Stormy Skies (On Hold)

Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Friday, July 3rd

Rebecca

            This past Wednesday, Sophie and I were laughing at a cheesy chick flick while her sister Ivy (I suppose my sister now too) looked on disapprovingly, when Sophie proclaimed she had important business to do at the park, and walked out with a funny look on her face. As she walked out, I could’ve sworn she spoke to us.

            I wonder what my mother needs now.

            I looked on curiously as she closed the door. Her mother? Samantha was in the kitchen preparing dinner. Why would she be speaking of her adoptive mother when she was heading to the park? No one else reacted to her statement though, so I let it go.

            I watched the rest of the movie with Ivy. She cried at all the tear-jerking moments, while I tried to hide my laughter. Over the past few days, Sophie and I found we are very similar, and like many of the same things, one of those including mocking her sisters. Watching their friends proves to be quite entertaining also.

            At a fairly uneventful period in the movie, my thoughts were suddenly interrupted with a feeling of extreme fear. I had no reason to be fearful, but I had the sudden notion that Sophie was in danger.

            Why are they doing this to me? They’re my family! Could they kill me? Would they kill me? Why would they? Who are these enemies they speak of?

            Her voice filled my head and I looked to the door, expecting her to come barreling through, out of breath. Nobody but me seemed to take notice of Sophie’s urgent voice.

            Suddenly, I feel as though I am flying, and I hear more of Sophie’s thoughts swirling in my head, all expressing fear and doubt in her family. Why would her family kill her? Why would she even doubt them? I was sitting next to them, and they didn’t seem at all threatening.

            What was happening with Sophie?

            After a while, her thoughts left my mind, and I was able to relax a little. But I felt her concern again as the movie ended.

            Where am I? I’ll have to call Samantha. I can tell her I went out running...

            I shook my head to try and clear her voice out. I was obviously imagining her voice. I can’t really hear other’s thoughts in my own head. I was always making up what others were thinking. I remembered pretending to hear Shelley’s thoughts in my head back at the orphanage.

            I missed Shelley. I had been so caught up with Sophie, I almost forgot her. I told myself I’d go and visit her and the other kids soon.

            As the credits of the movie rolled, I heard Samantha answer the phone in the kitchen.

            “Hello?”

            I could practically hear Sophie on the other end.

            Hey...um, Samantha?

            “Oh, yes dear! Where are you?”

            I don’t really know. Can you come get me?

            “Of course sweet pea!” I heard her hang up. She walked into the room Ivy and I were in. “I have to go pick up Sophie girls! I’ll be right back! Oh... I don’t actually know where she is!”

            “She’s at Saint Matthews Methodist Church.” The answer came out of my mouth before I could think. It was as though Sophie herself told me. Samantha looked at me strangely.

            “How do you know?”

            “She... told me before she left,” I made up on the spot.

            “No she didn’t,” Ivy stated. I gave her a look.

            “Yeah she did. You were too engrossed in your movie to notice.” Ivy rolled her eyes. “I’ll come with you,” I offered, turning to Samantha. She nodded her head in assent. 

            As we pulled up to the church, we saw Sophie talking to an old man sitting on a bench outside. When she saw our car, she said goodbye to the man and walked to us.

            “Where on earth have you been young lady?” Samantha reprimanded as she got in the car.

            “Oh... I went for a run. Gotta be in shape,” Sophie said. I could tell she was lying though. It was far too hot to go for a run, even late in the afternoon with the sun going down. And she wasn’t even sweating! Luckily, Samantha is an unsuspecting woman.

            “Well, good for you! Ivy and Rena should take after your example. Healthiness is a way of life!” Samantha continued to lecture us on the merits of physical activity, but both of us tuned out. I stared at Sophie, wondering what she had been up to, and she stared stonily out the window.

            Once we were safely out of earshot in our room, I turned on her.

            “Where did you really go, Sophie? What were you doing?” She looked at me nervously.

            “I... for a run! I told you!”

            “No, you didn’t. You said you had ’important business’ to do at the park. Not at some church with an old dude,” I exclaimed. She shuffled her feet. I could tell she was uncomfortable.

            “That ‘old dude’ is Mr. Richards, and he was very kind to me. And once I was done with my park business, I went for a run. And I lost track of time and got lost,” she finished.

            “I don’t believe you,” I told her bluntly. She looked up at me, and her eyes betrayed her. The fear I heard earlier showed. I softened. “What had you so scared?” I asked quietly. Her eyes widened with shock, and she turned from me.

            “I don’t want to talk about it.” I shrugged.

            “Suit yourself.” I then walked to my bed and picked up our iPod we shared. I turned the volume full blast, and enjoyed the luxury of instantaneous music. Sophie still stood facing the wall. Her voice still echoed through my head as I listened to the haunting music of Hannah Fury.

            I’d tell you Rebecca, but you’d laugh in my face.

            We haven’t spoken about it since Wednesday, and she seems fine. Her voice hasn’t disturbed my thoughts since that night either. Tomorrow is the Fourth of July Barbecue that Samantha and Lisa are putting together, and she seems to get more and more excited. Truth be told, I am too. I can’t wait to meet more of the neighbors. Even though Sophie doesn’t seem too keen on it, I want to talk to Adrianna more. Something intrigues me about that girl; something about both her and Sophie. Strange things seem to happen around here. I have yet to figure out what it is.

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