Gone

Staged

Walking through the halls of my school wasn't the same anymore. I dared not look anyone in the eye. I refused for them to see the guilt glistening back at them. Whenever I turned a corner, everyone speaking or moving would stop dead in their tracks or fall utmost silent. The only perceptible sound being the faint echo of my shoes against the tiles. It was like everyone was somewhat afraid of me. In my classes nobody spoke anymore. Even the nerdy kids refused to lift their hands to answer the simplest questions. Lessons were like eternity nowadays. Everyone avoided me. Nobody sat on my table and the teacher would only occasionally acknowledge my existence. It was different now Willow was gone. The school was like a puppet show. And I was the puppeteer. 

At home, my parents barely spoke to me. The only noise was my mother cutting up vegetables on the board, trying to distract herself from the lingering silence. My father worked extra hours at work now, just so he wouldn't have to come home, look at me in the face to reassure me Willow would come back. My brother would scurry by my room cautiously like he was scared of whatever was in the depths of that room. Nobody understood the pain of having to know that you were the cause of a so called mystery disappearance or an abduction. Nobody understand that I had to live with that feeling everyday. A feeling of longing guilt. The guilt that her parents cried for her at home. That her other friends were worried sick for her life. Nobody understood the feeling of your heart beat racing a million miles an hour whenever someone knocked on your door, not knowing if it was the police out there to arrest you for faking a disappearance or just another person wishing us for Willows safe return.

7 days before Willows disappearance 

I reached for my phone with my eyes still closed. I blindly grabbed a hold of it and switched it on. I began to do my daily routine of checking my notifications. I was about to place my phone down when I suddenly got a message from Willow.

'Come to my house now. I have a great idea'.

Willow was more of a daredevil than a safe person. She was always putting herself in dangers and the scariest bit was she didn't care at all. She skipped many classes at school and was always getting into trouble at home. She wasn't a great student or child, but she was my best friend. My only friend. Willow meant more than the world to me. She was the only thing standing between me and suicide. I had always struggled with depression, and Willow was always there to help me through hard nights and situations. Willow and I were never noticed at school. Barely anyone knew who we were. Not even all the teachers knew who we were. 

I lazily got (fell) out of bed and chucked some clothes on. I silently tiptoed downstairs and left the house. I jumped onto my bike and peddled full speed towards Willows house. She only lived about a block away from me so it barely took me any time at all to reach her house. When I arrived, she was already waiting outside on the front porch as per usual. She was smiling uncontrollably and I knew something was up. She was planning something. 

'Hey Willow, I got your message' 

'No shit, that's why you're here' she scoffed as she teasingly punched my arm. 

'Right. Well, what's up?'

Willow began to dance around on the spot and spin in circles.

'I have the perfect idea' she whispered. 'Remember Violet Rodgers? The girl who got abducted but was found a few months ago?'

I nodded slowly but I was extremely confused.

'What about her?'

'Well, when she came back to school and into town everyone noticed her. Literally everyone knew who she was. She was all over national news for a solid week. Like holy shit people could've made fan posters for her!' Willow laughed but I just stood there with a blank face. 

Willow stopped laughing and then looked at my blank expression. She then face palmed herself and chuckled to herself.

'You don't get it, do you? What I'm saying is that, well, we are never noticed. Nobody knows who we are. We are invisible to some people. So...'

She didn't even have to finish her sentence for me to then understand what she was saying. It hit me right in the stomach of her risky, stupid yet smart plan. 

'You want to stage an abduction so people notice us' I said quickly. 

'Yes, Carrie. That's exactly what I want. I want to stage an abduction' 

-

SIDE NOTE;

Hey everyone this is the first chapter to a new series I am writing!1!1!1. I sort of lost inspiration towards the end so sorry it's pretty straight forward and boring. I promise the story gets much more interesting along the way! I hope y'all like this idea. It is actually inspired by a story I read a few years back. Anyway, sorry this chapter isn't too long either. They'll also get longer as the story goes on. Until then, hope you enjoy this chapter and the story idea!

-

from me :)