by Dakota Lake
He walked out the front door and I picked up the TV remote flickering the news channel on. “What are you doing?” Micah asked. “You hate the news channel,”
“Just checking if there's been any recent murders or if the knife crime rate has gone up just the usual you know seeing how it's not safe for me to be here anymore. Don't suppose you've heard anything about any recent kidnappings?”
“What?”
“Yeah I heard everything you two were saying all the way from the bathroom can you believe it, but maybes that's because I'm changing. What did you mean when you said I was changing?” Micah's cell started ringing.
“How convenient.” I said.
“What she's there now? Okay I'll be right there.” He hung up and walked out the front door. I followed him.
“What do you mean I get taken? Taken by who?”
“Ruby not now, I have to go,”
“Don't you think you should of mentioned this before? I thought you were meant to be keeping me safe?”
“I have, it's all I've been doing is trying to keep you safe,”
“Well what about this person that's meant to take me what do they look like? When will it happen? Can't you stop it from happening you're the one with vision things. I don't want to go home.” “It doesn't work like that I can't see everything and this vision is different I never see who takes you, you just vanish into thin air. One minute your standing next to this black van the next you're gone.”
He climbed into his truck and I walked round to his door. “I don't want to go back, this is my home now,”
“But it wont be your home for much longer if you get kidnapped. Going back is the only way to keep you safe. I have to go. I'm sorry Ruby.” he said shutting the door. I stepped back as he reversed out and pulled away.
I sat on the porch steps thinking about everything. What was going on with me what other secrets was Micah hiding?
I needed answers, maybe Aimee was right if I wanted to find anything out about Micah I would have to go looking for it. I remembered Micah had written his address on a notepad in the kitchen, I looked over at Seth's truck, the keys were in a bowl near the front room.
I searched through the drawer I remembered I had last seen the notepad in, I found it buried at the bottom. I flipped through the front pages but the address was gone, I doubled checked again going over each page making sure I hadn't missed it but a few pages had been torn out since. Frustratedly I shook the notepad and a loose piece of paper fell out and drifted to the floor. I crouched down and picked it up. On the back was an address. It wasn't the one I was looking for but another address scrawled out in Micah's scruffy handwriting.
104 Green Oak Park,
Ridge Road,
Heaven's Point.
I remembered I had seen a sign for Green Oak Park on the way to Aimee's the other day. I put the scrap piece of paper on the counter staring at it.
Who's was it? It had peeked my curiosity. My plan was to find Micah's address, borrow Seth's truck and drive over there, I don't really know why I was doing it or what I was going to find but I needed to start looking for answers somewhere. The only difference now was I had a different destination. I picked Seth's key up from the bowl, grabbed my bag encase I needed money to stop off at a gas station on the way back, hopefully that way Seth would never know about my little trip, I just hoped Micah wasn't planning on coming back to the cabin any time soon. He sounded busy with whomever had called him.
Inside the truck I found a scruffy looking map that was really old and worn, Green Oak Park was easy to spot and wasn't too far from here I should be there and back in no time.
I heard a distant rumble of thunder in the background. I turned the key, the engine finally started after a few turns. Fingers crossed it would get me there and back, the last thing I wanted was to break down in a storm stranded in the middle of nowhere. I put my hands on the wheel still in two minds about what I was doing, I looked at the address again, trying to come up with some reasonable excuse as to why I was doing this.
I wanted answers and I wasn't getting any from Micah, for all I knew this was probably some random place that sold car parts or worse one of Micah's scary looking friends from the fight club. Well I didn't have to get out of the truck I would just drive past and have a quick look out the window. I shook my head and gave myself a quick pep talk, I knew if I didn't go I would spend the rest of the night staring at the address frustrated about it and annoyed with myself for not going. With my mind made up I readjusted the seat and strapped myself in.
A thud on the truck roof startled me, I froze. The noise made it's was over my head, like scratching on the roof. I shrunk down into the seat. Then something black slid down the front window screen and hopped along the hood. I slid back up in my seat and looked out the window. The raven ruffled up its feathers then turned its head to look at me.
“So I found this address, I was going to drive over there and take a look around. I know it's a crazy right. But not as a crazy as me talking to a bird,”
The raven squawked and took off.
I made my way towards the town following the main road, the town was quieter today less people moving around. Probably due to the fact a storm was coming. This place seemed to be a beacon for storms and with each storm the heavens would open up with a torrential downpour. So instead of driving for shelter I found myself following the map out of town along the industrial side into the black storm clouds followed by rain. I put the the window wipers on and slowed the truck down, I passed a few homes and eventually saw a sign which read Green Oak Park sticking out of the greenery with an arrow pointing right. I turned and followed the road which led onto a dirt track. Another car on the other side of the road passed me followed by a few older kids on bikes. I followed the road which had a metal fence running along one side with a lot of over grown shrubs and weeds, but I could still make out what was on the other side, a trailer park. I pulled up to a long gate which was wedged open, there were people dashing all over the place trying to get out of the rain, and a few kids that were splashing around in the puddles. I pulled in slowly trying to avoid a loose dog that was running around with the kids. I looked at the address to check the number. After a few wrong turns I past a trailer that had the number 104 written on the outside in big black numbers.
I drove past and parked further along behind another truck. I kept the truck running, looking out through the back window. The home was a dirty white colour that needed a fresh coat of paint and a good clean unlike the one next door that was a pastel pink with a well kept area and flowers spilling out the plant pots. There were bits of junk lying around and it didn't look very well kept, overgrown grass and weeds were shooting up next to the steps that led to the door. I turned the engine off and looked around would it hurt to take a peek, if anyone caught me I could saw I was looking for a friend.
I got out locked the door and pulled my hood over my head and quickly dashed across the road. I stood at the bottom of the steps getting drenched still wondering what I was doing here in the first place. Opposite a family were having a barbecue under a gazebo but no one seemed to be taking any notice of me hovering about outside. I walked slowly up the steps and under the cover of the porch. I peeked in through the window next to the door, there were a few things here and there but not much, inside looked a lot tidier than outside.
“He's not here at the moment.” I jumped at the voice and spun around to see an older man at the bottom of the steps holding an umbrella.
“Err, yeah, I was just, erm,” My words came out all muddled and I was making no sense. I stopped and started again.
“Do you know when he'll be back?” I had no idea why I had asked that I didn't even know who he was.
“Hard to say really? He comes and goes at the strangest of hours. Are you a friend of his from school?”
“Yes, yes I am. I was just dropping some homework of he missed. But he's not here so I should just go,” I said moving towards the steps.
“He's a good kid that J.....Jason, no maybe it's Jeffrey. Oh I never remember anyone's name nowadays, well anyway you know him he's very helpful, shame about this parents. Living here all by himself must be lonely he's a very quiet young lad,” he smiled at me. “Well you are quite welcome to wait for him with my wife and I next door,” He pointed to the pastel pink trailer home. “No I should really get going, I will catch him some other time,”
“You be sure to get out of this cold rain, don't want to catch a chill.” he said hurrying away round to the front of his home and out of view.
I stayed on the porch under the shelter, a streak of lightning lit up the sky above. I hugged my arms around myself preparing myself for the mad dash I was about to make back to the truck when something black in the sky caught my eye. The raven flew down and landed on the edge of the railing. It had followed me here.
“There's no one here, So I still have no idea who's address this is?” I said to the bird. The bird sat with it's feathers all scrunched up water dripping of its back. It was looking at the front door, it squawked and flew past my face, I moved back just in time avoiding its wings. The raven landed on the window ledge next to the door it tilted its head as if inspecting the door. It then flew up and landed on the porch light and started pecking at it. I briefly looked around making sure no one was watching. The bird continued pecking until something fell from the light and landed on the floor. It was a key.
I picked it up and looked at the bird.
“Are you kidding me. What, how did you know that was hidden there? Is it like a normal thing round here to hide keys behind porch lights am I the only one that doesn't know about this hide a key thing. Well I can't use this I'm not breaking and entering,” I looked around again and back at the bird. “Because it's illegal and this is crazy, all of it especially the part where I can't stop talking to a bird,”
I moved over to the window and peeked through again then back at the bird. “There's nothing in there it's practically not lived in, there's nothing interesting in there.....” I moved closer to the window pressing my face and hands up against it to shield out light for a better look, slung over the back of a chair was a black hoodie with silver stars on it just like the one I had left at school and never found. I shook my head thinking it must just be a coincidence.
“It just looks the same, exactly the same but that's not mine.” I said looking back at the bird but it had disappeared. I felt the key between my fingers.
One quick look, I would be in and out in a matter of seconds. I put the key into the lock turning until I heard a click. I pushed the door open slowly, took one last look around outside and stepped in. The place was tidy and neat, a pile of neatly folded clothes were sitting on a chair, glasses were stacked neatly by the sink. I noticed a load of energy drinks the same as the ones Micah was always drinking piled up in the corner that had obviously been bought in bulk. School text books sat in a pile on the dinner table. I moved over to the chair that had the hoodie slung over the back, my hoodie had a rip on the inside seam I would know it anywhere. I picked it up and opened it examining the inside. The door blew shut from the wind, making me jump I dropped the hoodie. It was my hoodie. I looked around for more clues about this person, why did they have my hoodie? I walked past the small kitchen stopping to look at a key chain on the window ledge above the sink, there was a keyring the initial J and a small skull attached to it. I stopped at a door that was slightly ajar and pushed it open fully, behind it was a bathroom that looked spotless.
The next door was completely closed I reached for the door knob, turning slowly. What if this boy was in bed, how did the old man know he wasn't here did he drive a car or did he walk everywhere? The old man couldn't even remember the boys name. The door knob twisted and I gently pushed it, it creaked open.
The bed was neatly made and few items of clothing were laid out on it. I was taking it all in when I caught a glimpse of the mirror behind me. I took two small steps to reach it. There was a photo stuck on the mirror, it was creased all over, like it had been folded up but it wasn't just any random photo it was a photo of me. But not recent, this had been taken when I was living with mom. It was of me smiling, I think I was at the mall when it was taken, I could see part of Carly walking next to me in it.
I was in a state of shock someone I didn't know had a photo of me and was possibly stalking me. I had such a bad urge to rip the photo down but my body had stopped functioning and I was just staring at it instead. I heard a loud roar outside. I went to the window but couldn't see anything from this view, then I heard what sounded like a door banging shut
“No, no no no no no,” I said quietly to myself, realising that coming in here was the worst idea ever. I looked around the room for anywhere to hide, the bed was the only option where I hopefully wouldn't be seen. I hoped I could squeeze under it, it was so low.
I dropped to floor quietly and slid under. I felt down my side to my pocket and realised I had left my cell in my bag, in the truck.
I waited for what seemed like an hour, trying to come up with escape plans, all I had so far was waiting until he went to bed and trying to sneak out, maybe he was a deep sleeper. I heard shuffling around in the other room, music was playing and every once in a while the fridge would open and close and the sound of a cell phone went off a few times. I heard footsteps on the floor, the person entered the bedroom and walked over to the bed. I looked at his boots not that I would be able to figure out who he was from his boots. A black piece of clothing fell to the floor in front of me. He was changing which meant he was either changing for bed for an extremely early night or he was going out again hopefully it was the latter. I heard keys jingling but no door opening and closing, what was he waiting for.
Music was still playing from the other room but over it I could hear tapping or was it pecking. I slid to the edge and peeked out, the raven was sat at the ledge outside the window pecking at it. Worst timing ever what was it doing? It took off and I slid back into my hiding place. I listened and heard keys jingling again and boots on the floor, then I heard the front door open. Then there was a lot of squawking and a male voice cursing a lot, if I didn't know any better I would think the bird was causing a distraction. I slid out and went straight for the window pushing it up, the noise from the other room continued as I quickly climbed out, wondering why I hadn't thought of climbing out the window sooner.
I landed gently on the porch then launched myself over the railing my feet slipped in the wet mud and I landed on my backside. My hands were covered in mud but I wiped them down my legs and ducked along the side of the porch passing a black motor cycle that was now parked up. I ran past the front and across the grass through the rain.
I hurried to the truck and pulled out the key jamming it into the lock. I climbed in and started the truck.
I was shaking as I steered the truck round the trailer park trying to remember the way I had came, I stopped and pulled the truck over to the side for a moment trying to calm down and get my bearings, when a familiar looking black Dodge drove past me, Micah was behind the wheel but he hadn't seen me. I quickly made my way out of Green Oak Park and floored it when I hit the main road. What was Micah doing there?
I was so distracted by my thoughts on the way back that I must have taken a wrong turn and I ended up in a part of town I had never seen before, with very large homes that looked rather expensive. The truck suddenly cut out but I managed to glide it over to the edge and up onto a grass verge. The gas tank light was on, but I was certain it hadn't been it on a moment ago. Seth seriously needed to get a new truck.
I sat in the truck looking outside while the rain pelted against the windows which quickly turned to hail, there was no way I was getting out in this.
What was Micah doing at Green Oak Park? Was he going to see whoever lived in that trailer? Was that the person that wanted to kidnap me, why else would they have my photo?
Did Micah know they had a photo of me.....wait what if Micah did. Wh
at did that mean? What if he wasn't telling the truth about who wanted to take me, what if he was in on it? I shivered from the coldness, could I trust Micah? Maybe all this was for show keeping an eye on me telling my brother he was going to keep me safe when instead he was plotting with someone else to hurt me or kidnap me.
The side door opened and someone climbed in. I was about to scream or jump out when they removed their hood and wiped the rain off their face.
“You. What are you doing?” I asked alarmed.
“Me you're the one parked outside my house. And my name's Emmett which I think sounds better than you,”
“Well you made me jump. You live in there,” I said wiping condensation off the window, through it I could see a large house behind the black gates, it had a circular drive and I could see three very flashy black cars parked in the drive.
He scooted across the seat next to me and leaned over trying to start the truck.
“How longs that light been on?” he asked referring to the gas light.
“I dunno I just noticed it when the truck cut out.”
“Wait here,” He got out and slammed the door. I turned around in my seat looking for him outside but all I saw was a blur of colour go past the end of the truck. I sat in the truck waiting. Where had he gone and how long did he expect me to wait? I didn't even know what he was doing or where he had gone?
I checked the time on my cell, he'd been gone nearly ten minutes. I needed to start making my own plan just encase Emmett didn't come back, I knew there was a gas station back on the main road, I would have to walk there though which would probably take me about forty minutes though and in the rain as well. There was a sudden knock on the bonnet which made me jump. Emmett climbed in and chucked a set of keys at me.
“Wait how did you get those?” I looked at the ignition realising he had taken the trucks keys. “I filled the tank up for you, it should run now,”
“What? I didn't even see you. How did you? Wait where did you even get the gas from so quickly?” “I had some stashed in my garage. Go on start it,”
