Caged In

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

            “You’ll stay in here,” Cameron said as he opened an old wooden door.

            Alyce started coughing as dust entered her lungs. “How long has it been since you guys have been up here?”

            “I don’t know. We don’t really need the attic.”

            “Yeah I can tell because your house almost looks like the Vanderbilt Mansion.” She walked forward, on guard for bugs and snakes. Out of nowhere, something hit her in the face. As she opened her mouth, Cameron’s hand closed around it.

            Cameron reached up his other arm, pulled a cord, and a dim light came on. “Really, Alyce?” he said, taking his hand off of her mouth.

            “I thought it was a snake. Anyways, where am I supposed to sleep in here?”

            “On that mattress over there,” Cameron said, pointing.

            “Oh right,” she said carefully sitting down on it.

            There was a long pause of silence until Cameron blurted out, “Do you happen to know a guy named Blake?”

            It was all thrown at Alyce so fast, she had to think a little bit. Why would he care? “Umm…yeah. Two actually.”

            Cameron’s face suddenly lit up as he flashed a white smile, again looking like Blake’s.

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            Alyce woke up as morning light leaked through cracks in the ceiling. She hadn’t slept much at all because of her fear of bugs, but right when she fell asleep, it was time to wake up.

            The door suddenly opened to reveal Cameron’s face. “Oh good, you’re up.”

            “Yeah. I didn’t really sleep much,” Alyce mumbled, rubbing her eyes.

            “Oh sorry.” Cameron walked towards her, sat at the end of the mattress and sighed. “I know it’s early, but my parents aren’t up yet and I really need you to know something.”

            “Alright,” Alyce said, confused and wondering what could possibly be that bad.

            “I think you know my brother.”

            “Oh. Who is he?”

            “You said you knew two guys named Blake. My brother’s name was Blake. He disappeared somewhere around the time when you said you were taken.”

            “Whoa...that has to be Blake! I knew it!”

            “I knew he was Blake too. That’s not proving anything, but-“

            “No, no. I mean…the guy I shared my cage with. His name was Blake. And he got taken the day after me.” Alyce was shocked. So that’s why Cameron’s smile looked like Blake’s…

            “That has to be him! We have to save him!”

            “Yeah, that would be great, Cameron, but I don’t even know how to get here from there. And I can tell you right now, there’s no way I’m gonna get back in there safely and take Blake with me on the way back out.”