Before and After

Chapter 6 "Finding Jamiee"

"Wha-what did you just say?" I asked hoarsely. "Jamiee need our help Cece. She's stuck somewhere and doesn't know how to get out. She needs us to help her find her way back to us." My heart felt as if it was about to jump right out of my chest. I couldn't figure out how he knew all this and I was 'supposedly' that only person that could see and speak to Jamiee. Unless...

"Aiden." "What?" "How do you know that Jaimee need our help?" "I told you. I seen her-I seen her in my dream." Dream...? "When....when did you have this dream Aiden?" "Last night." "Do you know around what time?" "Cece no. I was sleep. Why are you asking me all these questions?" "Oh yeah. Right.. And I'm asking you because I think we had the same dream. How did Jaimee look? Where were y'all standing?" "Sh-she looked sad...but happy. And we were standing by a tree. She told me that she was happy to see me and she had been trying so hard to get in contact with me. But then she said that me and you had to work together to find her. Then she disappeared. "

I leaned against my bedroom wall and tried to sink in everything that Aiden just told me. This isn't real. It can't be. From the corner of my eye I could see my little brother staring at me with the 'What are we going to do' look and I couldn't do anything but just stand there. I was in a daze; trying to evaluate what was real and what was a fantasy.

"Cece...? You ok?" Aiden questioned while lightly touching my arm. "Yeah I'm alright. Its just that...all this, it doesn't feel r-" "Real?" "Yeah that."

Aiden and I stared into each others eyes as if we were a couple passionately in love. "What are we going to do Cece? Jaimee's depending on us to help her. We NEED to help her." "I know Aiden, I know. We're going to figure something out. Ok?" "Alright."

Immediately, we embraced each other into a hug not wanting to let go. This has been the closest that Aiden and I has ever been; and I kind of feel guilty that I hadn't spent that much time with him before all this happened.

THREE WEEKS LATER

"Ok, what did you find out today?" I asked Aiden while searching through the stack of papers we conjured up about Jaimee's kidnapping. Within three weeks, Aiden and I had been able to get an ample amount of research done. We we're able to gather up Jaimee's case papers, "Missing Persons" file, and much more. Between the two of us, we make a pretty good team. And with our parents staying out of our business (they think Aiden and I associating with each other can help both of us) we've been able to work privately without them butting in.

"Something good. And kinda creepy. Check this out." Aiden replied. I took the paper that Aiden was holding out to me and I examined it. The fuck...? "Aiden, where did you get this?" "Some kid at school. He came up to me and asked if that was my sister and I snatched it from him and put it in my backpack." I looked from Aiden, back down to the paper, then at Aiden again. I couldn't wrap my head around how anyone could've gotten this picture; let alone a boy from his school.

I placed the picture on the side of me then started rummaging through Jaimee's "Missing Persons" file. Here it is. "Aiden, look at this. This picture matches the exact description that's in this report." "Wow, so what does this mean? If this was in the report then the police must've already searched it." "Yeah, buuuttt look at the date. The report was written on the 20th and the picture was taken on the 25th." "So?" "Soo...Aiden this means that the police just had the description but never took the initiative to actually go and search the place. Jaimee could still be there!" "So we could go and check it out for ourselves and see if Jaimee's actually there?" "Eeexxactly! You know, you're really smart for a 7 year old." "Haha, don't ever doubt the abilities of a 7 year old. Plus I get my smartness from you and Jaimee."

I looked over at my little brother, smiled, then said, "I love you Aiden and don't you ever forget that." Smiling back he replied, "I won't, and I love you too Cece. Now lets go to sleep; I'm sleepy."

Letting out a soft laugh, I hopped up off my bedroom floor and walked Aiden across the hallway into his room. "Goodnight Aiden. Remember we have a big day tomorrow." "Nighty night Cece and I know."