shook his head, trying to rid himself of the sadness that threatened to overwhelm.
And yet he was so close, he could feel it within him.

Taking a step towards the door, the floorboard creaked beneath him. It sound hollow, unlike the rest that covered the house. Crouching, he traced it's outline with his fingertips, gripped the edge, and pulled.
The wood came away in his hands, and he fell back with a thump onto the floor.
"Rhydian?" Tom yelled.
But he was too busy gaping at what he'd found.

A dusty box about the size of a book lay inside the cavity of the floorboard, engraved with moons and stars. A silver lock rested in the centre, an identical match to his key.

Could this be it?

Gingerly, he reached in and lifted the box from the hole, and placed it next to him.
His hands shook as he pulled the silver key from from his pocket, and carefully inserted it into the lock. Rhydian turned it, and with a sharp click, the box sprang open. Dust flew everywhere, and for a moment, he couldn't see inside.

Then it cleared- revealing a small, leather bound notebook.
Was that it?
He took out the book and saw nothing underneath. He felt inside- no secret compartments, no message from Maddy...just a dusty old diary.

Right at that moment, Tom appeared in the hallway, Shannon behind him. Her expression was wide eyed, hopeful.
"Wait- have you found it?"
"I don't know."
Rhydian turned the book over in his hands- the cover was dusty and had no writing or pictures to explain what might be inside. His hands trembled as he turned the page-
A hissing noise erupted downstairs. He looked up, wide eyed, before leaping to his feet and racing down the stairs to the kitchen, closely followed by the other two.

Turning the corner, he was unprepared for what he saw.

She stood in the middle of the room, a wicked gleam in her eyes, as she sprayed a canister of gas all around her. A white mask covered her nose and mouth, but they all knew who she was.

"Hello Rhydian." Dr Whitewood said. "Thank you so much for helping me."

Rhydian wanted to reach for her throat. But he stood paralysed as the world spun around him...he was tired, so tired. Eyes shifting to Tom and Shannon, he saw they'd already collapsed on the floor. "You... Sleeping gas... Maddy. " was all he could manage before the world turned black and he too, collapsed asleep on the floor.

So.... Lots of action! Keep commenting and favouriting for more it really gives me motivation! ❤