Ridgewood Town

Chapter 2

Sophia

June 21

Monday, 3:07

Loud knocks on my bedroom door awakened me. I opened my eyes slightly while taking in the darkness. I was letting my eyes adjust when I saw lights of red and blue blinking and filling some corners of my room. I saw it coming from the outside but I cannot make out anything about what is happening.

"Mom?" I called out but my voice came as a whisper. I tried to blink away from the sleep that was there, stretching my limbs and toes. My bed felt warm and it makes me want to sleep more.

A series of knocks came again. I felt a cold shiver run down my spine and my heart starts to beat faster. I heard screams and my parents calling out my name. I hastily got out of my bed and walk to my door as the knocks keeps on getting louder.

Is there something wrong going on?

"Mom..." I twisted my door open and saw my Mom crying while Dad hugs her. Her teary eyes look at me and she's shaking her head.

"What's wrong? Are you okay?" She keeps on crying while Dad pats her back. She breaks from Dad's hold and walks to me. I was met with her warm embrace as she continues to cry. I felt too happy that the warmth immediately soothes my heart. But at that moment I know they're keeping something from me. I can't help myself from scanning things and remembering the lights in my room a while ago.

"Dad, did something happen?" I asked him once again but he avoids my gaze. With his head low, he slightly shakes his head, clearly dismissing my questions. If I can't fish answers out from them then I have to find out myself.

I dress in my knitted sweater, a white beanie and black sneakers as I got out of the house. My parents tried to stop me but I shook their worries off. After all, it is just across the street.

Outside, just across the street, a house was surrounded by several police cars and an ambulance. Some of the neighborhood people who stay to watch are crying as they hug their loved ones. Fear immediately hugs me as I know the people who live in that house across the street. I lived almost my whole life there. It's Luis and Taylah Mason's family home.

Everyone knows where Taylah Mason lives and everyone knows her genius grandson, Luis. Often, people would describe her house as warm as the sun. Or people would say it is as peaceful as the forest. It is a home where everyone wants to stay. Taylah loves everyone and welcomes them dearly in her house. Everyone respects her, everyone loves her.

“You don’t have to go there, sweetie,” a silky voice came from my Mom. I felt a firm hold on my right arm but I dodge it and jogged my way to Taylah. As I get nearer their duplex home, I saw a big woman on her cute lion print nightdress talking with the town's detective, Mr. Phillips on Mason's porch. As I get nearer, I realized the lady was Mrs. Bigglesworth with her son, Nicholas. The kid's gaze was fixed on the floor as he grabs on the hem of Mrs. Bigglesworth dress tightly. Both of them looks pale and shaking, I wonder why. Her face changes colors as her expression changes too. Mr. Philipps keeps on shaking his head as he scribbles something on his paper. They live in one of the rooms in Taylah’s house and surely have some news about what had happened. I wonder where are Taylah and Luis now. Are they safe?

I felt the cold wind pass by that sent shivers to my spine. I hug myself as I kept on jogging towards the house.

I stop a few steps. Nothing has changed aside from the people chatting, the police officers walking inside and outside the house, and the ambulance parked outside the porch. I felt a warm hand clasped in mine and saw my mom staring at me warmly.

This never happened before. It felt surreal to be looked at warmly like this, especially them.

“Mom, what happened? Is Taylah okay? She’s safe, right? Where is Luis? Are they alright?” I hold her hand tightly but I only got her silence. She pulls me into a hug again and sobs.

No. They keep on stopping me from finding out. Not another good soul. Please, not another good soul. Luis… Taylah… please be safe.

I stared at the scene in front of us. I was having a battle with myself to walk in or not. Then the double doors of the house opened as some of the medical team walked out a stretcher. No one knows who’s inside but we all know someone was in there and positively sure there’s no longer life as they were covered by a white cloth from head to toe. I don’t want to take a guess who is under it. I want them safe. I want Luis safe. I want to see Taylah safe.

I gathered up courage and walk into it, with my Mom holding my right hand. With shaking hands, I lifted the white cloth, and my legs felt weak.

My prayers betrayed me.

I felt my knees weaken as I dropped to the ground. My stares are fixed at the stretcher, looking at Taylah who's eyes are close and lies there as pale as snow, and scarier, there's a bullet hole between her eyes. No tears fell with my body shaking. I felt like throwing up as I try to process the things unravelling in front of me.

I felt my world falling at that moment. My Dad picked me up. I was met with hugs from both of my parents.

Luis. Where is Luis? I have to find Luis.

With all the strength I had, I immediately ran away from the warm hold and ran past the medic. I pushed through the officers guarding the door, shouting, screaming, calling for Luis. I run up the stairs and open the door of his room but I saw no one. His satchel bag lays on the floor with his brushes scattered.

"Luis..." I heard my voice broke. I frantically run around the house shouting his name.

"Sophia?"

"Dad, where is Luis? I can't find him anywhere, Dad."

“You don’t have to, Sophia. Stop. Everything is all right. Just calm down.” My dad continues to hold me as I started to search for Luis inside the house. But everyone stares at me like I’m somewhat a lunatic causing a scene.

“Dad, we have to check on Luis. Please. Is he safe?”

“Luis wasn’t here when it happened, sweetie. It’s only Taylah.” Dad patted my head as he looks at me worriedly.

“Dad… he’s gotta be here. Please, I won’t cause a scene anymore just please show Luis to me. Please, Dad.” If I had to plea a thousand times, I wouldn’t get tired. Today wasn’t just my luck.

“You have to calm down, okay?”

Calm down? Taylah is dead. No one is caring about Luis. No one’s even asking about him. How could I calm down when Taylah just died and her grandson is missing and no one in this room even cares!

“No, Dad! I want to see Luis. I have to- “

"He's our prime suspect Miss Chase," Mr. Philips butted in. His voice is stern and unraveled. "Miss Chase, if you have anything to say, it will be good if you tell us now."

"Luis won't do this." He looks at me like he doesn't buy what I just said.

"He won't but that doesn't mean he can't."

"No. You don't know him."

"We're also looking at this as a case of suicide Miss Chase. You're a part of Taylah's family so I guess you should know that too."

"Taylah won't do this to herself, Mr. Philips. You all know her."

"Sophia, calm down."

"Calm down? Dad, Taylah is dead. And now my boyfriend is missing and you're telling me to calm down?"

“Sweetie, I know it’s tough but we’ll get through it together. Come here.” My Mom suddenly enters and was crying, she's signaling me to come to her. I walk to her and was met yet again by her warm hugs.

I hug her tightly. “Mom. We have to go to the woods. Please.”

"The woods? Sweetie, let the police handle this."

"No, Mom. I have to find Luis."

“I’m coming with you.” Mr. Philips butted in once again. I can see from his eyes that he trusts me and would accompany me to the woods. Dad only nod to himself and walked with me into the woods.

The woods are located way past the houses in the village that leads to the cliff at the tip of the ridge. As we thrive our way, a soft whip of wind keeps on swaying, twirling, playing and circling back and forth. My stand didn't waver as my will to save Luis is stronger. I just hope they won’t treat him like the prime suspect like all of them says. I know of all people that Luis Mason won’t have many reasons to kill Taylah or if it was even suicide, Taylah wouldn’t kill herself. I don't see any reasons it would be. Taylah wouldn’t leave us, especially her only grandson.

“We’re just circling the woods, Miss Chase. I don't see anyone around here.”

"I don't even see the treehouse we've built. Where has it been?"

“There should be a sycamore tree around here. It’s around here. We built the treehouse between those two trees.”

“Sycamore trees don’t grow in this wood anymore, sweetie,” Dad pats my shoulder once again, calming me. He tried to scan the area just like what I’m doing but I know there’s nothing he can see.

“It should be around here, Dad. I’ve seen it a thousand times. We always walk in here every day. Dad, you have to believe me. Luis wouldn't hide. Maybe the real culprit hid him or something. We have to find him first."

My Dad sigh and continues to walk around. I felt him tap my back again, calming me.

“Miss Chase, let’s check again here tomorrow when the sun rises. For now, have a rest. We promise to update you about this case.”

“Sir, please check this area now. Maybe Luis is hurt. Maybe he needs help."

"I understand your sentiments. We will try to look for Luis Mason but first, you need to rest. We will talk about it tomorrow. Good night, Miss Chase.”

"But Sir, wait!" I tried to stop him but he continued walking away.

"Dad, what should I do? I can't let them blame it all on Luis. He can't do this Dad. You all know him."

"I know Sophia but all we can do now is wait. Let the police deal with the case."

I felt another gush of the wind pass by. I hope it can take my sorrows away with it. With Taylah's death, I don't know how will this affect Luis. I just hope he's safe wherever he is right now.

Please be safe, Luis. I will find you.