What Really Happened with the Tapes

Chapter 13

Hey guys! Sorry I didn't do an author's note on the last chapter. I thought it might ruin the mood. Anyway, I hope you had a great weekend! Tell me about it! I love you guys.

I give youuuuu... The final chapter!!

Chapter song: Nothing Without Love -Nate Ruess

When Cecil woke up, he knew something was wrong. He just couldn't put his finger on it.

The boy slid to the end of the bed and lightly touched his feet to the floor. Instead of feeling the soft carpet between his toes, he felt the soles of his shoes. Weird. Why wasn't he in his pajamas? When had he even put on this outfit?

Cecil slipped out of his shoes and padded quietly down the hallway. He peered into his mother's bedroom. Nothing. He snuck a peek into his sister's bedroom, and had a vague recollection that Abbey was staying at a friend's house. He poked his head into another bedroom. Who's bedroom was it? He only had one sibling. Right? Cecil tiptoed down the stairs. On his way down, he noticed all of the mirrors were covered. Despite curiosity, instinct told him not to pull the sheets down. They were covered for a reason.

When Cecil hit the ground floor, he knew there wasn't anything else in the house to be found. Every room was silent and empty. Even so, there was still something he hadn't covered. Something else has been torn from his life, but what?

...o0o...

Carlos opened his eyes when the car rocked over a hole in the pavement. He had a strong feeling of déjà vu and a killer migraine. It's because you're not used to it, a little voice told him. But what wasn't he used to?

He rubbed his eyes. "Where is the job again?" He asked his parents.

"Upstate New York," his mother responded cheerfully.

"What happened to the last one?" he wondered aloud.

"They just decided they needed your father somewhere besides Washington, silly."

"No, no, after that. The one in Arizona."

"What? I've never gotten a job in Arizona. Although I'd love to. There's some funky science down there." His dad said firmly.

"The most scientifically interesting place in the world." Carlos murmured to himself. He glanced around the backseat and spotted his backpack. While digging around a bit, he felt something scratchy. Upon pulling it out, he saw the scratchy stuff was glitter, glued to a heart-shaped price of paper.

Dear perfect Carlos,

The paper read.

You are perfect and beautiful.

I fell in love with you almost instantly.

Unfortunately you'll never know who
wrote this.

Love, your secret admirer.

For whatever reason, it made him smile. Something tickled at the edge of his memory. Purple.

Suddenly, he began to weep.

Sorry that was terrible. There's gonna be an epilogue though, so stick around!