Truth of Dark Pasts by Serena Wood (free children's online books .TXT) 📖

concern rushes through me. Thankfully, Ellie gets to her senses without any complaints and seemingly without any injuries. Chloe makes swift work of dragging her to the kitchen and tying her to the table before I’m forced to join them.

 

ᧅ Kathy ᧅ

Practically the whole summer has gone by since Ellie’s mom had told me what happened. She went to the police and they tried their best but they didn’t find Ellie. Or River. She doesn’t know who it was that took them and the cops don’t have any idea where to start. But I had a few ideas, in the beginning. I told them that if they wanted to find Ellie or River, they should go to Chloe. They did actually go to her house, they went to every one of her friends houses too. But they didn’t find anything that would give them any kind of clue as to where Ellie and River had disappeared to.

It keeps me up at night, not knowing what’s become of them. If they’re even still alive. Shay has nightmares about it a lot, I know she misses Ellie. They were practically sisters, Shay’s never trusted anyone like she did Ellie and I doubt it was any different for Ellie herself. It was kind of the same for River and I, she didn’t open up much but that’s one of the many things we had in common. I just wish I knew what happened to them, I wouldn’t hesitate to go after them myself if I had any clue where they were.

“Excuse me, earth to Katherine.” my superior, Bill, taps on my shoulder and pulls me away from absentmindedly pricing the canned goods. I’d been working in this grocery store since Shay and I decided we wanted our own place, but I’ve yet to really focus on the job. And I’ve yet to find the guy in charge of training me anything but annoying and pigish.

“Kathy.” I hiss, it’s probably the tenth time I’ve told him just tonight but he makes a point of calling me anything but the name I prefer.

“Whatever, hot stuff. I have a customer waiting for a cake she ordered and you’re not doing anything useful. So get your ass over there and learn how to hand out deliveries.” I set down the can in my hand and the pricer, trying my best not to hit him with either one as I start to walk to the bakery counter. “And it wouldn’t kill you to have some manners next time.” he shouts after me but I try to ignore him for the sake of keeping my job. I get behind the counter and ask the girl what cake she ordered without even looking at her.

“It was just a simple birthday cake, honestly I could have just picked one up easier at Food Lion.” Normally I wouldn’t pay any attention to the rude tone in her voice. But I know that rude, bitchy tone all too well. I finally look up from the line up of cakes to come face to face with none other than Chloe. She smirks at the expression on my face.

“Nice to see you again, it’s been a while. How’s your little girlfriend?” every word that leaves her is riddled with this snarky tone.

“She’s fine, how’s your nose?” I shoot back, reminding her of the beating I gave her. She moves her hand over her nose self consciously and I smile with satisfaction. She goes silent and I look through the cakes for the one with her name printed on the cardboard box.

“I heard you two have an apartment together now. Are you planning on getting married and having kids next?” she tries to keep her tone casual but anyone could pick up the distaste clearly woven into her voice.

“We’re not really the type to have kids but I have been thinking of proposing, if you must know.” I make a point to ignore her tone and answer her as if she were someone who would actually be nice enough to start up a conversation like that. I refuse to give her the satisfation of getting to me.

“How cute, don’t forget to invite me to the wedding, Butchy.” after that, I decide it’s probably better to ignore her. Shay’s not here to pull me back and clearly she didn’t learn from the last time I kicked her ass. I find her cake and set it on the counter.

“That’ll be $22.35” I grumble and she starts rummaging through her purse. “Who’s the cake for anyway? Are you celebrating your own birthday cause no one else would?” She looks up briefly to glare at me and I glare right back. I can still see the fear in her eyes and she quickly moves her gaze back down to her purse. “No, it’s not for me. It’s for… A friend.” that sinister smile appears on her lips when she utters the word ‘friend’ but I decide it’s better not to get involved. She could have some kind of cruel message written on that cake and an even crueler prank in plan, but as long as I’m not involved somehow I’m not going to question it.

She hands me over her credit card and starts up conversation again as I take care of the cake’s expenses. “Oh, by the way. Thanks for sending cops to my house awhile back, I’m sure that was your doing.” I ignore the statement and hand her the card back. She starts to walk away but not before leaving me with one last remark.

“Shame they didn’t find them, I’m not going to be the one spending birthdays alone.” the statement sends a shiver down my spine and instantly I wonder how anyone could be so cold hearted. But I don’t really think that over for very long before I start to wonder if she really is the one behind this all. The cops say she’s innocent but I think the girl has her ways of faking it.

And the longer I think about it, the more I start to piece together the hidden riddles she had in our short conversation. The way she said the birthday cake was for a friend was just odd, she had used this strange tone and I know there was something hidden behind it. And then she brought up Ellie and River. ‘I’m not going to be the one spending birthdays alone.’

Something about that sentence just clicks in my head after she’s gone. I don’t remember clearly but I know someone had a birthday this month. I remember Shay talking about it with Ellie when we were still in school and she had brought it up a couple of days ago.

Bill comes up to me as I start walking away from the counter and I push by him when he tries to stop me from heading towards the door. I stop before I actually go outside, looking through the glass to make sure Chloe is gone before I go out there. I watch her walk away from the store as I pull out my cellphone and call Shay’s number.

She picks up on the second ring and I watch Chloe for a second before answering to her quiet “Hello”.

“Hey, I just ran into Chloe at work.”

“Baby, that’s great. But I’m late for dinner with my parents and you know I’m already on thin ice with them since we got the apartment.” I hear her rummage through our closet for a minute before she turns her attention back to me. “I already know what you’re thinking, Kathy. You know it’s not her, the cops told you themselves.”

“I know, I know. I just need you to answer something for me.”

“Alright, I’m listening.” she sighs out and I hear the faint sound of her closing a door.

“You said something about Ellie having a birthday, or maybe it was River. Which one of them was supposed to have a birthday this month?” She’s silent for a moment, probably trying to figure out what that has to do with anything.

“They both did, I think. Ellie’s is in four days and River’s is… today, if I remember correctly.” Chloe completely disappears from my sight as she answers and I leave the store, trying to catch up with her; but at the same time trying not to be seen by her.

“Babe, can I ask what this has to do with Chloe?” Shay’s voice rings out as I manage to spot Chloe again, at least a football field away.

“I think she just bought River’s birthday cake.”

Chapter 23, "The Heroine"

 “Maybe we should tell the cops or something, Kathy.” Shay mutters quietly as I follow the distant silhouette of Chloe. It takes me a second to register the voice coming out of my cell phone and it takes me a moment more to answer, fearing Chloe will hear me.

“No, They didn’t do anything last time. I’m going after her.” I whisper into the phone and slow down when Chloe starts to turn down a dimly light street. I stop in my tracks, hoping she doesn’t see me as she turns and I get lucky enough that she doesn’t decide to look around. I start walking again and Shay decides to speak up.

“You can’t be serious, Kath. Do you know how bad of an idea that is?”

“I don’t care, I know she has something to do with all of this. This could be the only chance I get to find them.” After that she lets out a sigh of defeat, knowing she can’t argue with that.

Chloe slows down and I almost don’t notice until I’m getting close enough for her to hear me. I slow down to match her pace and thankfully she still doesn’t think to turn around.

“Shay, I have to go now…”

“Wait!” she cuts me off with an overly excited voice and I wince, fearing Chloe heard it somehow. She keeps walking though, not seeming to notice.

“What?” I whisper my reply impatiently, moving to hide in the shadows that the street lights can’t reach.

“Please be careful, baby.” her voice softens with concern and I find myself smiling.

“I will. I’ll be home as soon as I can.” I hang up after she makes a point of exchanging ‘I love you’s and ‘goodbye’s. I follow behind Chloe for a few more feet before she turns to walk up someone’s driveway. I sit down on the closest bench and watch her carefully. Instantly I recognize her car but I don’t get why she left it at her friend’s house. She unlocks the car and rummages through it until she comes back out of the car with a birthday bag in her hand. She locks the car back and starts walking back to the street, for the first time she actually stops to look around at her surroundings. I turn around to face the cars passing by, hoping she doesn’t recognize me. A minute or so passes and she doesn’t come over to confront me so I turn back around and find her walking back down the street.

I get up and start following her again, thankful I don’t have to keep up with her car. But why is she keeping her car there? Wouldn’t it be easier to just drive to