The second I see that the combination on my locker is different I know that something is wrong. Every day before I leave I turn it to 0. This is so I don't have to reset it the next morning. But here it is on the very last number of my combination. Whoever opened it last didn't turn it back to zero. Usually, this wouldn't cause as much grief but given the circumstances, there's a lot more to worry about. I gulp as I slowly turn my lock and open it. I let in an unnecessary breath of air as soon as I see what's there. Roses.
I knew it was a bad idea that school didn't get shut down for investigation. But then again there's not much that they can do when there isn't even a single lead in the case. I grab the flowers already knowing that the plant itself is not poisoned. They look just like the bouquet that the other girls received but there's something different. A single white rose. The first thought that comes to my mind right after the thought of being kidnapped is purity. White is what symbolizes purity and innocence but what does that have to do with me and why didn't affect the other girls. I let out a screech when I feel somebody wrap their arms around me from behind.
"Good morning to you too," he says laughing lightly. I let out a sigh of relief after realizing it's just my boyfriend. But my anxiety doesn't rest for long as I turn to look at him.
"Jake I got the flowers," I whisper turning around to show him. His eyes widen as he looks down at them.
"Oh no," he mutters. "We have to tell somebody before something happens to you." I shake my head immediately putting the idea down.
"There's no way I'm telling anyone," I reply already knowing that I could get into serious trouble for withholding important information in the first place.
"Anna, somebody could be trying to kidnap you or worse." He says under his breath but I can still hear the anger behind it.
"I was the one who didn't tell the cops about the one thing that could possibly save some of my best friends. It was my choice. Granted, it was a choice made out of fear but I'm not backing out now." I tell him and he lets out a groan of frustration.
"So what do you want to do. Wait until I wake up to a call in the middle of the night from your parents saying that you didn't show up back home or would you rather me wait until I get questioned by the police about the whereabouts of my missing girlfriend." He says and I can feel how upset he is.
"Fine. What's your plan? Tell the police and get in trouble. The could go on our record," I tell him seriously. I can tell that my words got through to him because he drops his shoulders and sighs. I get why he's mad. If I knew that some kidnapper or murderer was after him and there was nothing we could do I'd be pretty upset as well.
"I honestly have no clue what to do. But I obviously can't let you get hurt." He says stepping closer to me.
"Than don't," I reply.
"It's not that simple. Even if I were to not let you out of my sight something could still happen to you. We have no idea who is doing this or why." He says bringing his attention back to the flowers suddenly.
"What are you looking at?" I ask noticing the look in his eye has changed.
"White," he says simply and I nod my head.
"I noticed that this bouquet had a white flower as well but I couldn't find any meaning behind it other than innocence or purity," I tell him. He says nothing but instead motion for me to hand him the flowers. He takes them and the first thing he does is stick his finger in the white rose to find a small rolled up piece of paper.
"How did you know that was in there?" I question and he shrugs.
"If white represents innocence than whoever sent these wants you to figure out who they are and know that they have pure intentions," he says.
