Playing by the Cards

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

By the time I got home, it was already 10:15 AM, and since I had nothing to do, I decided to go hang out with Jade. I pulled out my phone and started texting her.

Meet me @ Starbucks ASAP!

I looked at the message and hit send. Suddenly the front door opened to reveal my mother walking in, huffing and puffing.

"Everything alright?" I asked, quickly getting her a glass of water.

My mother sat on the chair and tried catching her breath. I sat down next to her, and gave her the glass of water. I silently watched her drain the glass and helplessly waited for her to speak.

She set the glass down and looked at me worriedly.

"I came back as soon as I heard the news, darling. Just wanted to make sure you were okay." She said, holding my hand as if she needed comfort.

I gave her a confused look. "What do you mean, mother?" I asked.

She gave me a surprised look. "You don't know?" She asked me, eyes wide.

"Know what?" I asked. Fear started slowly rising in me as I looked at my mother's sad face.

"Lizina Evans was filed missing by her parents this morning. They think she was kidnapped or something." She said, standing up from the oak dining table and walking to the sink, placing her glass there. I slowly got up as well and walked towards the granite island counter in the kitchen.

I stared at her in shock. Liz was missing? Liz was missing...Oh my god.

I tried asking a question, but my throat closed up on me. My mind was running with different thoughts and ideas. Could it be that she's dead...actually dead? Or maybe she was really kidnapped? She could be just messing with us, since that girl loved attention but...

I finally found my voice and asked, "When did she disappear?"

My mother shrugged, looking down at the sink. "I don't know, Mr. and Mrs. Evans said she didn't come home Thursday night. So I guess that's when she disappeared." My mother said, looking at me. "I don't know how those two can remain so calm at a time like this. I mean, I could never bear the fact if either my daughters were missing." she said.

I could she was trying to hold back her tears. Ever since my father died 17 years ago, my mother was always paranoid to think that she might also lose Reneé and I.

I walked up to my mother and gave her a hug.

"Hey, don't worry. I'll keep myself safe." I said, as my mother hugged me back. She smiled at me and kissed my cheek.

"I know." She said, smoothing my dark black hair away from my face.

"And besides-" I started. "I always keep that can of pepper spray you gave me." I said, smiling at her.

My mother laughed and nodded. "Of course." she said.

My mother held me at arm’s length and stared at my jeans and t-shirt that I was wearing.

"Were you out this morning?" She asked.

I nodded. "Yeah, Ophelia wanted me to drop something off at Mrs. Bay's house and now I was going to go meet Jade at Starbucks, but if you don't feel secure, then I can just-" I cut off as my mother shook her head.

"No, no darling. Go have fun, but just be careful." She said, turning towards the fridge and opened it, looking for something to eat.

"Okay, bye mother." I said, heading for the door.

I walked down the street of Highwood Crest, towards Phillip Boulevard, where the bus that takes you down to the core of Maine's shopping center was located.

As I walked, I finally got time to think of what exactly my mother had just told me.

One, Liz was missing, since Thursday night.

Two, James came to Maine on Thursday night and he might have been near or even in the forest areas.

Three, I had a horrible dream about these two on, Thursday night.

Now for sure I could say, that all of these events were linked and now it's not a coincidence. But still one question remains stuck in my head. Could Liz be dead, just like what I saw in my dream? I pondered over the thought and only got one answer. I'd have to go check those forest areas myself. If my dream was true, I'd find Liz there, well at least Liz's body...which would be burnt...

The thought of a burnt body made me want to puke, so by the time I reached the bus stop and boarded the bus, I had let the topic go, until I could investigate more in depth, and actually come up with real evidence.

As I sat down, I suddenly realized that my life was becoming one of those murder mystery movies. Maybe it was a bad idea to get involved in this, but at the same time, I am probably the only person who might be able to find her before something bad happens. Should I walk away or stay?

Finally the bus slowed to a halt at my stop, and so I got off and headed for Starbucks