The Almost Unreal

Hope

---Start---

Jennifer's Pov

I look at the pictures of the scene, trying to see something, anything that will help us. I slam them onto the desk, frustrated. I wish we knew more, I wish we had more to go on. We don't know the who, why or the how. We only know where and what.

I decide I might get more by being at home so I tell Gina I'm leaving and exit the building. When I get home, I see Austin laying on the couch. I say hey and he quickly flips up.

"Jennifer! I'm so glad your here!" He says, worry in his eyes. "Anything new?"

"No..." I groan. I drop my bag and plop down on the couch.

"Hey, I probably should have told you earlier, but I have these letters. The guy who.. um... Took her, has been.. uh.. Writing her letters." he says after a moment.

"How could you keep this from us?!" I ask, snatching the papers from his hands.

I lie them on the floor, sliding over the table. I look them over, horror filling me. The words sickened me, but I read each one. They were short, but all of them sent a message. A clear one. He wanted her. Whoever he was.

The last one caught my attention. It was the only handwritten one and it was sloppy; somebody had written it quickly and on short notice.

"I-Im sorry, it's just that Olive didn't want you to know.." Austin says after I put the letter down.

"Shh!" I say sharply. There has to be a code, a secret message, some hint of where she is or SOMETHING.

The door opens and Gina comes in. She takes off her coat and takes off her sunglasses. She looks at the ground and raises an eyebrow.

"They're letters. From Olives kidnapper." I explain, turning back.

"What?" she says and hurries over.

"This dude was sending her letters before the kidnapping. She knew somebody was after her! She knew it!" I say, sliding the papers over to her angrily.

She looks at them, reading them quickly. She grabs the last one and suddenly grins.

"What?" I ask hopefully. Did she figure it out?

"It's handwritten." she grins.

"So?" I say, hoping there is more.

"So? Jen, there's a test they can run that, by their handwriting, can give you the person who wrote it!" she says excited.

"What are you waiting for? Go!" Austin says, practically pushing us out the door. We both hurry to the car, excited for the new news.

Maybe we'll get a lead!

---End of Pov---

Olives pov

I wake up the next morning with horrible back pain. Not to mention my gut felt like it was being torn open. I open my eyes and see a grey stone ceiling. My eyebrows furrow and I fling my arms out, expecting my bed. I hit stone floors and for the second time, I realize I've been kidnapped.

I moan in pain. I try to sit up but my back and stomach refuse movement. I pull up my shirt a bit and lift my head, trying to get a look. Bandages cover what I know are stitches. Probably bad stitches too. I forgot I was stabbed last night.

My breath hitches and I quickly put the shirt back down. I lay my head down and turn to face the bars. I see Ia-Ethan sleeping in the chair, face on the desk. I focus on my breathing, trying not to concentrate on the pain.