The hollow

Chapter 20

Steven and Tess were gone when I woke up. I rushed down Layla's stairs into the dining room where I was hearing voices. "Hey Alex" Steven mumbled. "Hey" I reapplied looking around the room. " where's uh Layla?" I asked noticing there was a police officer my mom and Layla's mom. "We don't know she's missing" the police officer said.

***

I sat in Layla's room holding onto our friendship bracelet I had one for each of us including Tess and James I still couldn't give up on him yet. The door to her room swung open and I saw Steven with a crooked but upset smile holding two mugs, "her mom made hot chocolate" he said handing me a warm mug. I nodded and took a long sip of the warm fluid. "Good?" He asked. "Ya" I choked out. I could barely talk from all the crying. "Is it just us now? What if he does to Layla what he did to Tess? My best friend could have kil-" I didn't let him finish his sentence. "Layla will not die and James did not murder anyone and that's final!" I shrieked surprised of my tone.

"How do you know?" He asked timidly. "I- I don't, I have no idea Steven" I said. "But I refuse to belief something so awful" I said trying to build up the strength I could. Steven put a arm around me pulling me into his side and I rested my head on his shoulder looking around Layla's room. "Wait!" I yelled and jumped off the bed placing my mug on her bedside table running to her desk. I lifted up the small white paper and unrolled it Looking at Steven with fear in his eyes."should I read it?" I asked he nodded. "Dear Steven and Alex my old friends you better watch out for Layla before she joins Tess if you know what I mean, I don't regret it I'm fact I loved the adrenaline you guys should really try It the fear in her eyes the-" I stopped my self with a bloodcurdling sob and shrieked so loud I think people thought I was being kidnapped. "It was James! He's g-o-n-a k-i-l-l" I hiccuped with sobs in between almost every letter. Steven jumped up running towards me holding me in a embrace and I watched as the paper floated down to the ground. I heard footsteps before my mom Layla's mom and the police officer flooded into the room. The police officer gabbed the paper reading it over before rushing out the door talking into his walkie talkie. Were we gong to die?