The next day, I was reading a book called High School Musical: The Junior Novel, when my father walked by.
"Harper, I'm leaving now," he said. "Where's the pie that you baked yesterday?"
"On the counter," I answered.
As he walked into the kitchen, he said, "I do wish you would stop reading those story books. They're just filled with fantasy."
"It's basically all I have to do besides chores. Besides, you watch TV."
"And look what I've become."
"You mostly watch the news anyways."
My father jerked his head around the corner, not looking happy. "How did you know that?!"
"Whenever I walk in on you, I catch a glimpse of the logo before you turn it off." And I also tune in from time to time while he's out.
"Oh. Of course." He went back into the kitchen. A few minutes later, he came out carrying the pie with his cloak on. "Now remember, no leaving the house, and no watching TV while I'm gone. Is that clear?"
"Yes dad."
He walked to the door and opened it. "I'll be back in three weeks time, hopefully. Good bye."
"Bye dad." I heard him close the door. I know what you're thinking. I could blow this popsicle stand when he was away on one of his trips, but even though he says three weeks, he's usually gone for a longer or shorter period of time then that, so I really never know when he's coming back. Also, my dad may never have been the most fatherly figure, he still raised me, and this was my home. Maybe if he grew old and senile, then I can leave, but for now, I'm stuck here.
When I was sure he was gone, which probably took an hour or so, I turned on the TV. Unsurprisingly, it was on the news station. Though at least it wasn't freezing out, so today was a good signal day, but I was about to grab the remote to channel, the graphic on the news caught my eye. It was a bunch of pictures of King Ben and Queen Mal together in a collage. In one or two of the pictures, they were holding their baby, Princess Meghan. Black letters displayed the words The Search for the Royal Family. It was no surprise that this was on. Sixteen years ago, the barrier on the Isle of the Lost, a place where all of the villains were locked up, somehow came down, and all of the villains escaped. There was a huge war, and in the mist of it, Princess Meghan was kidnapped. They searched all over, but there was no sign of her. They even sent guards to the Isle to search, but none returned. Almost a year later, King Ben disappeared, and when Queen Mal went searching for him, she disappeared too. Then, there was a huge battle, which banished all of the villains back to the Isle of the Lost, this time with a stronger barrier. However, the royal family was still missing, and the former king and queen, Beast and Belle, took over until they could be found. There was talk about going to the Isle to look for them, but everyone was afraid that the villains would find a easy to escape again.
I was always into the stories and updates about it. Perhaps a part of me believed that if somebody found them, then I could find my family. But today was different.
