Gone in an instant

Chapter 2: Monday, 11:00 am

I was headed to science class, dreading the test, when I heard the my name called on the school intercom. “Josh Johnson please report to the office.” The whole class said “Ohhhh!” As if I was in trouble. I walked grudgingly to the office. My mind racing with reasons why I would be called to the office. I couldn't think of any. As I turned the corner I was a bit startled to see 2 police officers walk out the front doors and another one standing by the office door. I walked up the door and began to open it. The officer spoke, “Are you Josh Johnson?” I nodded and stammered out a “Y-yes.” “Step right in.” He said and opened the door, giving me a sad look that caused me to become really worried. Principle Rice looked at me and said, “There are two officers that will ride you home...I-I'm very sorry Josh. You've been excused from school for a few weeks.” He said, a very somber tone to his voice. He gave me a sad look also. “Wh-What's going on?!? What's happening? Why? H-how? What happened?” I was cut off as the police officer grabbed my shoulder and started to escort me outside. “What happened? Where am I going? What's wrong?” I bombarded. He didn't answer. We reached the car, “Officer Phil will explain everything to you.” The officer said. Then he opened the rear door and I slowly took a seat. “What happened!?!” I asked Officer Phil immediate, I was scared, and worried, pangs of sadness washed over me. He drew a deep breath. “I'm not going to mince words here kid, I'm sorry, but your family is missing. There were gunshots heard in the neighborhood and someone called the police, we showed up and two windows to your house were broken. The front door was open. Your whole family was missing, and there was blood on the floor. It's being tested now to identify who's it is. I'm sorry. Detective James Rowland is going to question you a bit when we get there, is that okay?”

OF COURSE IT ISN'T! I thought angrily. I blinked back several tears. Sadness and worry washed over me. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Was my family dead? Who had taken them? Why? How could somebody do something like this? Tears started streaming down my face. I slumped over my in the chair and began to cry. I hadn't cried in weeks, months. I couldn't remember the last time I had cried. But now my hands soaked in my hot tears. My family was gone. My world had just turned upside down. Slowly my sadness turned into anger. I began to be angry, furious. I pounded the seat. Furious at the person or people who had done this. Furious at the police. Furious at everything! Why? Why did this happen to me? I couldn't fathom it.

We arrived at my house. A SWAT truck was parked outside along with half a dozen police cars. Cation tape was everywhere. Police and detectives were crawling the place. Worried neighbors stood by, watching. The Detective Rowland approached. “Josh, will you follow me?”

“I-n-ye-y-ya, yes, I will.” I stammered out. He led me into the back of the SWAT truck and sat me down in one of the seats. It was cold and hard, I think it was made of plastic. “What happened?” I asked, my voice cracking with sadness. “I'm going to ask the questions, Officer Phil should have answered that question as best as we could.

I'm going to start, what were things like at home? Was there any problems? Maybe between parents?”

“None. My Dad has been gone for 10 years. We haven't seen or talked to him since he left.”

“Do you think he could have done this?”

“No. We moved from New York to here in Provo so he wouldn't have known where we went.”

“You sure? Maybe through social media he found out?”

“None of us have a Facebook or anything so no.”

“Okay, did your family have any problems with anyone? Maybe a neighbor or friend?”

“No.”

“Who do you think did this?”

“I-I don't know. That's why I'm so shocked! I have no idea who would do this! To us? We did nothing! We weren't causing problems, we're not a gang or anything! There was no reason!” I yelled at him, I was suddenly very angry. This detective was being stupid! This was a completely random attack! Why couldn't he see that? My family was gone for no apparent reason! I suddenly just wanted to leave, to run away! Run away from all of this.

I realized my anger was showing. The detective spoke, “Josh, did you do this?”

I was taken off guard by this question, of course not! How could I? “N-no sir. How would I have done this?” I told him, but I realized I hesitated. And I wasn't looking at him. I looked up. He looked like he had made his mind. I could tell he thought I was somehow connected to what happened. “Thank you Josh, that's all we needed to know, you can go now. We have a spare room at the department that you can stay in for a little, Officer Phil will take you.”

No! It wasn't alright! I thought, but I wasn't in the mood to argue with him. I got up and walked to the cruiser. My head spinning. Everything seemed like a blur. It was surreal.

I blinked back more tears. But now a plan was forming in my head. A plan to get back my family. I couldn't go to the police station. They wanted me in custody. I decided to go into my house. My best bet was to find my dad. I walked into the house with no questions asked.

The entry room had some furniture knocked over, but other than looked untouched. I walked around. The house looked no different. Until I went upstairs. I walked into my room and grabbed my backpack. Nothing in my room was touched. I grabbed my pocketknife, two changes of clothes, and my watch. I looked at the watch, it was only 11:23. I walked into the hallway and peered into Harrys' room. It looked fine. His closet door was opened though. And his bed-sheet was pulled off. I felt tears to sting my eyes. I could almost see what happened. The men came in, checked under his bed, then heard him crying in the closet. They pulled open the closet door and dragged him out. I could hear poor little Harry's terrified screams as they ruthlessly dragged him away. I felt a tear burn it's way down my face and drop to the ground. I looked at the tiny little wet spot on the carpet where my tear had landed. That's when I noticed the splotch. The awful crimson splotch just inches from my shoe. It couldn't be Harry's! Nobody, not even sick and twisted criminals would harm a 5 year old boy! Would they? That's when I noticed a trail. It was coming from down the hall. It started in front of Jessies' room. What did they do?

I could feel the pure rage boil inside me. It scared me that I could be so angry. But I was. I looked into her room. And jumped back when I saw a person crouched on the floor.