Hidden Close (Jr. Year)

Chapter 11

Part 11 Of The First Draft

“Thanks for coming over, you two. Tonight is going to be rough for me.”

Rebecca smiled, and then told me, her voice carrying genuine sincerity,

“I heard that they tried to hurt your parents last year, too. It's your weakness, Mindi. You're like a superhero to me, and your parents, are like, well, your soft spot. They know if they hit you there, you're going to feel pain.”

I shook my head, and started to weep.

“No, Becky. I can handle pain. What they've done is more like twisted a knife inside my heart.”

Renee put a hand on my back, and gently carressed me. She told me,

“I’ll be up all night. If you need to rest, it's okay. We will watch over you.”

I got up, and told Renee,

“Thanks. I'm going to lay down on the couch. I'm tired, but I don't think I can sleep.”

After I had made it to the couch, Becky appeared above me. She asked,

“Can I sit down with you?”

I nodded and yawned, telling her,

“Of course. Make yourself at home. The closer you are to me, the better.”

We are both children of darkness, and despite all of her faults, Becky is okay. She has my trust. She sat down on the ground, and admitted,

“I’ve never slept over with a friend before. For the longest, Veronica had to act as a friend to me. Can you imagine that? Your older sister acting like both your friend and your mother? It sucks.”

She really is sweet, now isn't she?

“Becky....I’ll always be your friend. Just please help me....help me bring them home....”

Without my parents, I won't survive long. I'll have to ask the Eisens for food, and Lana may have to get a job soon. We can't tell anyone about what has happened....though if we don't, my dad will lose his job. We have to find them fast...but not right now. I'm so tired...and I don't even know why. Oh well...sleep is good.

When I arose, it still was early. Renee was still awake, and she noticed me get up. She told me, quietly, wishing to not wake up the still slumbering Rebecca,

“We have to meet with Carlita. Perry and Brad will be waiting for us when we make it there. We still have a few hours....can Lana still fight?”

I had totally forgotten about Lana. I explained quickly to Renee,

“She was drugged by my parents’ kidnappers last night. I’ll go check on....”

“Check on who, sis? You better believe I can fight!”

Lana was standing there on the stairs, dressed to kill, wearing a striped tank top and black shorts. She hadn’t lost any of her muscle tone over the last week. She must have been working out the whole time. Even with her recent episode I could never picture her as weak. Renee smiled at her, and mentioned,

“It's not going to be so easy to find your mom and dad. My mother has agreed to help your family financially. We don't want anyone to know what has happened. Brad, being talented as he is, has called your father's work and impersonated him, telling your dad's boss that he is going on hiatus.”

I smiled, impressed at how cleaver the Eisens really are. They work so incredibly fast that it astounds me even still. I responded in the only way I possibly could.

“Thank you, Renee. I'm so happy to have you in my life....I.....I.....”

Why can't I speak?

“Oh no....she is acting like I did before. She didn't drink the water, did she? I think they drugged that, too. Renee....help her....”

Lana was the last person I saw or heard for the next three days.

“Mindi! Thank goodness you're alive!”

“Perry? Perry? Why are you here?”

Becky grabbed my hand and gave it a good squeeze. She explained to me in a soft and caring tone,

“Mindi, you're at the Eisen residence. You've been out for awhile. You drank some bad water. You are going to be okay. Misses Eisen created some sort of potion that will help you feel better. Don't worry, it doesn't taste too bad. I had fallen ill to the poison, too.”

“What? Dang it! What about my mom and dad? Where are they? Does anyone know?”

Grace walked into the room, dressed in a long black dress that resembled something a beautiful witch might wear. In her hands she held a large goblet that contained a bubbling red substance.

“Mindi, I'm so glad you are awake. Please, drink this. It'll make you feel better.”

I eagerly snatched the fluid out of Grace's hands and downed it quickly, wanting nothing more than to feel better once again. My heart quickened its beat and I felt my strength slowly return. I rose up from the Eisens’ black leather couch, and reached for Perry.

“Perry, please. You have to find my parents....”

“Already one step ahead of you, babe. We met with Carlita. She and Becky have agreed to take us to where these bizarre watcher creatures gather. They look human but there is something by far disturbing about them....when we met with Carlita she described them and their habits. They simply can't be people but more like entities who do corrupt things that are nothing more than depraived acts of defilement.”

I nodded my head, and rubbed my eyes. I laid down a plan for us, speaking with my raw emotion rather than my mind,

“I don't care what they are. I don't want to kill anyone, but I would go to just about any length to get them back. They mean everything to me. They’re my mom and dad, and they sure as heck aren't replaceable. If those watcher creeps do anything to them, I swear, I swear I'll...”

The rain started to fall, and Perry held me steady. I curled into his arms, thankful that I am here with him. Without him, my heart never had a chance. Right now, I feel so weak, helpless. There is so many things that I need right now, but what I need the most is to make sure my mom and dad aren’t dead. A kid like me can't possibly go on without their parents. My humble dad and noble mom must come home. If they don't, I just might...I just might succeed in what I failed to do so many times before. Everything is on the line, and I'll get my parents back or die trying. It's time to finally be a real woman, even despite my delicate age.