The next day, Sarah got out of bed, her eyes were red and bloodshot from not getting any sleep. She was scared. Very scared. Why hadn't her parents come to tell her what happened when Alan's parents got home from their party? She knew they called, so why didn't they tell her anything? Sarah put on her slippers, and slowly walked downstairs. She heard voices. It was her parents talking to Alan's parents. They were all in the living room, and Mrs. Parrish, Alan's mother was sobbing into a lace handkerchief. Her husband had a comforting arm around her shoulder, trying to soothe her. Meanwhile, her parents sit across from them.
"Sarah told us something happened but we didn't believe her," said Sarah's mom. "We are so very sorry, Carol. Sam."
"It's all my fault," said Mr. Parrish, trying to keep his voice from cracking. It had been a horrible night, indeed. He and Alan had a terrible fight, and then when he got back home, he found that Alan was gone. Disappeared. Alan even left without his suitcase that was packed, waiting in the hallway.
No one in the neighborhood had seen Alan. No one knew where he could possibly be. The town was pretty small, so someone was bound to have seen him. They called the cops, and they said they would do everything in their power to find Alan.
Sarah stood in the doorway, listening in to the conversation, wanting so much to tell Alan's parents what happened, but her father beat her to it.
"Sarah said they were playing a board game. That the game sucked him in or something."
Alan's parents knew that a game had been played, for there was a strange looking board game sitting on the living room coffee table set for two players. They didn't believe that Alan was sucked into the game, for that was impossible, but something very tragic must have happened for Sarah to make up such a story.
The game had been put up in the attic with other board games. Where the game came from, the Parrish's had no clue, and they really didn't care. They just wanted their son back.
"How is it your fault, Sam," asked Mr. Whittle, in a gentle tone.
"We had a fight before he disappeared. I wanted him to attend the Cliffside School for Boys, like all of the Parrish men. He didn't want to, and we fought about it. That's why he was packed to run away."
Mrs. Parrish looked up and wiped her eyes. "It's not your fault, honey. He obviously didn't run away, because his suitcase was still there."
"He was going to, though. Something happened before he could."
Mrs. Parrish didn't know how to respond to that. No matter what, she didn't blame her husband. Parents and their children fought all the time. It was natural. She figured if he did run away, he would just go stay at a friend's house or something, and would eventually come back once he calmed down.
She certainly didn't believe he was sucked into a board game. Maybe he was kidnapped, and the kidnappers threatened Sarah? So Sarah made up the story about being sucked into the game. It was certainly possible. Well, it didn't matter. They wanted their son back.
Sarah decided to walk in and speak her peace. "Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Parrish."
They both looked at her and gave her a nod and said "Good morning."
"I know what happened to Alan. You won't believe me, but that game is evil. It sucked Alan into it, and a bunch of bats came out and chased me. I'm so sorry."
Sarah's parents motioned for her to come sit between them. She did. They didn't know what to say to her. Sarah would have to talk to the police about what happened, and chances were they would want her locked away once hearing her story. It was ridiculous! Games didn't come to life and try to hurt you! Did they?