A Dark Love Story

Chapter 8

The next few weeks seemed to fly by in a whirl of memories and seasonal changes. Summer neared its end and the warm nights slowly started turning into crisp, cool evenings. As of September 22nd Alexander and Daisy had been dating a grand total of two months. Their relationship grew stronger as the days passed and they actually helped improve each others moods/lives. Together they survived the daily onslaught of banter and jabs at school. But today at school the mood was different...

MISSING: Alice Andrews

Missing: September 22nd, 2018

LAST SEEN: September 19th, 2018 at residence

Description: Blonde hair, green eyes, last seen wearing a pink blouse and black pencil skirt with tennis shoes

ANYONE with information please contact Frank & Janis Andrews at 980-534-9908 or the police

REWARD- $10,000

"I've been going to school while her since Kindergarten. She's a rich, stuck up snob but this actually kind of sad." Daisy chimed

"Well it isn't everyday that one of the most popular girls at school goes missing either." Alexander remarked

"True. The only recent update I know about her is that she has been dating Kevin Packard on and off since our Senior year started. Which means we have our first suspect."

"What do you mean?"

"We are going to find Alice."

                                                                                             ...

Alexander's writing oasis had been turned into the official investigation headquarters. "Tear In My Heart" by Twenty One Pilots blasted as they examined the information they had thumbtacked to a shabby corkboard.

"I know that you went to school with Alice but if she is such a monster why do you care about finding her?"

"It is a long story but I will try and condense it down. Like I said, we've been in school together since Kindergarten and we grew closer as the years passed by. We'd do all the typical girl sleepover things- paint each others' nails, talk about boys and all that jazz. Well in junior high she started to lean more towards the material things and cared more about her appearance and reputation. She eventually severed the tie and vanished out of my life and into her own world of glamor and popularity. She was my best friend and she doesn't deserve this but deep down I still care about her well-being."

"Gosh your life sounds like a freaking Lifetime movie."

"Aren't everyone's lives like that- filled with tragedy and heartbreak mixed with moments of joy."

"You are going too deep into this so I will change the subject back to the case on hand instead of your past."

So far they had a copy of the missing poster, a picture of Alice, and a suspects section with a picture of Kevin tacked to the board. They needed more information- dates, times, witnesses... any kind of information would do. They decided they would start in the woods near her home.

                                                                                        ...

The orange hue that was the sun started to descend as Alexander and Daisy trudged against the humid Summer breeze. It would be dark in about an hour so they had to work quickly and scan as much of the area as possible. Daisy felt a chill down her spine as they neared a thicket of scraggly trees. Both her and Alexander paused at the mouth of it.

"Ladies first."

"If anything happens just remember that you have to come save me you goob."

Daisy could faintly see through the thicket so she used the light from her cell phone. Alexander stayed close behind like a protective hound dog. The path seemed to go on forever in a tangle of branches and thorns but eventually a beam of light appeared at the end of the tunnel. Once they had escaped the suffocating thicket they were surprised to find the ledge of a cliff a few feet away. Upon a brief inspection they deducted that if anyone had fallen from the height they would certainly die. Alexander and Daisy did a quick inspection of the dirt for footprints of any kind but to their dismay they found nothing.

"I think we should head back to the car, we do have a bit of a hike back." Alexander suggested

"I agree. I also think we could cover more ground if we had some help. I'll have to enlist the help of some of my other friends." Daisy replied

Silence.

"Yes Alexander I hang out with others beside you." Daisy teased

More silence... Daisy turned around to face Alexander and was shocked to see a clump bright pink clinging to a fallen tree. Alexander approached it cautiously, pulled out a pair of gloves from his pocket and transferred the clump of hair to a zip lock bag.

"We have our first clue!" Alexander shouted excitedly