The Unforgotten Souls

Chapter 4: Lost

"Where am I, where's Mommy?"

Elaine wakes up to see she is in the woods, but she does not know where. She looks around and then she sees a tree that has like a face in it, and she remembers where she is. Elaine is in the Greenbelt Forest Preserve about 1/2 mile from the hospital. She gets up and sees she is covered in mud and sticks so she brushes herself off.   

"Oww, my arm. I have to find mommy, but what way is home? Oh, I remember, I have to look up at the stars......"

Elaine looks up and sees that it is still daylight out, she shrinks down next to a tree and starts to cry.  

"I just want my mommy!"

A  mile away,Johanna is pacing back and forth, up and down the police station waiting room, while Tom is talking to the police commander. Johanna stops, and falls to the ground crying.  

"Johanna!"

"My baby is lost and its all my fault!!!"

"Sweetheart, there was nothing you could do and you don't even know who could have done this. "

"Sir, can we speak in private"

"Ah, yes commander, Johanna come on sit down."

Tom picks Johanna up and puts her in a chair and then he gets up and walks with the commander. 

"Now Sir, please tell me what happened."

"You really shouldn't be asking me this question, you should be asking my wife. "

"Sir do you see what kind of state she is in, I don't want to put her in anymore pain then she already is in."

"Okay well, all she told me was that she went in the E.R., and when she cam back out she opened the van door and Elaine was not there. "

"Do you or Johanna have any enemies?"

"What, no, everyone loves Johanna and I."

"Just covering all the bases."

"I understand."

"Where could someone take Elaine?"

"I have no idea, she is just a little girl."

"Well we only have 48 hours before we can assume..the worst."

"The worst....well can we please find her before..well you know."

"Yes sir, we will do everything in our power to find her, now please take your wife and go home. We will call if there is anymore information."

"Okay, thank you officer...."

"Officer Marsh, Thomas Marsh"

"Thank you, sir"

Tom calls for a cab because the police took the van for evidence. While they are waiting..a change happens.

"Tom, I didn't tell you the truth."

"Johanna, what didn't you tell me?"