The Missing Linck

• TWENTY ONE •

I stare out the window, the wind whooshing through my hair, and try to use my head to actually figure out what happened but I still draw a blank.

"Tasha? Hello?" Quenna waves her hand in front of my face.

"Yeah?"

"I asked you if you want to go shopping for clothes 'cause I remember you saying that you didn't have an appropriate dress for the party. Could we go later today or tomorrow?" she asks, her eyes showcasing her excitement.

"Sure, today evening, say 6?" I ask her.

"Yeah! I'll pick you up at 6, alright? I know the best places around here and I'll take you. You're going to be the best dressed at the party!" she gushes and Reid's laughter resounds throughout the car.

"Quenna, you're going in the evening, don't smother her already," Reid says in between his chuckles.

"That's what I'm here for," Mom interjects making me smack my head and Quenna howl in laughter. Reid desperately tries to keep from laughing loud but when his eyes meet my rolled ones in the rearview mirror, he bursts out laughing. Fortunately, we've reached home so he pulls over and laughs raucously while even Dad laughs.

"It wasn't even that funny!" I exclaim.

"No, it wasn't but it's fun to see you react," Reid says as he wipes his eyes. I stick my tongue out at him and go inside, yelling 'Six!' at Quenna.

Unlocking the house door, I waltz in and plop down on the plush couch. I sigh at the feel of the sofa. Nothing does feel as good as home.

"I have to go to work now, so see you later, Quin," Dad says as he kisses my forehead and walks out with a briefcase in hand and talking on his phone mere minutes later.

"Bye!" I yell after him and walk over to the kitchen when Mom asks me if I'd like a bite.

"When have I ever refused food, Mom? Especially from you, huh?"

"Of course!" she chuckles and hands me a plate piled high.

"Go for it!" she tells me and heads out to the porch for some fresh air.

I have everything I need now so I settle down on the couch and switch on the television while I satiate my stomach. Again, there's nothing playing in any channel. Why even bother to install a TV if there's no signal, like, seriously?

I'm about to turn it off and go out to join Mom when one channel flickers to life. Great, I can watch something even if it's a random soap opera.

A random soap opera that has a blonde girl sitting on a couch and relaxing, and then a man in his forties tells her he has to leave for work in between his conversation on his phone and kisses her forehead before awkwardly carrying a briefcase as he walks out. She yells a bye and gets off the couch.

The scene cuts to a woman in her late thirties humming as she prepares a bunch of sandwiches. She seems to be lost in her own world as the girl from before enters the kitchen and stands there watching her work.

Minutes later, she glances up to see the girl and asks her if she'd like a bite.

"When have I ever refused food, Mom? Especially from you, huh?" she quips.

"Of course!" the older of the two chuckles and piles some sandwiches and a bunch of crackers from a box onto a plate before handing it to the girl.

"Go for it!" she tells the girl, who takes the plate and begins to walk out when she tells her she'll go out to the porch for some fresh air. Picking up some more sandwiches, she heads out of the house.

The daughter reminds me of someone, only I can't quite point it out. I try to remember while watching the mother character sits on a chair by the porch, flicking her black locks out of her grey eyes. She stares out at the woods near the trees and seems to lost in the beauty of the woods to notice the coyote nearing her. The coyote is almost by her side when the girl calls her from inside and she goes in, locking the door, just seconds before the coyote attempts to attack her but it's too late by then as she's indoors.

That's when I realize who the girl reminds me of. Oh, wait, those blue eyes, those blonde locks, her stature, she's definitely like Quenna, I bet she acted in this! I ought to ask her more today evening.

"Mom, Quenna! Look at this!" I yell loudly.

The click of the back door sounds loudly, so I'm guessing she's going to stay inside now.

"I thought she was to come by 6?" she asks as she sits down next to me.

"That's not what I meant, Mom. I saw her, she was acting in-" my voice cuts off when I notice the screen has turned blank.

"Oh come on!" I shout at the screen.

"Oh, honey, the signal here's really bad, don't fret about it," she says as she pats my head and walks out of the room.

When her footsteps fade out, the screen flickers back to life and the scene continues as the mom approaches Quenna and her hands coil around the unsuspecting girl's throat.

The screen turns black as footsteps near me.

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There's the next update, and, as usual, lemme know what you think of the way the story is progressing.

It's almost Grammys time and I'm excited, some of my favourite artists are nominated and/or performing and I can't wait!

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