Gone

Two

The next morning came, almost 24 hours missing from my family. I never felt so alone in my life. Crying myself to sleep last night silently so i do not wake Raela, crying for the family i may never see again. But, that doesn’t stop me from doing what I want to do today. I want to feel safe, I want to find Daniel. It could put me in danger but I don't care. All together with the 24 of us that are here, from what Raela told me he makes us fight. Which is how he gets more room. He wants us to murder each other. He then decides if we earned that victory or not and does horrible things. It frightens me. She told me I have a few years before I have to worry about this so I have to try. Not only, if i do make it home, i will be going home completely changed. A very different person. I may be 8 but I certainly don’t act like it. I act much older and smarter than I actually am. I know more than I should at my age. Not knowing though that I will learn a lot more things I shouldn't know.

My mother always told me I was always a fast learner but I didn't let others bring me down. Knowing I will be able to look for him today gives me hope. Gives me the hope that he can get me home, but I also have this horrible gut feeling. I have yet to meet this man but I have a feeling I may meet him in my search for Daniel. I am scared out of my mind and I just need him. Plan b will be to talk to Kaylie. Maybe she can talk to her dad about allowing me to bunk with him. I mean my parents and his always allowed it, i don’t see why this would be any different. But all i do know is that i am willing to sacrifice anything to feel safe again to be with him again. He is my best friend. Always will be. He is my protector against everything. He is my hero. I need him. I don't just want him, I need him.

I quietly got out of bed and went into the bathroom, and I instantly thought to myself this is too good to be true. Then I remember my situation and I soon begin to cry afterwards. The bathroom was amazing. There was a shower in the corner but right next to it looked like a little pool. A chair was right next to that. On the other side when I turned around there was a white marble countertop with two sinks with a beautifully designed facet. The sinks were no ordinary sinks; they looked like big bowls with the facet attached right on them. I decided to go into what looks like a bathtub and just wash myself off and i think I will sit in there for about an hour but i know that is not the case. As I dry myself off and change into clothes suitable for looking for Daniel, I begin to have a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach.

When I emerged from the bathroom I saw that Raela was no longer there.I grew concerned until I saw her walk into our bedroom. She was dressed up in a cute little dress unlike I. Dressed in simple clothing with my hair in a simple braid going down my back. Having on a nice green silk tee shirt and the closest jeans I could get my hands on with socks and sneakers, I began to walk towards the door when she interrupted me.

“Where are you going?” She asked me.

“Nowhere I thought I would just go look around. I don’t want to stay here all day everyday.” I replied casually.

She looked at me funny like she wanted to tell me something but she withheld whatever she wanted to say.

“Well ok. Just don’t get yourself into trouble alright?” She pleaded with me.

“I won’t. Promise.” I said, shrugging my shoulders.

After that awkward conversation I headed right out the door before she could quiz me even more. I looked down every hallway and every door was locked, I am assuming by him. But I come across one room where it is slightly opened and I peek my head in. I see Kaylie and I feel like I shouldn't listen in but then I see him.

“I told you to keep your distance with those girls, damn it Kaylie!” He said furious

“I did as you asked father, i checked on them and when i left is when she obviously decided to take matters into her own hands, I didn’t know i swear. Please don’t hurt her daddy please! I am doing as you asked!” I pleaded with him

“No you are not, you have let me down and now you pay the ultimate price.” He replied coldly.

“NO! Daddy please! If you do this I will never do anything for you again! I will never trust you again! I found that girl for you, I found Ashleigh for you! Can’t that over power anything?” She pleaded again with him.

“No it does not because not only did i run into complications because you forgot to mention the fact the boy walked her home from school everyday!” He says angrily.

“I told you everything I knew, I did not see the boy honestly, I told you that!” She cries out.

“I don’t care, for your mistakes your mother now has to pay for them!” He spits in her face.

With that he storms into another room and slams the door shut. I see Kaylie sitting on the couch crying and then see her peak up and see me. I looked in horror and back away and tried to run, but she is much quicker than I am. She grabs my arm and turns me around.

“How much of that did you hear?” She demands.

“I-I-Im sorry!” I begin to sob.

“How MUCH did you hear?!” She demands again impatiently.

“All of it, I heard all of it. I promise I won’t say anything just please don’t hurt me!”

She sighs in defeat and lets go of me and I back up several inches to put space between us. She looked distraught but I was still mad that she was the one who pointed me out to whomever that is! She pointed me out to him! Her father.

“How could you?! Why did you take me away from my mommy and daddy? I trusted you!” I yelled.

“Shhh, keep quiet and follow me!” She says quickly.

“No! I don’t trust you!” I retaliated.

She sighs in frustration and then walks towards me and picks me up. I kick and scream but she silences me before I could get any louder. After she brings me to a room and locks the door she sits me down on the small sofa and then sits on the bed in front of me. I curl up into a ball and corner myself from her.

“He threatened my mom, saying he would kill her if I didn’t do as he says. My mother is very ill and I did it because as long as I did he would continue paying for her medical costs. I had no choice. She was the only one I could be true around and then she got sick...with cancer, breast, lungs and bone cancer. I did what I had to do in order to keep her alive. But, I failed her, I messed up and now he is going to kill her because of me.” She explained.

I sat there in shock that she told me this information but then again I guess she had no choice but to. I felt bad for her and very carefully got up and went over to her and cuddled up close to her.

“Is that why you have a motherly presence when new--” She stops me and interrupts me.

“Yes, that is why. I basically had to treat her like a child because she got so bad. I didn’t want to give up hope on her but then my dad came to me saying he created a cure but it would take several doses of it in order for it to eventually work. I saw a huge difference. I did not have to treat her like a child anymore after a few months of the treatment. But he will now instead poison her again and give her a quick and painful death, basically instead of the medicine it will be as if you're on death row and it's your turn to be injected.” She explains even farther.

“I’m sorry Kaylie for eavesdropping on your conversation but I was so curious if anything would be said about Daniel. I only feel safe and ok when I am around him and I just need him.” I tell her honestly.

“Ashleigh I know where Daniel is, and all I can do is try and convince him that you may be more willing to cooperate more if he is with you but I can not promise you anything.” She sighs sadly.

“Kaylie it doesn’t just go by seeing him, he is the one person I trust the most, the one person who has always been there for me, the one person who I rely on in any situation. It took every last bit of courage I had inside of me just to try to look for him when I came upon your conversation. Everything told me to stay inside that room you brought me too and not leave but I did because he makes me feel calm, and makes me feel strong and courageous. Do you think you can pull that off? I really need him.” I pleaded with her.

“I will try my best but I don’t know if he will do it. If he does allow it I will come get you as soon as I know something though ok sweetie?”

I nodded my head and I was in Kaylie’s room for a while before I eventually fell asleep. We both took a nap on her bed and I could not have felt any better since I first got here. I can trust Kaylie. I know she won’t hurt me, but will Daniel think the same thing? Or will he not trust her at all and cause us to get hurt or worse. I fall asleep knowing that I might be with Daniel shortly but until then I just dream of being home with my mom and dad playing in the backyard with our imaginary pet dog named sunshine and Daniel.