Sought and Snatched

Chapter 22

Josephine's P.O.V

I stood there paralyzed. My mind scattered as I tried to figure out what to do. An image tugged at my brain.

A young girl with long dark brown hair, her bare skin, the fear in her eyes. The flicker of hope when she saw me.

Carter places his hand on my shoulder and looks at me with his eyebrows furrowed. "You okay?"

"Yeah. Yeah. I was just remembering something."

"Well, we don't have time for this! We have to go. I kinda have their hidden agenda and master plan burning a hole in my pocket. And I have a bad feeling we're not really popular here."

A  fake laugh escaped my lips but I couldn't bear the thought of abandoning those girls.

"They want Carter and me dead."

I guess we could think of a better plan when we were all safe. Reluctantly I agreed.

"How are we going to get out of here?"

"Yeah. They definitely are going to be looking for us." Carter piped up.

Then there was the sound of a dozen footsteps. "Make sure none of them leave the building alive but leave Josephine Jones to me."

Why did he want me alive? What was so important about me? Carter gave me a puzzled look.

Trust me, I'm just as confused as you are.

Before any of us could protest Luna pulled out a grappling hook and shot it through a vent in the ceiling. "Hold on!"

Crumples of concrete and insulation fall on top of my head. Then there was a nonstop ringing in my ears. I hear Carter curse as his shoulder makes contact with the falling metal.

"Sorry." Luna mouthed but by the way she was giggling made me think it wasn't really sincere. We all climbed out and I realized we were on the roof.

"What the hell Luna! You could have killed us!" I shouted. The ringing still screaming in my ears.

"But I didn't," Luna said in a sing-song voice.

"I'm pretty sure the side of my head is bleeding," Carter muttered.

Luna rolled her eyes at us. "The point is we're out and our ride is here."

A slight breeze around us picked up speed. Over our heads was a black helicopter. They let down a ladder and we all quickly climbed up.

They had dropped me off back home. Carter had insisted on staying until my mom got back but I refused. There was already too much going on and I didn't know what to explain to my mom if she saw him.

I realized I don't have my keys or my bag or anything really. I walked around to the back and just as I expected the garage door was left open. Finally, back home I sighed and collapsed onto the couch.

I noticed a few papers on the floor and picked them up. They were flyers with a sketch of my smiling face on them. My dad must have made these. He had wanted to be an artist growing up but was pressured into becoming a lawyer by his parents.

A blanket of longing masked over my face. They were wonderful. I missed my home. I missed my family.

My parents were probably out looking for me so I decided to go upstairs and get some sleep. I couldn't wait to see their joyful faces in the morning when they saw I had returned home.

******

The house was too quiet. I race down the stairs only to find the kitchen just the way it was when I got home last night. I looked around the house but no one was here. I was all alone.

I looked at the time, 7:00.

I still had time to get ready and walk to school. I might be a few minutes late but I would be better off at school than staying here at home.

If The Indomitable know where I live, there's a slight chance that The Dark Horses know where I live too. I grabbed my backpack and filled it with extra clothes and things I would need. Then I filled a bag with fruit and some snacks. I took the spare keys that hung on the wall just in case and left.

The halls of my high school were filled with noise and laughter. Just as I had left it. I was gone for four days but it felt like so much more. My best friend Maddie was dead and the whole school was acting as if nothing had happened.

Half of the whole student body would wave hi to her and gush at how pretty she was. But just as I had suspected. They were never really her true friends, to begin with.

I didn't know what I was doing here. How could I be here when Maddie was gone? I was all alone and I didn't know if I would be able to make it through the day.

Grief snuck up on me and took me against its hold without any mercy. Every memory of Maddie and I played like a song in my head and all I wanted was to finish the junior year with her but there was no going back and I was forced to live without her.

The bell-ringing broke me out of my thoughts and I rushed to class bumping into someone.

"Oh, I'm sorry-"

I rolled my eyes. Just my luck. I bumped into Tristan frickin Addington.

"You should be. Purposely hitting me like that. Maybe I should report you to Principal Hawkins again. I could use another a week without you."

"It was an accident." I sneered.

He lowered his face until he was eye level with me. "You sure about that?"

"Yes. You fuckin asshole."

"But who are they are going to believe? Rich black girl or rich white boy?"

My hands turned to fists and I was ready to punch out all of his teeth right now.

"Come on Tristan. Let's go to class."

My hands loosened. Justin appeared at Tristan's side with that blonde girl he was dating. What was her name again? Melissa? Clarissa? Victoria? I couldn't remember. But right now I didn't care.

I had to get out of here.

When our eyes lock the soft expression of only a few weeks ago evaporate. Justin holds my gaze with eyes filled with tremendous guilt and longing.

Someone coughs and I look away to find Luna Miller and Carter Williams behind me.

Hope you guys like this Chapter!!! Happy New Year!!!

I can't believe 2019 is gone!! So crazy!!

Did you guys have any New Year's Resolutions? If you did, what were they?

Till next time,

-Miss Yanxiet :)