Carved

CHAPTER 28

DYLAN

The sound of the gun stops everything.

Nobody moves and half of our guests have thrown themselves to the ground.  I had just asked the music to be put at an end when the fighting stopped. As soon as it was quiet the gunshot was loud and clear.  It echoed through the woods. People are pointing to different directions. I look back to where I was standing earlier looking for Ella.  I don’t see her. I immediately run that way. I call her repeatedly with no answer.

“Have you seen Ella?”  I ask the guys trying not to show my fear.    

Louis is holding down one of the guys that started the fight.  His eyes widen and he tosses the guy to somebody else while he looks around frantically.  “She was just here, Dyl.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll find her.  Everybody split…” Colton’s eyes narrow on somebody coming from around the house.  He is gone after the new guest before I realize who it is.

“Where is she asshole?  Where is Ella?” Colton jumps on him and they both go down with a thud.  Louis pulls Colton off of him by the shirt.

“We just arrived.  I came with my family.”  Jake says as he points to a lady carrying a baby.  "What do you mean Ella is missing?"

“What are you doing here?”  I raise my voice and cringe when the baby begins to cry.

“Louis invited us.” He looks at Louis then back at me. “Where is your Mom?”

"My mom?"  I become confused, but see my Dad and uncles approach us looking like men from a Godfather movie and it is not because of their themed costumes, but the hardness on their faces.

"Dylan, it wasn't Jake that hurt Ella all those years ago.  It was your mom. Jake was protecting her, but neither of them could remember anything after their fall until recently.  We had no proof."  

I look around to see the others are still searching for Ella.  My legs don't move as I absorb this information. "Mom? Why?"

"Revenge.  Pride. Power.  Fame. Bad luck.  All of you were hurt because of us."  Ella's dad walks up. "Where is my daughter?"

"Don't worry, son.  We'll find her." My grandpa squeezes his shoulder...lovingly.

"Son?"  Several of us ask.

"Damn."  Benji drawls.  "You're like Ashley Wilkes.  Ella is your cousin. Kissing cousins."

"I was practically raised by the Merricks, but we're not blood related."  Ella's father answers.

Louis and I look at each other.  Our father's grew up together? Did Ella know?  Colton is as confused as we are at the moment, but we can't worry about this right now.  We need to find Ella.

“Dylan.”  I turn to look at Whisper.  “We checked the house. She’s not in there.  Do you…do you think somebody has taken her in a car or in the woods?”

“Everybody spread out and alert everyone that Ella is missing.”  I run my hands through my hair. Images of her being held against her will or on the ground bleeding start popping into my head.  Who would have taken her? Regret hits me when I think about leaving her alone.

“I can help.”  Jake says waiting for my response.  

I nod, “You can come with me.  We’ll go left.”

I use the flashlight app on my cell phone to guide us through the woods.  Jake does the same. I notice the long scar on his arm from when the bone protruded through his skin after the fall down the stairs on that awful day.  He notices my stare and he frowns next to me. I shake my head when he starts to say something. Not now. I can’t do this now.