The book of clues

9 - Charlie Clarke

"Oh my God!" Charlie took a sip of his Ice Tea. "That, was the BEST sandwich I have ever eaten!" Alex and Lilly sat across of him at the table, they both had to laugh. Never had Lilly seen anyone eat a sandwich that fast. Even her brother was surprised. "Thanks Lilly, for the delicious sandwiches, sorry I took three of them, I was just so hungry."

Lilly had made him her specialty; the mayo-lettuce-onion-boiled-egg-sandwich, it was her personal favorite. She grinned, "no problem at all, I'm glad you enjoyed it." She put his plate in the sink, "I can't believe you didn't eat for more than two weeks!" She continued. Charlie cleaned his mouth with the napkin Alex handed him. "Well, I did eat a few acorns, the ones I could reach from my cage. I also tried chewing leafs, and trust me, it's awful!

But of course, beside those delicious five-star-meals I found on the ground, it wasn't enough to keep me strong. After a while I gave up trying to escape my cage." Charlie looked down and sniffed his armpit. He didn't take a shower yet, the first thing Lilly and Alex did when they reached home, was making sure he had something to eat. "Oh God, that's disgusting!" He pulled his head quickly away from his armpit. "I suppose I should clean myself up first, how can you even sit that close to me?" He laughed. Lilly already got used to the smell. "It's okay," she said, "I'll show you the bathroom." She walked towards the door. "I got some cool clothes for you if you want, Charlie." Alex said with a glance on his face. "Great!" Charlie smiled and followed the two out.

"Here," Lilly handed Alex a plate. "I hate doing the dishes," he murmured while drying it with a towel. "Alex, we only have to clean two plates, what are you even complaining about?" "I just don't like doing it." He answered childishly. Lilly had pointed Charlie the bathroom and given him what he needed to clean himself up. He's been in there for some time now. In the main while, she had thrown Charlie's dirty shoes into the washing machine, so he could wear them again without making his feet dirty.
"Can you guys use an extra hand?" Charlie walked in to the kitchen. He had shaved his beard, and freshen himself up. His curly brown hair wasn't frizzy anymore, it had a healthy shine. He wore Alex' green Star Wars T-shirt with the quote 'I hate sand' on and some black jeans. "What do you think?" He asked with a smile. "You look great!" Lilly said a little too excited. Charlie instantly became more pleasant to look at, Lilly thought. He looked cute in that nerdy T-shirt. "I think it's time I told you guys about myself." He said smiling. "Let's go to the living room, I'll get us some cookies mom baked this morning." Lilly walked towards the closet next to the fridge, and took the bowl filled with cookies out.

"My name is Charlie Clarke, I'm nineteen years old and was born in Tennessee." He was sitting in a vintage sofa close to the fireplace. Lilly and Alex each sat in a smaller one across. In between them, there was a low long table where the cookies were placed on. Charlie took one and continued, "I lost my parents in a car crash when I was ten years old." Lilly and Alex widened their eyes and shared a glance, "we're so sorry." Alex noticed Charlie looked a little sad, "it's okay, I barely remember them. My uncle took me in and raised me in my old house." "Our dad left us when we were young, we barely remember him too." Alex looked down. "I'm sorry to hear that." Charlie said.

"So what are you doing all the way here, all the way from Tennessee?" Lilly wondered. "I honestly have no idea how I got here. The last thing I remember before waking up in that cave, is me coming home from school. I was looking for my uncle, who I couldn't find working in the garage, where he worked every day. A certain moment someone gripped me, and that's all I remember."

"You woke up in a cave you said? How did you end up in that cage then? Alex asked.

"Well, first a man kept me in a dark cave. That's where I woke up. I never saw his face, and he never told me who he was. All I know is that his voice sounded familiar. The first few months he fed me every day. I even got a bed. The man never talked much. Only about 3 weeks ago, he told me he had to leave me the next day. And that next morning, I woke up in that cage without any explanation, where you guys found me." Charlie told them, "he kept me as his prisoner for more than a half year, I think. I still don't know why, he would never tell."