Wished Away

Missing.

There are indeed many ways to begin your morning and day. Perhaps this was one way I would have preferred not to add to those many other beginnings.

Everything seemed a little more dull, the shadows seemed to persist that I acknowledged their presence and there was only a cold chill in my small cottage. Even the warm comfort of my large fireplace and fluffy, ripped, red blanket couldn't bring any sense of warmth to my body. My hands ached as I placed down my mug of cold hot chocolate and stretched them. I sighed and unfolded my legs, letting them touch the floor before shoving them inside my beige slippers. Turning off the television, I got to my feet and removed the old blanket from my frame, hesitating after a second moments guessing.

A second, more urgent, knocking at the door filled my ears; it was rare for there to be guests here, and at such an early time in the day I was left rather confused. After all- living in the middle of no-where makes you grow accustom to the solitude you're surrounded by. I had very few neighbours and the cold weather warned anyone who even had the slightest thought to move out here away. So, needless to say, I was not expecting guests.

I continued to the door and straightened out my poor appearance, my creased grey shirt looked as though it had been found scrunched up at the back of a drawer and had yet to see a good iron. My leggings were passable but my hair looked as though a rat had made its nest there without complaint; it was a horrid mess to put it at best. I ran my hands through the knotted mess and tied it up in a ponytail.

The mahogany floor panels had lost the rich gloss they once shined proudly with generations ago and creaked under foot at I made my way to the entrance to the coal black cottage door. White walls were decorated with a vast array of family pictures with loved ones in and furniture was pressed against the wall in an attempt of aid to the frames. A few windows littered the wall and looked out to the forest and land beyond it which was covered in pure white snow. It was never a new experience when snowflakes danced in the sky and clouded the earth beneath it, here we were lucky if we could get out the door let alone walk without stumbling like a toddler learning to walk all over again.

Finally, I found myself in front of the door, a shadow of a figure loomed outside, and a large one at that. I gulped down the anxious feeling that arose from my subconscious and my sweaty palm unlocked the door and prepared for the gust of chilly winters air.

"Good morning, Miss. Are you Miss Walsh? Heather Walsh?" A man questioned, his tone demanding and serious. A navy coat hugged his tall frame and his hands were tucked away in his pockets. Piercing ocean blue eyes stared into my own murky hazel ones. His gaze was firm and trapped me within it.

Stuttering, I managed to quietly respond with a small "yes". It was like I was a deer stuck in headlights. I was anxious and nervous in this mans presence. The questions running through my head went a million miles a minute and brought along the small sensation of something pounding on my head with them.

Who was this man? Why did he know my name? Why was he here?

I was astounded by the uneasy feeling this man had given me. His appearance was unexpected and unjustified at present. Where had he came from? The land behind him appeared untouched from the small view I could see from behind him through the doorway, in fact not even a footprint could be made out from 2ft layer of snow.

"Good, I am here to investigate the disappearance of two girls that live nearby you. Do you know their names by any chance?" He questioned further. I felt a cold chill run down my back as the hairs on my arms stood up.

"Abigail and Violet Rivers?" I pried, seeking information from the man. "Yes, we were close friends when we were younger. Why are you asking me now? They have been missing for at least two months. How am I to trust you? I don't even know your name." I said with the most firm tone I could muster. My fists curled into balls as I kept a tight grip on the handle of the door.

"My name is not of concern at this moment in time. Now, can you elaborate on your relationship with them? When was the last time you saw them?" He insisted, there was a threatening gleam in his eyes and alarms rung in my head. I blinked and gulped again, the gleam was gone but the memory was still present in my mind, persisting I keep my guard up. On instinct, I looked around for anything of use- it wasn't the first time, and I'll be damned if I let it be the last time. I was vulnerable standing here, my heart beating up a storm and my head in some kind of frenzy. The outside seemed to be in a blur just as much as I was, as snow resumed its quest to cover the sky in it's innocent white colour.

"I already told you- we were close once. But we aren't anymore, things change buddy, life moves on." My voice had turned cold, more bold in it's words.

"OK then, when did you last see them then?" He looked down at me, his expression showing disgust. As if he knew more than he was telling me, pretending he knew. He knew nothing, he knew nothing about me- or them. Where did he get the idea that he knew so much- like some omniscient god?

"Well, if you have to know, a month or so before they went missing. Now- if that's all you have to ask, you can go on your merry way," I started to say before swiftly slamming the door to shut it, "and leave me alone..." I stuttered as a wave of petrified silence set over me.

"Ah- ah, Miss Walsh." He began, a sense of dread falling over me. He voice was weaved with menacing note and he eyes seemed to be set alight with a blood-like red flame. I inched away slowly, one foot at a time, flinching with each step. "I have one final question for you-"

I froze as my lower back met with a dark brown coffee-table next to my settee. He stepped further into the cottage, closing the door behind him.

"Where did you hide the bodies?"