The Man Behind The Mask

Chapter Nine

I couldn't sleep. I rolled over to check the time on my clock.
4 am.
I have all of my devices turned off, I just can't get my brain to turn off. I can't stop thinking about Lucas and what happened.
Crash!
What was that?
I got up and put a big t shirt on and walked downstairs cautiously. I'm pretty sure Tommy just got into some stuff.
I looked in my mom's room, but Tommy wasn't there. I quickly ran back upstairs and looked in Tommy's room, where he was sound asleep, kind of muttering.
Then what was that crash?
I walked into Mia's room and I saw her window wide open and he curtains blowing around from the wind. Her room was empty.
"MOM!" I called out.
My mom came running up the stairs.
"What?!" She asked in fear. I pointed to Mia's room.
"NO NO NO!" She screamed running towards the window. I flicked on the all of the lights except for tommy's room, I just closed and locked his door.
"I'll go call the police," I yelled, running down the hall to my room to my phone.
Moments later, the police were here.
They got us all out of the house to investigate.
I could hear them saying things as they examined from the outside.
"Bullet holes, same gun," an officer said.
".44 magnum?" The other asked. The first officer nodded and they kept walking. I was looking around for all sorts of clues until I stumbled upon something great.
"Look!" I called out. A few officers ran over.
"Yes, Ms," they said.
"Footprints! They're leading to the forest," I said, shocked.
"No, those are leading to our car," The sheriff laughed.
"Oh, huh, sorry," I said sheepishly.
Suddenly, I saw Lucas come running from the lake.
"Are you ok??" He asked. 
"No! Mia's gone! Why are you here?" I  asked him with little patience. He looked at the ground.
"I'm sorry about earlier-" He started.
"No!! You can't come here and start apologizing right now! My sister is missing because of some criminal that may just be standing right in front of me! I have doubts for a reason, especially after today. You have no right to throw this at me right now. No. Right." And with that I stomped off to look around. Lucas just shook his head and left to go home. I'm starting to loose my trust in him.
"Excuse me, sherif, but I have to tell you something," I said.
***
I got no sleep last night. Luckily, we found Mia. She was out cold down by green lake. She's in the hospital right now, but just for precautions.
My phone buzzed with a text from Lucas.

Hey, I just got called in to questioning at the police station. We need to talk when I'm out, I'll meet you at the treehouse in a couple hours.

So the sherif took my advice. I really need to find out what he's up to, because ever since we started dating he hasn't been the same.
I wanna talk to Mia.
I got dressed and headed towards to hospital. Mia was sitting up in her room watching TV, waiting to get home.
"Hey sis," I said softly opening the door.
"Hey Kels, come on in," she said. I walked over and sat on the chair next to her bed.
"How do you feel?" I asked. She bobbed her head side to side.
"So-so."

"I think you get to come home today, right?" I asked.

"I'm pretty sure..."

"Hey, can I ask you about what happened..."

"Yeah. All I remember was not being able to sleep last night. I was tossing and turning and just could not fall asleep. Around 4 am, I was wide awake and I felt like I was being watched. Then a gunshot broke the glass in my big bedroom window and someone was on the balcony and grabbed me and threw me down. I landed on my head and was pretty lifeless. He must have dragged me all the way to the lake. I woke up alone where the waves break at shore and the cold water was almost shocking. I know it's summer, but it gets so cold at night, and that water is like freezing."

"Wow, my god, Mia, I'm so sorry!" I gave my sister a hug and she said she was fine.
"Do you remember what he looked like?"

Mia stared blankly at the sheets of her bed.

"Uhm, I mean, I couldn't see his face. He had this black mask on, but his build reminded me of Lucas's," she sighed.

My heart fell into my stomach then my stomach fell to the floor.
My phone buzzed.
Hey babe! Questioning ended early because I'm not a criminal haha! Meet me at the treehouse in like 10
I panicked.
"I'll see you later, Mia, feel better!"
***
I got the the treehouse and climbed it with hesitation.
"Lucas..." I said, with fear.

"Hey sweetheart," he exclaimed, giving me a bug hug.

"So...how was questioning?" I asked.

"Oh it was ok, but I was so surprised when I heard who recommended I be sent there..." He started. My hands and feet started sweating and my breath got heavier.

"Oh?" I laughed a little.

"Yeah..." he smiled fakely, while pulling something out from behind him. "Come here."

I carefully crawled towards him.

"Lucas, you're acting weird," I said breathily.

"No, baby. It's ok," he smirked revealing the AutoMag pistol... .44 magnum. He put his finger over the trigger and aimed it at me.

"NO!" I screamed.

Boom.