Captured: Luke's Perspective

Chapter 9: Life Without Cole

"What was the date?" Alexander asked. I checked the top row of the paper. A puddle has clouded the date, but I could make out the year. "It was 1964 or something," I stated. "Oh yes," Alexander said. "It was Mabel."

"Who was she?" I asked. "One of my old classmates," he said. "She was one of June's dear friends. Mabel doesn't know of Natalie nor has ever spoken of her, it would send you in a wild goose chase."

"Why did you have an affair with her anyhow?" I asked. "It was a big mistake," he sighed. "She and I dated behind Natalie's back for two years until I ended the relationship."

Even though I was unconvinced, I changed into a different subject. "Do you happen to know about your neighbors?" I asked suddenly. "Not that I am aware of why?" he asked. "Your sister thinks that they were the ones who killed Natalie." I said.

Alexander let out a huge sigh. "Is it true?" I asked. "And why would they follow her from Alabama to California?" "I have no idea," he admitted. "But I do know that the tormentors were triplets."

"Triplets?" I repeated. Something was happening on the other end. "I have to go," he insisted. "Good luck on the case." Just when I was about to say something, he hung up on me.

Sighing, I looked at the time on my cell. It was five o'clock in the afternoon. I brushed the locks out of my eyes and stared hard at the screen. It was a photo of Cole, eating her chocolate ice cream.

I instantly remembered taking that photo the day that she brought me here. We laughed a couple of times, made stupid faces, and talked about our dream jobs. The thought of Cole made me smile. My instincts suddenly kicked in. I turned off the phone and went to bed.

Ever since the explosion, I constantly avoid Cole and Zach. Because the more I see them together, the more I wanted to puke. Madison sees this as a perfect opportunity to harass me to go to the stupid dance with her.

Nonetheless, I ignored her and continue making perfect grades. Home was always the same: put the groceries away, do my homework, fill Mom's and Dad's glasses with Coke and leave them in the fridge.

I even scooped up the dust that was caked on the tables, mirrors, and the television. When my parents came back, they grabbed the bottles out of the fridge and sat on the couch.

After tossing my bag against my chair, I took a long hot shower and wore my black sleeved shirt and pajama pants. Seth crawled out of the huge space on the floor and shut the door behind him.

His face was exhausted from reading. "You can nap if you want," I sighed. Seth smiled and collapsed on my bed. He inhaled the sweet scent of lavender. "How is the research coming along?" I asked.

"Boring," Seth mumbled. I gave Seth a sympathetic pat on the back."I heard about the explosion," he added. "Is June going to be alright?" "I don't know," I admitted, scratching my head.

"There's a possible chance that June will make it, how did you even know about the explosion. The news reporters haven't even made a broadcast about-" I stared at him for a moment.

"What?" Seth asked impatiently. "Did you hack into the cameras?" I guessed. Seth rose up from the bed and flashed me a smug look. "How did you guess?" he asked in a teasing voice. "I have known you since we were kids," I reminded.

Seth rolled his eyes. "Should we investigate the explosion?" he asked. I shook my head. "We should leave to Cole or the cops," I explained. He gave me a curious look. "Speaking of Cole," Seth began. "Was she a good kisser?"

He must have watched that as well. I pulled my textbooks out of my bag then laid them on the desk. "Luke," Seth said. "Give me some details." I flashed him an annoyed look. "Seth, nothing happened. Besides, you are fifteen year old kid."

"But a fifteen year old needs to know about these things," Seth protested. "Especially when you kissed Cole on the-" "Seth," I groaned. "Drop it." Seth glowed his eyes held his breath.

This is what he always does when I don't tell him 'big kid stuff'. "Stop it," I insisted. Seth shook his head. "This is getting childish," I reminded. Seth kept holding his breath until his face turned bright red.

"Seth," I sighed. "Knock it off." Seth crossed his arms. I let out a moan. "Fine," I said. "The kiss was amazing!" Seth stopped holding his breath and widened his eyes. "What?" Seth breathed. "The kiss...was nice," I admitted.

"Tell me what it's like," Seth insisted. My cheeks instantly grew warm. "The kiss felt like biting a freshly baked cookie," I explained. "That is all you need to know." Seth shook his head. "Tell me more," Seth begged.

I desperately wanted to change the subject. "After you are finished with your break," I instructed. "Keep searching for the names." "Alright Captain," Seth replied. I smiled until I saw a black bruise around his eye.

"What happened to your eye?" I asked. Seth touched the bruise then blushed. "Nothing," he muttered. I took out a supply kit from under my bed and pulled out the contents.

A small bottle of alcohol, cotton swabs, and some white bandages. As I tend to his wounds, I repeated my question. Seth's lip trembled. "It was Tim," he confessed. Tim was his abusive foster father. I applied a little alcohol on the swab and pressed it carefully around his eye.

"Why did he hit you?" I asked calmly. Seth poured out the whole story: Jake, his six year old foster brother, accidentally threw a football at the vase and destroyed it. Tim arrived at the scene and saw the damage. But instead of blaming Jake, he blamed Seth for the whole thing."

"What were you even doing in that house?" I questioned. "I was watching television," Seth replied. "I didn't hear the vase, I swear." Seth told me that he apologized to Tim a hundred times, but Tim wouldn't believe him. He took Seth into the "Punishing Room" and beat him until he couldn't see a thing.

Seth rolled up his sleeves and showed me the rest. Purplish red welts were on his arms. I swallowed hard as I covered his eye with some bandages. "I wish Mom and Dad were here," Seth sobbed. "I wish that they didn't have to die in that stupid car accident." I wrapped his arms around him and squeezed him tight. "Me too," I mumbled.

"You have to call the police." Seth gave me a confused look. "You said not to call the-" "I know what I said," I sighed. "But you need to get away from Tim and his horrible son." "But Ms. Caroline," Seth began. "She told me not to call the cops, she thinks I am playing some stupid game."

I pulled back from the hug. "She said what?" I snarled. "Ms. Caroline thinks I am a liar," Seth repeated. "Why didn't you tell me this before?" I asked angrily. He looked at me with fear in his eyes. "Because," Seth replied. "You will get arrested, like last time." I took a couple of deep breaths and closed my eyes.

"You are going to stay here," I insisted. "When Tim or Ms. Caroline calls me, I am going to tell them that you went back to New York." Seth gave me puzzled look. "Don't worry about them," I continued. "They hardly even come to my room." Seth was still confused. "But what if Ms. Caroline finds out?"

"I am not going to let that witch take you from me," I said firmly. "Understand?" Seth gave me a nod. "Get some rest," I sighed. "You are going to need it." Seth smiled and gave me an address. "You are also going to need this," Seth replied.