Confessions

07 | Hidden Messages

September 7, 2018
11:50 pm

After placing the rug back on the floor, I shoved the chain in my jacket and continued to put everything back in place. I took a long glance around the room. The thought of every memory not actually being real started to sink into my mind. I knew Alica since we were eight but I feel like I never really knew her. Everything I ever knew about her is turning out to be lie, and I don't know how to process it.

I gain the courage to head towards the door until I realized I still had the book in my hand. Without the thought, I shoved the book under my arm pit under my jacket. I entered the living room and was greeted by Mr. Stewart with a bag in his hand.

"Here are somethings I wanted you to have." He smiled. "Also put the book in the bag before my wife comes back."

I did what he said as stared at him in confusion. "Why do you trust me so much?" I whispered. "If I found a former friend of my daughter going through her stuff, I wouldn't be this helpful."

"My dear." he sighed. "Your my last hope. Everyone else has failed me. The police, and the detectives couldn't do one thing, but you.. You can find out what happen and save me from this unknowing hell."

He handed me the bag and wore a sad smile. "Thank you for even trying to find out what happen to her even though she did all those things to you."

"Y-you knew?"

"Of Course." He pulled me in a hug. "I'm so sorry for everything." Tears streamed down my face as I hugged him back. He pulled away and wiped my tears away. "Okay, go before my wife comes back. I'll come up with an excuse."

"Thank you, and I'm so sorry for your lost." He gave a sad smile and opened the door.

Everything was hitting me like a tons of bricks. Mr. Stewart knows who or what is behind this and he can't do a thing. I grabbed the book out the bag and stared at it's old features.

What was so important that Alica had to write it down, and lock it up? The sun dial, and the lock-box poked my brain. It made no sense why to go through that much secrecy for a journal. I feel like I didn't even know her at all.

I'm scared to reintroduce myself to the true Alica. Deep down, I know that every memory I have with her will be ripped into shreds. I don't think I'm ready to learn her dark secrets.

Light rain began to tap my face as I place the book back into the bag. I stared at the glowing streets lights as I walked home in the dark. My mind was clouded with so many questions, and I knew I was not ready for the answers.

~~~

September 8, 2018

2:00 am

I found myself staring at the book that laid on my nightstand. I pulled my blanket closer to me as I stared at the object that will not let me sleep. My brain is itching to read the book but I have a small piece of doubt in the center of my mind. Everything I need to know is in that book but the condition I found the book in scares me. Mr. Stewart's words feed into my fear as I replay our conversation. I sat up and reached over my nightstand to turn on my lamp. I sat there with my back against the head-board as I started at the book that sat in my lap. I opened the book and read the first entry that I did not get to finish.

"I've always been the 'nice girl'. I never treated anyone rudely, while they walked all over me. I'm done playing the victim. Tonight a secret was revealed. This is the night where I change the narrative of the story. I promise they will never walk all over me again."

My mind ran through so many loops while reading the entry. Who is "they", and how did they walk over Alica? I couldn't wrap my mind around someone walking over Alica. I always have seen her as the person everyone loved. Who treated her wrong? There's not one person I can who treated Alica wrongly.

Then again, I didn't really know Alica. A sigh left my lips as I continued to read.

"How stupid can someone be to let their secret be revealed so easily. Modern day Romeo and Juliet.

Romeo and Juliet? Who were you talking out?

"Romeo and Juliet were stupid enough to pull back the curtains that cover the room. Juliet thought they could salvage their love in secret, across from the place I gain inspiration. When the night is consumed with silence there will be light that glows from a far. Then there, Romeo and Juliet's love will cast the darkness away."

"From the place I gain inspiration?" I whispered. There were so many places she gained inspiration from. I rip the blanket off me and allow my feet to touch the chilled smooth wooden floor. It sounded familiar but I couldn't put my finger on it.

As I re-read the entry, I realized that this journal is not a regular diary. Alica made this journal to either to make a really good story or for someone to find out what she knew. It was like Alica would have known she was going to end up missing.

I ran my fingers through my hair as I let out a frustrated sigh. There I was staring at the ground for ten minutes until something made me look up. My eyes zoned in on the collage Alica made for me with the pictures she took of this abandoned business tower. I got out of bed, and pulled the collage off the wall.

I remember when she showed me the first picture she took of this building. I absolutely loved how the building looked. In New York, all buildings look the same unless you're a tourist. It gets tiring seeing so many similar buildings, like never ending video. This tower was different. It was made out of complete silver metal. The building is so shining that the lights from the street-lights and cars reflect off of it at night. The windows were huge but they were shaped into diamonds and you couldn't see through them but anyone inside could see out of them.

The building was made for a company many years ago, but I believe they went bankrupt and the building was never put to use. Many people didn't like the way the building looked, so it never got sold. The tower just sits there empty while thousands of people pass by it everyday.

I run my fingers around the collage, while turning it over. As I run my hand across the back of the collage, I feel small indents in the paper. "Alica you didn't." I rush to my desk and grab a piece of paper, and a pencil. I begin to shade on the paper and letters start to reveal themselves.

"2234 Wellton Ave. On the rooftop."