The Children of Eppswood: Book One

The Missing

Eppswood, 2019

I didn't think I was going to wake up as early as I did this morning. And I really wish I hadn't. It was 8 a.m and I could hear my dad yelling on the phone at what I assumed to be his district chief on the other line. It was highly irritating considering I didn't have to be up until 11 and this was the way I get chosen to get my sleep interrupted.

"I'm doing the best I can chief!! I'm working all day and night to find these girls and I have every deputy going overtime!!! So don't say I'm not doing my fucking job!!" He was really screaming now and I'm pretty sure the neighbors could hear him.

I throw my covers off of me, very annoyed, and head downstairs. I wasn't going back to sleep anyway so I might as well make breakfast or something. Upon entering the kitchen, there was files and papers spread all over the dining room table and my dad was pacing the kitchen, still on the phone yelling. We make eye contact and he gives me an apologetic look. He brings his phone down to his chest and mouths an I'm sorry and goes back to yelling.

I wave it off and shuffle to the fridge and open it to an incredibly tragic scenery. Chinese leftovers from last week and the coffee I bought for my dad from Rico's Coffee. It was half empty so at least he drank it and I didn't didn't waste my money. He's been so busy he forgot to buy groceries...again, which means I'm going to have to do it today when I get out of school. Again. I sigh to myself and close the fridge.

"I'll see you when you get to the office today...alright...I understand, sir.....bye..." He hangs up and tosses his phone on the table. "...Jesus what an asshole."

"What was all that about?" I ask.

He massages the bridge of his nose with his fingers. "I'm being chewed out by the district chief for the missing girls. He knows I've not had a day off to myself in almost three months and yet I'm apparently not doing my job well enough. We've got no leads, no witnesses, and all of it is falling on my shoulders like always."

Since the summer, girls have been going missing all throughout Eppswood. The whole town is freaking out over it because there isn't anything that links any of them together so my dad thinks it's some sicko randomly taking girls. Although, that isn't enough to satisfy the minds of a paranoid town so there's been lots of complaints coming in and apparently it's getting the attention of the people at district.

"You know I've offered to help, dad. And I still ca-"

"No Riley! You know how I feel about magic. I don't mind your...gifts, you know I accept you and love you always, but being with your mom has shown me the dark side of it and I don't want to be involved, especially with my work."

I frown a little. He's never been able to use the term "witch" when referring to me because he believes it has a negative connotation. He'll never admit it to me but I know he hates that I am a witch. And he hates when I do magic or even bring it up. If he caught me doing it in the house I'm sure he'd flip the fuck out.

"I just want to help, dad. I hate seeing you stressed out like this."

He gives me a stern look for a what felt like hours and then loosened up and gives me a apologetic smile. "I love you kid. You know that. I just don't trust it. I know your heart is good and you'd never hurt anyone intentionally. But I've seen what happens when magic gets out of hand, and I don't want you or anyone else to get hurt."

I nodded, letting him know I understood where he was coming from, but before I could open my my to actually say something, there was a knock at the door. At first I wondered who could be wanting us this early, then I remember how my best friend Lisa texted me last night saying she wanted to go to orientation or something. I didn't want to be up this early so ignored her. I guess she took that as a yes.