Frozen and Buried Alive

Chapter Two: Redway

As I slowly opened my eyes, realizing I was surrounded by a green fern, she looked at her side of the road. It was beautiful and peaceful. Chelcee closed her eyes. She was very exhausted from all the work she did and she needed some rest. By the time everyone was ready, it was already dark, and the clock said it was 9:30 PM. Finally, her mom drove away from their old house that they had lived in for a long time. After three miles later Chelcee finally shut her eyes even tighter and drifted into a deep long sleep.

And the lake's bluest water you could imagine, bluer than the Caribbean waters. Trees were everywhere; it was almost like I was in heaven. We passed a sign that said “Welcome To Redway”. I was so excited and happy. Especially when you are from Kansas. My head was still against the window, my eyes just looking out the window, and I was hearing my music go off. Just starting somewhere new could be a good start to end with. I slightly lifted my head up and looked to where my mom was driving. Her eyes were very focused and very still. I stretched out my arms and legs with a groaning kind of noise to begin with.

"Mom, are we in Redway yet," asked Chelcee.

You are just in luck, and that means, yes, we are. Replied Carol. Carol focuses on her daughter and the road, looking back and forward.

I thought so, I was just making sure, said Chelcee. Chelcee looked back at her siblings, and all of them were asleep at the time. She took a look at the clock, and it said it was 9:38 AM. She was shocked that everyone was still asleep.

What time did everyone go to sleep, asked Chelcee?

Very late, probably three hours ago, and everyone was switching off driving, responded Carol. Carol pulled into the driveway of a four-story house that looked almost like Cullen's house in the Twilight movie.

"I feel like we are living in a rich town," spoke Chelcee sarcastically. Chelcee felt like she was living a dream. Ever since she was a little girl, she has always dreamt about this.

When I was young, I dreamt about this. To be honest, it is actually exactly like this. Was it a vision? Chelcee thought.

Guys, wake up, we are here, shouted Chelcee. Lexi was a little startled when Chelcee shouted.

Oh, god, you scared me, panicked Lexi. Lexi had her hand over her chest and held it there like her heart was going to burst out of her chest.

Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you and just got a bit excited, apologized Chelcee. She saw her mother exit the car and go towards the front door and unlock the front door. The first thing Chelcee and Lexi did was grab the bags.

"You take the bigger bag, I won’t be needing it, you are the one that needs it," said Lexi generously. She held the bigger bag for Chelcee and waited for her to trade bags.

Alright, then let’s trade bags. Agreed Chelcee. Handing Lexi the smaller-sized bag that was almost seventy-five pounds, as Chelcee grabbed the larger bag she swung it over her shoulders and started walking toward the house. She went through the front door and the space was almost like a ballroom and to her left there were the stairs and to her right was the elevator. Chelcee went up the stairs and on the top floor she found the room she wanted. The room was bigger than a dance studio and the walls were a deep dark gray. Her bed was already set up, and she realized that all her stuff was there.

"Do you like it," asked Carol? Carol saw her daughter in the moment of amazement.

"Mom, it’s amazing," replied Chelcee. Her eyes were in sparks because of how happy she was. "How did you know that I would pick this room," asked Chelcee?

You are my daughter. Why wouldn’t I know? I did it for your brothers and sisters as well, responded Carol. Carol was glad that her daughter was happy and amazed with her room.

Mom, I thought we had the trailer, questioned Chelcee. She became confused and didn’t understand how it got there, but she was happy.

Well, honey, I have some friends that helped while you and your siblings were asleep. I traded off the trailer, Replied Carol.

Oh I see, said Chelcee. Chelcee Panics a little, knowing that she put the crossbows and the other weapons in the trailer. She knew if her mom ever found out about it, she was going to be in big trouble. She hoped her friends wouldn't tell her about the crossbows.

Carol turned away and stopped at the doorway for one last time, but then turned around. Chelcee comes downstairs after you are settled, said Carol. She had her hand on the door opening as she spoke to her daughter. She turned away from Chelcee’s room and went downstairs.

Chelcee found her closest on the other side of the wall. It was a wall that came out and boarded the bed. She settled her heavy alcohol bag at the back of her closet. As she walked out of the closet, she looked at her room like she was in a dream. She started heading downstairs, and she was taking her time step by step. Eventually, she was in the kitchen where she found her mother standing in front of the island counter with her hands placed against the counter. Chelcee gave her mother a gentle smile and started walking closer to her and sat on the stool at the granite counter. “ You said you wanted to see me downstairs earlier”, commented Chelcee. Chelcee had her elbows on the counter with her hands pressed against each other.

"Yeah, I did want to see you, only to give you these," responded Carol. She handed her daughter the keys to a 2016 Camaro and as she saw her daughter’s face it just lit up. It's parked in the garage, and it's your car to drive to school, and everywhere you would like, explains Carol. Within reason, she added. Carol was looking at a dress code packet and on the front it said “Red Angel High School”. Carol read on, and she realized it wasn’t that bad and a decent amount of rules but not that many.

Rule 1: no PDA

Rule 2: respect others

Rule 3: No Fighting

Rule 4: no Skateboards on campus

Rule 5: no smoking or drinking on campus.

Thanks mom, Accepted Chelcee. She had an excited smile on her face and her mother made her day even better. And mom, what are you reading, asked Chelcee? Her eyes were so curious and wondering what the packet was for.

Your welcome sweetie, replied Carol. Carol’s eyes sparked as she smiled and touched her daughter's hand. Oh, it’s for Lexi and your new school you’ll be going to, added Carol. She handed her daughter the packet to look at.

"It looks great and can’t wait," said Chelcee. She started flipping the pages and finally looked up at her mother as if she was going to say something. “And this year is my senior year mom”, added Chelcee. Her smile had always made her mom happy to see that smile each day that she smiled.

I just remember it was just like yesterday you were born, and I was holding you in my arms, Carol spoke. Having the memory of her daughter when she first cried, it was her way of never giving up. She looked at her daughter. Her daughter had her head tilted down like she had her phone in her lap and looked down at it.

"You know mom, everyone grows up," said Chelcee. She stepped off of the stool she was sitting on and went towards the dark wooden cabinets to grab a glass filled with Dr. Pepper. Chelcee looked at her mother as she took a sip of drink.

"Are you hungry," asked Carol? Carol stood by the refrigerator and waited for her dear daughter to answer. "It’s been a long day to be honest", added Carol.

"Yeah I am a little," answered Chelcee. She stood nearby the Granite island counter. She watched her mother take the food out. She noticed that her mother was in the mood to cook.

It was noon and Carol always knew her daughter’s favorite food, and she decided to make spaghetti with marinara sauce. You could see the bubbling as it got hotter. Chelcee could smell the goodness of the food; she smelled the basil, tomatoes, and every ingredient that was there. Chelcee saw her mom stirring the marinara sauce.

"Mom, that smells amazing," said Chelcee proudly. She had her hands behind her onto the counter, her elbows bent with such relaxed arms. She watched her mother cook, but she was thinking about what level of floor and room her mother had picked for herself. She was curious about it and how it looked; her mother was always good at putting rooms together of how the exterior was supposed to look like. “ Hey mom, what room did you pick, wondered Chelcee? Her facial expression showed her mother that she had been thinking about this for a long time.

I wanted you kids to have your own privacy, so I picked the room on the third floor. Carol fixed Chelcee’s plate and set her plate right in front of her. She turned away and opened the refrigerator and grabbed the Parmesan cheese. She set it in front of her plate next to her drink.

Thanks mom, said Chelcee. She smelt the cheese and marinara sauce. Everytime she took a bite it was like she was in heaven.

"No problem," replied Carol. She sat right next to her daughter and handed her the packet she had been reading.“I would like you to read over this, and after you are done give it to your sister”, suggested Carol.

Chelcee grabbed the packet from her and flipped the pages. "These are pretty simple rules and dress codes, said Chelcee truthfully. "I gave this to Lexi and yes, mom, I just skimmed through it," said Chelcee. She pressed her hand on the stool, and it made a print as she put her weight onto the stool, until she touched the floor. After she was done reading the packet, she got up and went to the living room, but she was still in a panic because of the mysterious man who said to her. It was very intense and a bit terrifying. The scary part is that I know he isn't lying, and he'll be looking for me as soon as possible, she whispered to herself. And then she started to get text messages from an unknown number.

“If you think running from me will make me stop looking for you, that's where you are wrong baby girl. And when I find you, I will have you where I want you. I’ll have you cornered and no one can save you from a monster like me. Enjoy it while you are free from me, until I find you”

My heart drops and this is where I need to go off-grid. But there's something about it that makes me feel he's way different, like something inhuman. And for so many years, I kept from my mom the mysterious man, but man I needed to find a name to call him other than “the mysterious man”. But something about him seems dangerous and maybe this is meant to be. Who am I kidding? I’m only 17. I needed to clear my head, so I got up from the couch and, in the process of finding my sister Lexi, I held the packets that my mom told me to read and also for Lexi to read as well.

She headed up the stairs and went to find her sister's room. The house was almost like a maze. This house was no simple home, there were straight halls and right and left turns. And honestly, you could get lost. But after the third to fourth turn, she eventually found the room with her sister inside. Her sister was lying on the queen-sized bed, the headboard was facing the window and the side of the bed was against the wall. Lexi was lying on her stomach looking at a magazine. Hey Lex, greeted Chelcee. Mom wants you to look through this, before you ask me, it's for our new school that we are going to, added Chelcee. Lexi turned towards her with only a forearm holding her up. Chelcee set the packet next to her sister's leg.

"I’ll look through it," responded Lexi. She closed her magazine and picked up the school dress code packet. She started flipping through the pages. When she started looking through it, it was basically freedom. “Hey Chelcee, you, this packet is saying that there are hardly any strict rules, and we could almost get away with anything," said Lexi happily. She had that look in her eyes like she was up to something, something might as well get her into trouble.

Chelcee has always known that look every time her sister gave one, Lexi’s eyes always spark like kind of a mischievous look. Okay Lex, what are you thinking this time, asked Chelcee? Chelcee’s eyes were stern and focused on her sister.

Nothing at all, Lied Lexi. The smirk on her face was quivering at the edges of her mouth. She had her head down looking at the packet on the front cover. She liked the mascot. It was a strong wolf. She set the packet to the left side of her and looked up at her twin sister, who was glaring at her.

"You're such a liar and I know it," said Chelcee. She had a sharp look as she spoke to her sister. She knows when her sister is lying to her. And her sister likes reading books. That's how well Chelcee knows her. "You think I won’t notice that you are lying. "I’m your sister, not my mom or the boys, added Chelcee.

"You always know, I just had a thought but might not do it," admitted Lexi. She looked at the drawer and hoped that her sister would go over there and open the top drawer. Her eyes followed Chelcee as she started walking over to the dresser.

"Are you serious? "You kept the steroids in the drawer, whispered Chelcee loudly. She didn’t expect her to hide them in an obvious place, and that was disappointing. You couldn’t find anywhere else to hide them, demanded Chelcee.

Not really and you think you can, said Lexi. She looked at her sister so fiercely. And the look that Chelcee had was like she does have a place to hide them.

Actually, I do, to be honest, admitted Chelcee. She had quite a few hiding places for steroids. "You this house is huge and you can’t find a place. "I’m kind of surprised, added Chelcee. There are some secret passages where she could hide them and one of them was in Lexi’s room. She took the drugs and saw that lexi had a secret passageway, and knew since she was so smart. There were twenty full sandwich bags of them and Chelcee splitted them in half so that Chelcee would have ten bags and so would her sister.

"You have a hiding spot as well in your room," asked Lexi? She was shocked that her sister had found a place to hide them and, then again, her sister is pretty smart. Her sister gets that from her father that they only saw at least seven times.

Yeah, there is something like yours but more like a secret library, and I am turning that into our hangout or whoever is doing the same stuff as us, you know, answered Chelcee. Chelcee put the bags in her pockets and ran down the hall. She went to turn to her left, then kept going straight and went to her right, then another left and another left. She finally was at the door of her room. She shut the door behind her and went to the tall and wide bookshelf and pulled a book out. The shelves and books slid to the right as she went in the door. She had a box and put it inside, and she thought of putting the rest of the alcohol into the new hiding place she had found. She walked out of the place and went to her closet and went to the back of her closet. She grabbed the big heavy bag and walked back over to the bookshelf. She did the same thing to open it which was pulling one of the books out, then she put the bag next to the box of drugs. Once she walked out, she made sure it was locked and sealed shut. At the side of her bed was a night stand and a clock. The clock said it was 9:25 PM. She couldn’t believe it was already nighttime. She was actually shocked. "I guess I’ll change into something a lot more comfortable," she thought. She put on a spaghetti strap top and some silky shorts. And decided to go to bed, but before that she went downstairs and went into the kitchen. She saw that her mother was on her phone texting her aunt. Realizing that her mom looked up and saw she was getting some water to have next to her when she was sleeping.

"Are you going to bed Angel," asked Carol. She put the phone down to her right. She looked at her daughter with such kindness that no one could resist, not even her own children.

"Yeah, I am getting tired," replied Chelcee. She shut the refrigerator door and turned to her mom. How many rooms do we have, mom asked Chelcee.

More than twenty honey, answered Chelcee. She turned her stool and stood up to walk over to her.

Night mom, I’ll see you in the morning, said Chelcee. She gave her mother a tight and gentle hug before she headed upstairs. As she walked up the stairs, she saw the view of the town, since she was already on the top floor, it was so beautiful. Once she was in her room, she shut the door behind her, along with the lights. She calmly walked over to the bed and pulled the covers off sideways. A leg at a time and she was lying down looking up and slightly turning her head just to take another look out the window. She turned over to her left where it was darker. Slowly shutting her eyes and once she felt her eyes feeling so heavy, she was in a deep sleep and dreaming.