Don't Go in the Attic

The Phone Call

It was safe to say Alex was extremely puzzled.  Alex tried to think things over, after all she didn't want to tell her parents something that wasn't at least 80% true.  "Was that the same car that was there when mum and dad left?"  She asked herself.  "It had to be.  It was a black car.  I remember the sleek look."  Alex thought to herself.  She was certain it was the exact same car from the time her parents left.  She didn't really want to scare Ally though.  They didn't know if that man had been in his car watching the house for all that time or not.  Both options were possible but it was much easier to believe he was in his car.  Where else would he be.  Alex wanted to attempt to reassure Ally although she looked pretty tranquil at the moment.  Actually, Ally hadn't been taking things all that badly lately.  Her calmness was almost disturbing.  Wouldn't a normal person cry if they found out their friend went missing?  Wouldn't a normal have even the slightest look of fear on their face at this moment.  Ally looked as though someone had just told her that grass was green and the sky was blue.  "Maybe he was a delivery man of some sort.  He probably was delivering a package,"  Alex said reassuringly.

"I don't think so.  What kind of delivery man drives a black car?  What kind of delivery man wears those clothes?  No delivery man says he has pizza."  Ally said objectively.

"Whatever," Alex responded in an irritated tone while approaching the door.  Alex was kind of scared.  What if someone jumped out of the bushes and grabbed her?  Alex quickly opened the door to see if there was anything left on the doorstep.  Nothing.  She ran back in just in case.  She was almost 100% sure the man was gone but she really didn't want to take any chances by waiting around.  

Only a few minutes later their parents came home.  Now they were safe!  "So was everything OK?"  Their mom asked.

"Yes it was fine," Alex replied.

"Any phone calls, Anyone come to the door?"

"No one called but someone came to the door,  we didn't answer it though."

"OK good. Maybe you guys  should head to bed.  It's getting late.  You can read in bed if you want though."

The girls headed upstairs.  Alex got into her pajamas, brushed her teeth and threw her dirty blonde hair up into a ponytail.  Hopefully she wouldn't have any nightmares tonight.  As much as she wanted to read, she didn't.  Her brain was so full of questions and thoughts; she doubted she could get any reading done.   What was the point in even bothering.  She got into bed and allowed herself to ask one question:  Who was at the door?  Of course she didn't know.  The possibilities rolled through her mind all night before she drifted off.  There was no way of knowing unless she had opened the door.  Most of her was glad she didn't but there was a minuscule part of her that wished she had just opened the door.

The next morning she woke up to a quiet house.  It was 8 o'clock so she was probably the only one awake.  She went downstairs to watch TV.  She didn't want to have breakfast just in case her mom was going to make them waffles or pancakes, maybe even French toast.  There was nothing good on TV so she played some music from the stereo.  Just sitting there listening to music.  Not singing or dancing, just listening.  She could hear movement above her.  Someone was waking up.  Just seconds later, Ally appeared coming down the stairs.  "Your music woke me up," she said grumpily.

"I don't really care," Alex responded with a laugh.

"Turn it off; I want to watch TV."  Alex listened to her sister and turned off the music.  They sat watching TV for a bit.  Not long after, their parents came downstairs.  Alex made the right choice.  They had Waffles for breakfast!

Later that afternoon there was phone call.  Alex's mum answered it.  "Who is it?" Alex asked.  Her mom shot her a look and ignored her, as usual.  It was only a matter of a few minutes before Alex's mom handed the phone over to her and said "it's for you."  Alex honestly had no clue who it could be.  "Hello?"  She asked.

"Hi Alex.  This is the mom of Megan and Riley, the kids you babysat a couple days ago."

"Oh yeah, hi!"

"We were wondering if you could babysit again for us next Friday?  Would you be able to?"  

Alex was a bout to say yes but then she got a feeling in her stomach.  That feeling that goes "should you be doing this?"  Alex's mouth was left open, wanting to respond but her voice wasn't coming out.  

"Hello?  Alex?  Are you still there?"

Alex snapped out of her trance-like state.  "Yes, I'm here.  Just got sidetracked for a second,"  she responded with a laugh, pretending everything was fine.  "Yes, I can go."  There was that feeling again.

"So Friday at 6:30?"

"Yes.  I will be there."

"Would you like us to pick you up at your house?"

There was another silence.  In Alex's mind she was questioning if these people were safe enough to be trusted, after all they had chloroform and Rohypnol sitting in their cupboards.  "No, my mom will drive me, thanks."

"Alright thank you Alex.  It's a huge help."  As nice as she seemed, something wasn't right.  Does the average nice family keep chemicals and drugs in their cupboards?  Not as far as Alex knew.  She didn't, her neighbors didn't.  They were the only people she knew who even owned chloroform.  Something was definitely telling her not to go back but she had just said yes.  She'd look stupid if she called back to cancel.  She scratched her blonde hair in the ponytail.  It was pretty much settled.  There was a small chance of getting out of it but she doubted that would happen.

"So?"  Her mom came in and asked.

"Um, well I'm going to go to their house and babysit again Friday," Alex responded with a nervous smile.  She was hoping her mom wouldn't recognize the worry in her eyes.

"Great!  I'll write it on the calendar," her mom said with a smile.  Alex watched as her mother wrote the date on the calendar in blue pen.  It was settled then, she'd be going to babysit Friday night.  It was on the calendar; there was no getting out of it now.  She couldn't fake sick or make other plans.  There was no longer a small window of hope.  She would be returning Friday.