Forgotten

19

I can't imagine life without at least one person you can trust. One person who you know will be with you through thick and thin. Paige is alone now. She doesn't have anyone there to be her hero. I will never forgive myself if she dies.

It suddenly hits me that not only did my only sister just vanish, but so did Charity's only friend. She needs to be comforted too, I can take care of myself. I pull away from Cara, who has been hugging me this whole time, and realized that she started crying, too. I tell Cara to go comfort Charity.

Charity is just staring of into the distance. She isn't responding to Cara, so I guess it is my turn to try to help her. I ask her if she wants to talk. No response. I ask her if she wants to play a game. Still no response. Silence can seem peaceful to some people, but I know better. Silence is dangerous. It is a prison of thoughts. The only way to escape? Sound.

I think of what used to cheer me up. Only one thing comes to mind; reading. I ask Cara if she still has the Harry Potter book we found in the basement. She nods and leaves the room.

"Charity, I know you might not want me to, but I am going to read you a story. Books help you escape your own problems and worries. Books will always be there for you. Books are portals into other lives." She looks at me, tears silently streaming down her cheeks. She nods. "Okay," she says so quietly it is almost a whisper.

Cara comes back into the room, the book in her hand. She hands it to me, and I open it up and start reading. Soon I get lost in the story with Charity, who has finally stopped crying. Soon she falls asleep.

I don't remember making the decision. I don't remember telling Adrian and Cara. I remember Adrian saying he will take us to his mystery headquarters. I remember packing a backpack I found full of my things. I don't have very much. I take with me the shoebox full of family pictures, a change of clothes, two jars of peanut butter, the harry potter book, and Paige's paper dolls. I stole the outfit from the closet and the peanut butter from the pantry.

I am ready to leave. I walk to Cara's truck with her, Adrian, and Charity. We are leaving. We will find a way to save Paige, or I will die trying. We get in the truck and hit the road. I sit in the back in the middle of Cara and Charity. It is cold but Cara brought blankets. I need to know that Paige is okay. My determination is fading. I don't know if I can save her. I don't know how.