The Missing

Chapter Three

~Dakota North~

I don't really remember anything that happened. It was all a blur. Sure I remember the gunshots, but I thought the kicking was Lilly trying to get in. At first they were small knocking sounds. Then they became louder, until the sound became too much to handle. The door got smashed onto the ground. They were the Egami government. Then I remembered everything my parents had told me about them. I was aware we were in trouble. I told everyone to hide. I was helping Alex get to his hiding spot when they knocked me out. As far as I could tell, they only had me... Or at least that what I hoped.

I woke up, my breath started to heavy as I looked around. My ears rung and I was chained to something. It seemed like a long, white pole. But I couldn't be too sure of myself. I started to squirm and make any rapid movements that would help me escape, although I knew it was useless. I was only a sixteen year old boy. It wasn't like I could just break open chains and run free. Even if I did find a way to escape, they would catch me on my way out. Needless to say, I still tried.

"It's useless, Dakota. I've tried." Alex. That was his voice. I turned over to look at him. I had never been so happy yet so sad to see him. Instead of expressing my emotions, I decided to ask,

"Alex. Did they take anyone else?" I said. Alex looked down. He opened his fingers one at a time like he was counting. He stopped when he got to his fourth finger and frowned.

"They got Mom and Dad, me and you, but I don't know if they have anyone else." I let out a cry. They had Mom and Dad. They had them, which means that they could kill them at any minute. This knowledge made me try even harder to escape.

"Dakota. Dakota! I already told you! It is useless! The chains get tighter every time you struggle to escape!" Alex tried.

"I will get out of here no matter how much pain I have to suffer through!" I screamed. Alex flinched. He was obviously shocked at how loud I had been.

"Calm down!" Alex whispered back at me. "You're gonna draw attention to yourself and if you keep this up they'll put us in seperate rooms!" He hushed me, although I kept struggling. "For heaven's sake Dakota! Stop struggling!" Alex continued. He glanced down at his feet.

I looked at the poor boy thoroughly for the first time since I woke up. He was bloodied and his wrists were read. There were scratches on his arms and bruises on his face.

"What did they do to you?" I asked. He didn't reply. "Alex?" I asked again. The boy burst out crying.

For the first time in a while, I didn't know what to do. I couldn't rub his back and tell him that it was okay, because it wasn't. I couldn't even reassure him that we would all get out of here. I couldn't do anything helpful. My twin Dakota South would have known what to do. But I didn't. I couldn't do anything for him. I stopped thinking and spat out the first thing that came to mind.

"I-am-sorry-for-your-loss." When I realized what I said, I immediately regretted it. "I mean-I'm sorry. Is there anything I can do to cheer you up?" Alex looked over at me.

"No! No you cannot! Because unless you can get us out of here, we're trapped! Trapped, Dakota!" He screamed. I winced, and started to judge myself for not seeing that answer coming.

This time, it was myself, who was not moving, and Alex who was struggling to gain his freedom again. I let out a sigh as I inched lower to the ground, my legs weakening. I looked around. The room was full of dust. There was a table that was in the center of it, and two more poles, like the ones me and Alex were chained to, on the other side of the room. On the table, there were two neatly set paper plates, with cups created out of glass and plastic forks. The room was painted in a light hue of grey, but the paint was chipping off, causing the walls to look more white then they did the original color. In a way, it kind of reminded me of my house, broken apart, yet there was something still there. Some passion or hope left behind by another person.

My mind spaced from reality. I imagined I was at home. Aiden, Alex, Aurora, my twin, myself, and Lilly were there. Along with our parents. Lilly had just made our supper, and we were all sitting around the table, laughing and eating together, like nothing had happened... But something had happened. Our family was separated. Our family got separated because of my father. Part of myself wanted to blame him. But another part of me wanted to blame myself, for not fighting to keep everyone safe. At least Aiden, Aurora, Lilly, and Dakota were safe. They could live without us... Or be crazy enough to try and get us back. I never knew with those four... Well Dakota South was pretty predictable, but I never knew what the other three would do. I could imagine Dakota leaving, even if it was by himself, to come find me. He would do anything for his twin. But this situation was different. I didn't want my twin, or anyone else trying to come rescue me, Mom, Dad, or Alex. I would have usually wanted everyone right by my side. But now I want to be here alone.

Alone.

That rung in my head for a while. Did I really want to be alone? My brain says I do, but my heart says I don't. I laughed to myself. I never knew which to believe, my head or my heart?

Alex finally stopped struggling. I looked over at his wrist which were now purple. I rolled my eyes.

"Why don't you ever take your own advice?" I asked him. Alex looked over at me, his eyes full of tears ready to spring out at any moment.

"Because I'm an advice giver, not an advice taker. No matter how hard I try, I am not able to listen to anyone... especially myself." He replied to my comment. I knew that. Whenever I tried to tell his something, he would do the opposite.

...That got myself to think. Maybe if I told Alex to do something I didn't want him to do, he would do the opposite. I decided I would try it.

"Alex. Do you have a bobby pin?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Whatever you do, don't try and pick the locks."