Who Are They?

Part 2 - Tears

    Aunt Lucy came to pick me up from school. This was nothing new, occasionally she would come and pick me up if my parents were busy. She suggested that instead of going back home immediately that we should go shopping. I said 'Yeah, why not' so we headed off.

She may not look it, but Aunt Lucy is amazing at finding clothes for anyone and everyone. She's just one of those people who can just pick out an outfit and know that it'll look amazing on you. My wardrobe is the opposite, jeans, baggy tops, warm jumpers, which is why she loves going shopping with me. She can improve my 'fashion sense' and 'style'. Honestly, so longs it's comfortable and not ridiculously looking, then I wear it. I don't really care what others think of what I look like. 

When we got back (hours later. Did I mention how long Aunt Lucy can take?), the house was empty. This also was usual. Both of my parents were in the science department and would often work late and leave early. That's why Lucy would look after me. This may sound bad, but they would always make time for me and Lucy. They would take us out, or we'd do mini holidays whenever they could spare the time, it was honestly much better than some people get.

So we decided instead of staying in an empty house we would go to this little hideout that all of us went to and no-one else knew about. Our house is honestly too big for four people, so it can be a bit intimidating there only being two of us. That's why we found and have this hideout. We wanted a space in which we could be a family without any of the external pressures from work and school.

We decided that we might as well eat out there as it was already quite late, so we went into the kitchen and made some sandwiches, grabbed some fruit and some cake, then threw in some lovely lemonade (cause who doesn't like lemonade?) As soon as we'd created our picnic, grabbed some blankets and quilts, we went on our way.

I always loved our secret family hideout. It was hidden near a massive rubble pile. We lived at the back of a large, but posh, housing estate, which if you went out the back way, you'd come across a slipway leading to the sea and a beach on your right, with a track road leading you to a bus stop on your left, which would take you into town and a massive disused bridge that had almost a waterfall of rubble cascading down the left side, straight ahead of you. It was very beautiful in an odd way.

To reach our hideout, we had to go to the rubble pile and then we turned to the left and ran under the bridge. The other side of the bridge was very much woodland and if you went a bit in you would reach a fence blocking one entrance. The whole bridge was corded off apart from this side, which meant we could get in and enjoy some solitude.

Once you got through the bridge there's this kind of forest thing to your left again. To be fair most of it was forest behind, but straight ahead was full of nettles and to the right it was far to dense and spiky to get far. It took us a while to find our spot as if is incredibly well hidden by the trees and shrubbery.

 If you enter through the forest bit on the left, then the trees start to get really thick and close as you get closer to the wall at the very back. There's a weak bit though. Where the trees are a little less dense and more flexible. That's where we go through. There's a huge cave sort place made out of trees. All the trees kinda bend over towards the centre giving it a sort of roof, we could still see the stars through it though, which was nice if you came at the right time. That was our secret hideout. It's where I used to play a lot when I was younger and wanted to have an adventure, or just to be alone. I don't come here much anymore, but it is still a place of solitude for me.

Once we entered into the cave, we laid down our blankets and started digging into the picnic. Enjoying the peace, quite and each others company. We talked a bit about what we were doing currently at work and school, nothing that was really important.

Once we'd eaten our full, we started to head back. By this time, it was staring to get quite dark and you could see the moon and some stars. We stopped for a minute to admire the beautiful night. It was so peaceful and everything seemed so right at that moment. It was truly magical.

When we finally got home, Mum and Dad were still not home. This was unusual, they were always home for dark no matter what. Lucy was getting worried now. So was I, but I tried not to show it as Lucy would just worry for me as well. I just hoped they got home safely because there had been a few disappearances recently. It was seemingly random and the police didn't know what to do about it and didn't comment on it. Everyone knew that they were just as baffled as us even if they didn't show it.

Lucy sent me to bed a little while later, telling me not to worry and that she was sure that they'd come home soon. When I went into my room, I saw the note. I immediately shouted for Lucy, something was wrong. She came running in. She asked me what was wrong and I pointed at the note. It was for me. We both looked at it for a while and I eventually went towards it. I picked it carefully off the bed. I opened it and something heavy fell out. It was Mums' necklace. I'd never seen it off her. I knew at once then, that this was serious. I took out the piece of paper and read:

'We've had to go. Please don't get too worried. Hopefully we'll come back and see you two again. Stick together, it's your best hope. We love you both and we're sorry to leave like this. You should be fine for a while, there's food in the pantry and there's money behind the jar in the living room. Lucy please look after Shannon make sure she does her homework and stuff like that. Shannon make sure Lucy feeds you and looks after you as we did. We love you both very much,
Mum and Dad
xxxxxxx'

We were both crying by the end of the letter. I've kept the letter with me since the day they left. I've got it now as I'm writing this. I'll never forget that day. I wear mums' necklace now, I never let it leave my sight.  

That was the day in which everything changed... and not for the better...

A/N

Sorry this took so long, but I'm aiming to update once a week or so minimum. I do have a lot on, so it won't probably be more than that.

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Hugs,

Lxdybxg xx