by Alexa Riley
The people running the foster home found me the next morning when they went to my room and saw I wasn’t in my bed. It wasn’t until years later that I put together they hadn’t checked on me whenever they got home from wherever they’d been.
They called me a drama queen and said that my fear was a way of getting attention. The last thing I wanted was their attention. I made sure after that to be prepared and I kept a stash of flashlights under my bed.
“I’m going.” I take one last glance to make sure no one is watching and move to the rope.
“I’ll stay here and make sure you come back.” Tessa takes a few steps away from me and almost trips over her own feet.
“You don’t want to come check it out?” I don’t want to go alone, but I don’t want to look like a chicken either. Not that it matters because Tessa is acting like one right now.
“You’re a virgin; the virgins never die,” she reminds me. “In scary movies they always live.”
It’s a good thing because I can’t run for shit. Let’s hope the stereotype holds true and I don’t have anything to worry about.
“Damn it,” I mumble when it’s clear she’s not coming. I should just forget it, but I want to go looking. The sun is still high in the sky and I could venture a little way out to take a peek. There’s a trail and it’s not as though I can get lost on a trail. All I have to do is follow it, which is easy enough.
“If I’m not back in an hour you better tell someone I’m missing.” She nods her head.
“I’m serious. If I’m not back for dinner that means something is wrong,” I add, and she keeps on nodding as her eyes widen in disbelief. I climb over the rope and Tessa takes another step away as if I’m going to grab her and yank her to come with me. I roll my eyes at her and summon my courage.
“There’s no one out there,” I tell her and turn to face the path.
I straighten my shoulders and try to put on a brave face. I follow the path as I head off on what I tell myself is going to be an adventure.
I’m not prepared for how big of an adventure this ends up being.
* * *
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