章節 24: Eyes Of a Stranger... (Charlotte) Part-1
My eyes grow wide with surprise, squeezing my hands around the coffee mug as I hear Dustin say the words.
"Disappeared?" Sarah inquires, "What do you mean 'disappeared'?"
Dustin shrugs, putting down the cookie he was eating and raising his hands, waving his fingers mysteriously, "Disappeared. Meaning, they just vanished out of sight."
I frown at that, staring down at the food, my head throbbing slightly.
The mall café was bustling with customers, everyone ordering and chattering loudly, and yet it all fell silent for me as soon as Dustin told me this.
"How- how did you find out?" I ask, uneasily.
"Oh, I have my ways." He folds his arms casually. He plops himself on the table, adjusting his café cap and reaching out for Sarah's strawberry ice-cream shake.
"Hey!" she smacks his hand, "Back off! Get your own drink."
Dustin huffs, "You know I can't do that- I'm on my shift, right now."
"Barely." Sarah rolls her eyes, "You're just sitting here with us."
Dustin grins, "Well it is my official duty to annoy you as much as I can."
I take a long sip of my cold beverage, shaking my head in disbelief.
"Charlie, you alright?" Dustin asks, swinging his legs to and fro.
I nod, scowling deeply, "I'm just shocked. I feel really sorry for Mr. Tremblay and his wife."
"Hey, don't worry. Hopefully they'll find them." Sarah offers, "I heard the police is looking into it."
"But seriously. How can two people- adults, no less - just vanish out of sight?" I muttered, reaching out for my muffin.
It's been two days at the most. Back then, Mr. Tremblay had seemed really troubled in class. And after that class he just took off. Shockingly, it turned out that his wife's brother and wife were supposed to be coming to visit them but never did. Which was really strange as it's said that they had called Mrs. Tremblay to tell them they're on their way.
But they didn't come. Mr. Tremblay had called them several times and there was no response so he contacted the police cause of his worrying wife. That day in class, the officer had called to report a car that was similar to his missing guests.
It was damaged and crashed but had no one in it. So, the police is now investigating this strange case, with Mr. Tremblay being too busy to come to school.
Dustin keeps staring at my muffin so I give up and hand it to him.
"I wonder if they'll find them." He wonders between bites.
"'When', you mean." Sarah corrects him, tartly but Dustin waves it off uninterestedly, avoiding stares of customers calling out for him.
You know, you should really go do your job, Dust." I say, to which he just scoffs.
"Yeah." Sarah snaps, "You look like an idiot sitting over here, not even on the chair if i add."
"Fine, fine!" He exclaims, adjusting his apron as he stands, glaring at two men who kept calling for him, "Yeah I'm coming, hold your damn horses!"
"There goes your tip." Sarah points out.
"There goes my sanity." He sighs, dramatically.
Just then the manager shows up, "Brown! I hope you aren't slacking off."
Dustin gives his best smile, blinking innocently, "Of course I am, sir."
The man gives a skeptical look before saying, "Well, alright."
When he leaves, Dustin turns towards us, grabs one more cookie and smirks devilishly, "Still got it."
Sarah gives him a disappointed look as I sigh at his childishness. Can't believe he's acting all chill even after telling us this heavy news.
Dustin laughs, giving a quick wave before walking up to the customers to take their orders.
********************************************
"Hey, wanna check out for the new shops while we wait for Dustin's shift to be over?" Sarah asks, looking adoringly at the new clothing outlet she wanted to go to.
I smile and shake my head, "Actually, i better get home. I need some stuff to do before I forget."
"What?" Sarah frowns, "But I can't handle Dustin on my own. He's really annoying."
I grin at that, not disagreeing, "Don't worry. I'll let him know that we're busy for today and will hangout some other time."
Sarah waves her hand to shoo me away, "I'll text him. You go."
She gives me a worrying glance.
"What?" I ask.
"Nothing." She mumbles back, looking away.
"Come on tell me." I protest, "What's up?"
"You're doing ok right?" She reaches out and squeezes my hand, "How're the headaches."
I attempt a weak smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Doing better."
She doesn't seem convinced but shrugs. "Ok."
Before there could be a long awkward silence between us, I quickly say, "Well, I should get going. I'll see you later."
**************************************
I walk up to the book store, but not quite entering. I stare at it through the glass walls of the place, filled with shelves stacked neatly with books. I spot an old woman, sitting by the counter, slowly typing at the keyboard of her screen.
She looks busy, I think.
Should I go in?
What if she doesn't remember Dustin talking to her about the job?
It's been some days, she probably expected me to come the very next day-
Yeah, maybe she forgot.
And anyway judging by the greyness i saw from the café through the window, I bet it's going to rain soon.
"I'll go for now." I mumble and walk away towards the mall exit.
****************************
By the time, I reach the forest, it's raining like crazy. I look around and sigh to find the trail to the farm all mucky and gross. The water drops splatters all over me as I start to take a few steps towards the barely visible trail.
"Should have brought an umbrella." I mumble, regretfully. But then, again, I hadn't really expected such a heavy storm today. The grey clouds darkened the forest, making it look more eerie than it ever was in the sun.
I flinch at thought of walking alone in this weather. It just seems way scarier, like a haunting forest in a fairytale or something.
Just then I see a figure running towards me. I grin to see my dog, Roofus, barking wildly as he jumps on my, almost making me fall.
"Calm down, boy!" I laugh, despite his muddy paws being printed on my shirt.
But he isn't really excited to see me. I frown to realize that his barks sound urgent.
"What happened, Roofus?" I ask, my heart starting to beat violently.
He looks at me one more time before setting off. He wants me to follow him. And that's exactly what I do.
Negative thoughts about my family being hurt or worse, dead, keeps rushing in my mind but I forcefully push them away.
It's fine, It's fine. He probably lost his toy or something.
But I know that it doesn't seem like that.
My head starts to throb in pain as I grind my teeth together, tryin to control the agony of it. The rain drops vigorously now, like a shrapnel grazing my back. The clouds thunder to illuminate the darkness every now and then, as i run to catch up with my dog, who's racing so fast that it scares me.
"If it weren't for you not taking your pills," I hiss at myself, "You would have been able to keep up with him."
Serves my right I guess.
I push away the thick vines of the forest, blocking my way as i try not to slip in the wet muddy ground. Roofus barks in an alert tone again, startling me, which makes me loose my focus on the ground and causes me to slip and fall.
"Shit!" I shout in pure frustration, looking at my dirty jeans, "Just what i needed."
For all I know, my family is in some sort of danger, needing my help and here i am, pathetically sitting on the ground, hopeless.
With all the commotion caused, Roofus, runs back to me, whimpering, he touches his cold wet nose on my face, encouraging me to get up. I smile, patting his damp golden fur.
"I'm ok." I say reassuringly, in a low soothing voice which somehow calms me more than Roofus, "just a scratch."
The rain is stubborn, not slowing its pace, as we just sit there in the middle of nowhere.
I inspect my foot and notice how it got stuck in a root of a tree.
Damn root.
I get up slowly, Roofus doing the same as I say, "Let's go."
Roofus barks in agreement, this time rushing slower so i could stay in his sight.
It's been a while since we've gone off tack and I keep wondering where is he taking me.
he slows downs complete, looking at me with a pleading face.
"Roofus?" I have a bad feeling about this.
I pant and wheeze, trying to catch my breath, walking closer to him.
My body feels hot with the run but the cold rain is making me shiver and tremble at the same time. And if that isn't enough, my head feels like someone in hammering my skull.
I stumble, leaning towards a trunk. trying to get hold of the situation.
"Would you kindly explain what the hell is going on right now?" I snap at Roofus, wiping at my face.
I watch him walk further and then, he's gone.
"Roofus?" I shout. "Roofus!"
What the heck? Did he just... disappear?"
I jog a bit close to where i lost sight of him, hearing his bark. When i reach there, I notice him standing in a trench, a bit filled with water from the rain.
I gasp. But not because of Roofus or the trench.
Because inside, right next to my dog, lays....a boy. A....dead boy!
Roofus tries to nudge at him with his nose when i grab him.
"No! Don't do that, boy. I think...he dead."
Roofus listens but looks sad. I gulp staring at the dog who looks as confused as i am feeling.
"So this is why you brought me here." I whisper.
What should I do? Call someone? Check if this person is really dead or just unconscious?
I gather some guts and climb down the trench, A few steps away from the boy.
Is he really dead? If he is, who'd throw away a dead body like that?
For a situation like this, I seemed...very calm.
Now that I'm closer to him, I can see his face more properly.
His hair is black, reminding me of a moonless night and is skin is pale, too pale for a human, to be honest. I notice that he's thin, though not enough to be called scrawny. But what really catches my eye is the scar on his neck.
Is that why you died?
Then again, the scar seems really old and kind of healed to be the reason for his death.
His clothes were muddied and completely drenched. But it was clear despite the layers of mud that he was wearing a dark blue shirt and pants - an idiot to wear something like that in this cold weather.
And the way he's lying there really makes it obvious that he fell in the trench.
"But you can't die because of that!" I frown.
That's when i notice movement. I gaze at the boy and almost gasp again when i see...
"Oh hell!" I exclaim, "He's alive! He's breathing!"
I lean closer to confirm and, yep, i see it! His breath is short and ragged as if it hurt him to draw in air.
Roofus moves closer to him and this time a don't stop him, because as soon as he touches the boy, he winces! Roofus tries to touch him again,
"Roofus, stop it. Don't-"
Before I could finish talking, the boy opens his eyes, revealing his dark brown eyes.
I completely freeze as he stares stares at me, not looking scared or anything.
The eyes of this stranger seem strangely comforting. But then again, he's not even aware of what's going on. Before I could say anything, his eyes close again and this time he's totally blacked out.
"Roofus!" I yell urgently, "Go call Jason and Dad! Hurry, they'll follow you! GO!"
He understands immediately running in the direction which i presume leads to the farm, leaving me to sit there, to watch at the boy.
Who are you? I think, resting my head on my knees.
I've never seen you in this town before. You look so unfamiliar that I can't even call you a stranger of this town. Does that even make sense?
How did you even reach here?
My eyes widen to notice scratches on his arms. I have enough experience to tell that he got them from splinters of the trees. Which can only mean he was running.
Why were you running?
Who were you running from?
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