What is it about Maddie Davis?

Chapter 1

I pressed my fingers against the keys, one, two, three, four, I slowly forget about everything around me. I just focuse on the counting. One, two, three, four, one, two, three, four. I keep repeating this in my mind for awhile. Playing different notes each time. This is how I relax. It always works. I continue playing for what feels like hours but has most likely been only a few minutes. I stop only when I was interrupted by my frantic looking older brother, Jake.

Usally, he is calm and doesn't get worked up to easily so I knew something wasn't right. "Jake, what happened?" I ask knowing my face probably shows how scared I am of the answer. The last time he looked like this it was because Maddie, our little sister, had fallen off her bike and broken her arm. She was only 6 at the time so, it worried us a lot.

"Maddie's gone." I paled.

"What do you mean gone?" I choked out.

"Gone. As in, not here."

"Oh my God."

"Just calm down, Ce. She probably went to the park or to Hana's without telling us."

"Calm down? Calm down?! She could have been kidnapped! For all we know some pedophile might have her! Oh God! She's only seven and we lost her! Mom's going to have a heart attack! Then she's going to kill us! We have to-"

"Listen to me, Cecelia," he interrupted. "It's going to be okay. We will check with Hana's mom and see if she knows anything. If not we will look around the neighborhood and ask people if they have seen her."

"But," I started then realized it was useless to argue about it. I was just wasting time that should be spent looking for Maddie. Plus, Jake was right. She was probably at Hana's.

-

Hana's house was a light blue on the outside. It looked like it a big two story house. As we were walking to the door I noticed that they had lots of flowers all over. Daisies, roses, lilies, and tulips.

When we reached the door Jake rang the doorbell. Their doorbell was pretty cool. Sounded like part of a song I'd play on the piano.

The door opened and Hana's mom, Becky, came out. She was thin and had sandy brown hair. Her icy blue eyes immediately went to me. Figures, I thought. Everyone always seemed to notice me and not Jake. "Hi, Cecelia. What are you doing here?"

I opened my mouth to find that no words would come out. So Jake spoke up instead. "We were wondering if Maddie was here?"

"She was earlier but I'm afraid she left about an hour ago. Why?"

I must've gone even paler because, Becky gave a confused look in my direction. "Well, she didn't come home after she left here. Do you by any chance know where she is?" Jake asked completely calm. I have no idea how he manges that. I mean we lost our seven year old sister and he looks like nothing has happened. Just a little flushed.

"No, I don't know where she went. Sorry. Maybe-" my phone started ringing. I looked at the number. I didn't recognize it. I answered anyway.

"Hello?"

"Ce!" I almost screamed with happiness as Maddie's voice came through my phone speakers. Okay, maybe I did scream because, I got a strange look from both Becky and Jake.

"Maddie! Where are you? And who's phone are you calling from?"

"I'm at Lexi's house."

"Lexi's house?!" I said bewildered. "What are you doing there?"

"I wanted to be like you and Jake. You guys always leave the house."

"Maddie! You need to ask one of us! We were worried sick!"

"I'm sorry, Ce."

"It's fine. I'm just glad your safe. Stay there. I'll be over in a little bit for you." She hung up then. "Jake, we're going to Lexi's."