CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Lamar shook my shoulder. “You okay?”
“What?” I said, recovering from the shock. “I’m sorry, but there’s something I’ve got to do.”
I bolted down the staircase and straight to Jane, who was still gazing out the wide open door.
“Jane,” I said almost frantically. “Where’s he going?”
Jane furrowed her brow and rested her hands on her hips. “How long were you listening?”
“Not long at all,” I lied. “But, why is he leaving? Is he going home?”
“I guess,” she replied. “Why do you care?”
“I don’t,” I replied, the lies flowing like water now. “You know what, I’ve got to go.”
“What? Carter said I was supposed to go over… you know what.”
“I know, but I’ve really got to go.” I rushed passed her and out the door. I could see the black SUV at the end of the block. It took the corner towards the town square and I hurried to follow it.
She followed me across the lawn. “Annabelle, I know we didn’t get to this part, but there is a hierarchy in the society.”
I shot her a questioning look over my shoulder.
“I kind of have to follow through with his orders.”
I quickened my pace. “Who’s orders?”
“Carter’s,” she replied. “He’s kind of the president of the society.”
“Don’t worry about Carter,” I called over my shoulder and I started into a jog. “I’ll talk to him.”
I paid no attention to her muffled groans of frustration.
I wasn’t far behind Yury and I knew the only chance I had at reclaiming the book would be to avoid giving him any time to hide it. He must still have it with him, and even if he didn’t, I had a feeling he would lead me right to it.
I reached the town square in record time with a new appreciation for my achievements in track. My heart was pounding hard and I was breathing heavy, but I hardly felt anything with the adrenaline coursing through my veins. I surveyed the area for the black SUV and found it parked outside the post office.
I quickly crossed the square and I pulled out my cell phone, dialing Carter.
“Hey,” I said, breathlessly.
“Annabelle, what’s wrong?”
“I know who took the book.”
“Wait? Where are you?”
“It’s Yury,” I huffed, hurrying my words as I approached the post office. “I saw him today at Jane’s. I’m sure it’s him.”
“Annabelle, where are you?” he repeated.
I lowered my voice and ducked into the alley next to the post office. “I can’t talk. He’s coming out of the post office and he can’t know I’m following him.”
I ended the call and turned my phone to silent. I had to come up with a plan.
“Annabelle.”
I whipped around, elated to hear his voice.
“Uncle Felix!” I exclaimed, throwing my arms around his neck.
He was frowning and didn’t seem very pleased with me, but hugged me anyway.
“What did you do?” he asked without a hint of sarcasm.
“I just need a favor.”
He sighed, shoulders slumping. “For a second there I actually thought you were happy to see me after missing breakfast this morning…”
I had forgotten all about missing breakfast, but he didn’t seem to be aware that I wasn’t home all night, so I considered myself lucky.
“I’m sorry. I had an extra credit assignment I wanted to work on this morning. Next time I will be sure to let you know.” I pushed onto my tippy toes and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “I’m just kind of in a hurry.”
He rolled his eyes. “Luckily for you, so am I. What do you need?”
“I need the car.”
He looked down at the grocery bags in his hand. “Like right this minute?”
I nodded, keeping my puppy dog eyes fixated on him.
“Well, can you at least drop me off at home first?”
“No,” I said flatly. “But, I promise I will make it up to you.”
“You’re kidding me, right?”
“Please,” I begged. “It’s really important.”
He sighed and retrieved the keys from the front pocket of his pants.
I smiled. “Thanks Uncle. I owe you one.”
I took off down the block, hurrying to the car. I didn’t want to draw attention, so I followed Yury from afar. My cell phone kept vibrating in my pocket, but I was too focused on tailing the black SUV a few cars ahead of me.
Yury turned down one of the many dirt roads that branched out from the Square. It was hard to keep my distance and not lose him with so many turn offs. I learned to follow the dust clouds rather than trying to keep the SUV in sight.
We turned down a series of roads, and like always, I didn’t recognize any of them.
He pulled into a lot and I recognized it immediately.
Why are we here?
My mouth gapping, I stared at the little blue and white house through the gaps between the trees, taking it its charred remains with the same devastation as I did the first time I laid eyes on it.
He had parked in front of the house. I didn’t know what to do. I hadn’t anticipated this. How could I have?
I sped down the road and took the first turn into an empty lot. There, I parked the car safely out of sight and ran back towards my childhood house.
My phone vibrated from my pocket again and this time I answered it.
“Annabelle! What the hell is going on?”
I held the phone snuggly to my ear as I jogged through the dense forest separating my house from the lot where I had parked. “I have no idea, but you won’t believe where I’ve followed him to.”
“You’re following him! Annabelle, turn back and get as far away from him as possible.”
“What? No!” I said. “I can’t. He has the book. I know he does.”
“Annabelle, I’m begging you. Please turn back. You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into.”
“Carter, it’s the only way I’m going to get that book back. If I lose him now, there’s no telling where he will stash it.”
“Who cares about the damn book?!”
“I do, and you do, too.”
“I care about you, not that stupid book. Just promise me you’ll go home right now.”
I laughed. “That just happens to be exactly where I’m going.”
“What do you mean?”
“Carter, I’m almost at the house now. I’ve got to go.”
I ended the call and crept closer to the house. I hadn’t realized how late it was getting until I looked up at the sky. The sun was setting. It wouldn’t be long before the darkness shadowed my existence.
I sat, watching the house behind the cover of a thick tree. Yury moved from room to room, searching for what I can only assume was the medallion.
It was darker now and I could see a faint light flickering inside the house. Finally, it moved upstairs.
I crouched low and made my way to the SUV. I peered in through the window. There, on the passenger side, was the old leather bound book.
I knew it!
I looked back at the house where the light still flickered from the master bedroom. I knew my window of opportunity would be brief, so I carefully opened the driver’s side door and reached across the seat. I grabbed the book and tucked it under my arm before gently closing the door.
Quickly, I tiptoed away from the car and back into the woods. I had the book now, and that’s what I came here for, but something still bothered me. Why was he wandering around in the charred remains of my old house?
I stopped and turned back to the house. The candlelight was no longer flickering from the master room, but had instead move to the only other room on the second floor: my room.
I scanned the area around me and found a slight opening between the entangled roots poking up from the ground where a tree bent to its side. I slipped the book
into the hole and covered it with a handful of leaves.
I hurried back to the house, staying low as I crept up to the kitchen window and peered inside. It was too dark to see anything without the candlelight, which emulated from the second floor. I moved to the living room window at the front of the house, but the porch created too large of a separation for me to get a good look. I would have to get closer.
He was still upstairs, so I seized the opportunity and tiptoed up the porch steps. The old wood creaked beneath my foot and I froze. I waited, my one foot hovering in the air until I was sure he hadn’t heard it and then I continued. I stepped inside the house, carefully maneuvering around the furniture strewn about. I kept my back against the wall as I approached the staircase. I heard his footsteps pacing upstairs and then a hard thud against something solid and hard.
“It has to be here,” he shouted.
I listened for a replied, but when nothing came I was sure he was speaking to someone on the phone. He slammed his foot down on the floor, sending bits and pieces of debris dusting down on top of me. “No. Nothing changes. I will find it!”
I was dusting off my sweater when I heard the thundering of footsteps coming down the staircase. I ducked into the kitchen and crouched down behind the counter. The candlelight lighted his way through the living room and out of the house.
I caught a glimpse of his facial features, slightly shadowed by the angle of the light. He looked angry, a sight that sent an aching chill through my body. I watched in hiding as he return to his car and blew out the candle.
Suddenly, without the candlelight, he was completely hidden in the darkness of the night. As frightening as it was to see him, it was worse not being able to see him. The car light came on as he slipped inside. The engine roared to life and I could finally breathe again.
I stepped out of the shadows and wandered around the living room. It was dark and I could hardly see what I was stepping into, so I reached into my sweater pocket and pulled out my cell phone. Suddenly, the night was quiet again.
Please let it be an engine glitch.
The car light turned on and I could see him fanatically rifling through the back seat. He flailed about, tossing objects from the backseat into the front.
I gasped. He’s looking for the book.
I staggered backwards until my back was against the wall. It wouldn’t be long before he realizes the book was gone. I wanted to run, wishing I had escaped when I had the chance. Now I was trapped in this house alone and without the faintest idea of what to do. Just when I thought things couldn’t possibly get any worse, our eyes met. Staring back at me was no longer the dark soulless gaze that haunted me, but rather a set of shockingly fire-red eyes.