Prologue
The sky was a clear blue and the sun shone down brightly on the citizens of Ravensville, Louisiana. It was a late Friday afternoon and both parents and children alike were looking forward to the upcoming weekend. Joyful laughter could be heard from the local park as children chased each other around gleefully.
Sitting on one of the lower branches of a large oak tree that overlooked the small park was a young, scrawny boy. He wore scruffy clothes that were too baggy for him; on his threadbare t-shirt was a sticker with the name 'CALEB' printed in big, bold letters. Above the name in slightly smaller font were the words 'Ravensville Community Centre'. Caleb's dirty blonde hair was long and shaggy as it hung in front of his dark, haunted eyes as they searched for his best-friend's smiling face amongst the countless other faces.
A sense of unease settled deep within as he failed to see her. Caleb couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong and with each second that passed his unease grew stronger and stronger.
He waited patiently for another few minutes, still hoping that she would show up and prove him wrong. After glancing down at his watch – a gift from her – the hopeful expression left his gauntly face. A sigh of disappointment left from between his chapped lips.
'I knew I shouldn't have believed her and her promises of a better life. She's just like everyone else in my life; she never really cared about me.' Caleb couldn't help, but think bitterly to himself. Swinging down from the branch he was sat on, Caleb made his way to a faded, old, navy blue rucksack resting at the base of the tree's trunk.
As he lifted the heavy rucksack up and over his shoulder, Caleb noticed a crinkled envelope fall out of one of the side pockets. Dropping the bag back onto the floor with a soft thud Caleb reached out and picked the envelope up.
Turning the envelope over his eyes widened, as a trembling hand traced over the letters of his name, taking in the familiar, messy scrawl of his best-friend.
"Rachel..." He whispered softly.