Sold for A Thousand dollars!(Completed)

Chapter 17: "...What the fuck was that?"

Dustin's Pov

The past few days have been hell on earth.

I've tried to get her out of mind, I really have, but it's impossible.

I don't know how many times I've re-read her letter. Probably a hundred times.

Maybe more.

I just can't get over the fact that she just left.

I mean I don't get it, everything seemed fine. She wanted me to help her.

And then...she just

left.

I couldn't find her even if I tried.

I don't know where she went, and throwing a search party for her wouldn't be a good idea. She insisted on me not talking about it with anyone.

I owe her that at least.

But that doesn't mean that I haven't been beating myself up every single day, since then.

People at school are getting suspicious. Rumors are surfacing that she was expelled, which is absurd. Marianna was a great student with a perfect attendance and never got in trouble. Ever.

She would never get expelled.

I just hope that wherever she is, that she's okay.

**//**

I make my way downstairs and head into the kitchen to get some food.

My mum was silently sitting on a stool, whilst she leaned against the kitchen counter, staring intently at me.

"Hey" She says

I sigh.

"Hey" I respond in a monotone voice.

"Dustin...you do know that you have to tell me, eventually, right?"

Since Marianna left and my mother saw my reaction, she's been bothering me with questions. She knows something's up, but I would rather die than tell her.

I promised Marianna I wouldn't say anything.

And I wasn't going to break that promise.

"Mum, for the hundredth time, can you please just drop it"

"I won't just drop it, Dustin. If Marianna's in trouble, you have to tell me. This is beyond your years" She insists

I let out a long sigh.

"I'm going out" I say abruptly

"No." She snaps as she stands up

I walk around her.

"I'm going out" I repeat

This time she doesn't make a move to stop me.

I walk out of the kitchen and towards the front door before exiting the house.

Night had fallen and I looked around at the dark and quiet neighborhood.

Beats facing my mother.

I walk down the stairs of the front porch and head down the street to my left, my hands stuffed into my sweatshirt and my head hung low.

**//**

According to my internal clock, I had been walking for about half an hour. And the more I walked, the more I felt like I was being...watched.

I abruptly turn around.

Empty.

I look around at the unfamiliar street and see that there's no one in sight.