Searching For Scarlett [Undergoing edits]

0.3

"What is this?" Mariana's father asked as Mariana walked in with the note ties to the rock. He roughly snatched it from her and Mariana flinched and drew her hand to her to her chest, pressing her other on top of it and holding them there.

He tore the note off, threw the rock over the low gate and into the blazing fire— When did that happen? Mariana wondered, blinking at the fireplace— and after reading the note, showed it to his wife so she could skim over it as well. She hummed and the two of them smiled wide, dangerous, crazy smiles.

"Child, we have excellent news about our Scarlett!" Mariana's mother cheered, a wicked gleam in her eyes as she casually stood up and sauntered around the coffee table to the television. She casually leaned down and dropped the note through the space about the gate to the greedy fire behind.

Mariana said nothing and stayed put, standing awkwardly at the entrance of the living room, her eyes glued to the paper as the fire hungrily ate away at it as her mother traveled back to her previous seat and sat back down.

"Listen!" Her mother ordered, snapping Mariana's eyes to her. 

 "If we ever want to see our Scarlett again," her mother continued after a few seconds of Mariana's fearful gaze trained to her cold hard one, "you better move your rump to your room and pack." 

"You're going searching," her father added. He nodded his head once, alerting Mariana that that was all.

Quick as a whip, Mariana whirled around and ran to her room. She snatched up her black backpack, stuffing in sets of clothes.

How much should I pack? Mariana thought to herself bitterly. A week's worth? A month's? A year's?

She stuffed two final pairs of jeans in her too-light-bag, threw the still-open-backpack over her shoulder and tip toed to the kitchen for food.

She knew her parents wouldn't willingly give her food, so Mariana knew she had to steal it.

She opened the pantry door and slid off her back pack grabbing whatever food she could; bags of toaster pastries, gummies, chips, crackers, and about the whole pack of water bottles.

When she was finished, she quietly closed the pantry, tiptoed out of the kitchen and dropped her heavy backpack on the carpeted floor, editing a thud, alerting her parents to her presence.

She quickly and loudly zipped up her bag and hefted it over her shoulder, nearly collapsing that the weight.

Stupid water, Mariana thought darkly.

"Go find your sister," her father commanded, "and your not welcome back until you do," he snarled, pointing in the direction of the door.

Mariana gaped at him in shock.

That was it? Could he be any more vague?

"B-B—" Mariana cut herself off and took a small breath. That's— that's it?" She sputtered in disbelief. "Where am I even supposed to go?" She asked incredulously.

"Figure it out," her mother replied coldly.

"B-But the note!" Mariana protested. "Didn't it say anything--!"

"What the note said is none of your concern," her father interjected. "You have to figure this out on your own."

Mariana turned to him, then back at her mother, staring in utter disbelief.

They didn't even have a plan for her.

Just to send her out and expect her to miraculously find her sister!

Mariana narrowed her eyes and scowled. 

She turned on her heel and stalked out of the room, and threw the front door open.

As she did, she heard her parents' final words:

"If she has to figure out on her own, we're never seeing Scarlett again."

Without looking back, she marched out of the house and slammed the door behind her.

She had no idea what she was going to do; she didn't have a plan and neither, it seemed, did her parents.

Fine, thought Mariana, smirking. While they may not have a plan, I think I know someone who does.

With that thought, Mariana took off at a brisk pace to the first place she can think of: her best friend's house.