Chapter Four: Confronting Your Fears
Local police are still questioning how two highly-guarded prisoners were able to break out of jail. Jeremy, 28, and Carl, 25, Wilson, arrested for the kidnapping and attempted murder of Malibu teens Lilly Truscott and Oliver Oken last summer, were reported missing from their cells late last night. A lockdown was issued and police began searching immediately for the two men. Locals are encouraged to keep a look-out for these two dangerous men and are advised to call their police station if they hear any news.
Miley had read this article so many times, she could nearly quote it from memory. She couldn't stop thinking about it the entire way to Lilly's house the next day. After Lilly had run off upon seeing the article, Miley had tried calling her, but she refused to pick up her phone. Miley couldn't blame her; it was obvious that she was freaked out at the news of hearing that her kidnappers had broken out of jail.
As she reached Lilly's house, she rang the doorbell and waited patiently. Finally, Mrs. Truscott opened the door, looking rather exhausted.
"Hello, Miley," she said wearily.
"Hey, Mrs. Truscott," Miley said. "How's Lilly doing?"
"Not well," Mrs. Truscott replied, shaking her head. "Oliver showed up about an hour ago and spent the first forty-five minutes banging on Lilly's bedroom door, trying to convince her to open it. I haven't been able to get her to come out since she came home last night."
"Well, maybe Oliver and I can talk to her," Miley said, stepping into the house. "Are they both up there?"
"Yes, I believe so," Mrs. Truscott said. "Perhaps if Oliver's up there, you'll have more luck getting into her room."
Miley thanked Mrs. Truscott and walked up the stairs and down the hallway. She knocked on Lilly's door.
"Lilly, it's Miley. Open up."
There was a scrambling from behind and, seconds later, the door opened and Oliver was standing there.
"Hey, Miley," he said, moving aside so she could come in.
"Who's there?" came Lilly's voice from underneath the covers on her bed. "Shut the door, Oliver!"
"It's just Miley," Oliver replied, shutting the door as Miley stepped into the room. "It took me forever to convince her that it was me standing outside her door," he told Miley. "I've been trying to talk some sense into her, but she won't listen."
Miley walked over to the bed and sat down on the end of it. "Lilly," she said to the lump under the comforter. "Will you come out from under there? No one's going to hurt you. I promise."
"You don't know that," Lilly said in a choked voice that sounded as though she had been crying. "That's what I said last time, and I was WRONG!"
"Lilly, no one is in the room except you, me, and Miley," Oliver said. "Do you honestly think that your mom is going to let someone she doesn't know up to your room?"
"You never know!" Lilly shrieked, pulling the covers tighter over her head. "They could manipulate their way into the house like they did last time!"
"Lilly, you're being ridiculous," Miley said. "Every police officer in the state is looking for them."
"And besides," Oliver added, "the police are keeping the two of us under close watch. They're not going to let the Wilsons near us again."
"Lilly, can you please come out from under there?" Miley asked. "Nobody is going to hurt you."
Lilly didn't say anything for a long time. Then, gradually, she pulled the covers off of her head and sat up slowly. She pushed a strand of long blond hair behind her ear. For a minute, no one said anything. Then, Lilly suddenly burst into tears. Oliver sat down on her bed next to her and let her cry on his shoulder.
"I'm...sorry," she choked out, her voice muffled against Oliver's shirt. "I didn't mean to fall apart like this."
"Lilly, no one blames you for being upset," Miley said, laying a comforting hand on her best friend's shoulder. "If it were me, I would be freaked out too if I learned that my kidnappers broke out of jail."
"But, Lilly, you have to think logically here," Oliver said, stroking Lilly's long, blond hair out of her tear-stained face. "The police are going to be sure that these creeps don't come near us or our families at all."
Lilly sniffed. Miley grabbed a tissue from the box on the nightstand and handed it to her. She blew her nose and wiped her eyes. "You're right, guys," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "I guess I'm just being...paranoid."
"Now you understand the feeling," Oliver said, smiling and kissing her on the top of her head.
"But, I know I saw him in the diner," Lilly said. "Carl Wilson, I mean. It had to be him! That would explain why he freaked out when I offered him a paper! He thought I would recognize him from his picture! Well, I didn't need a picture to recognize him. I'll never forget those faces. I see them whenever Iclose my eyes."
"I don't think it was him," Oliver said. "Because I walked in right as you passed out and he was the first one who ran to your side."
"But that could've just been because he didn't want to be suspicious," Lilly replied. "What if it was him, Oliver?"
"Well, think about it, Lilly," Miley said. "The Wilsons just broke out of jail last night. What are the odds that they would have been able to evade recapture, find disguises, and just happen to come across the diner that you happen to be working at. It seems close to impossible."
"Yeah, I suppose you're right," Lilly said. "I'm sorry, guys," she apologized again. "I guess I just had a panic attack or something. But, you're right. I overreacted, and I'm sorry."
"It's okay, Lilly," Miley said, giving her a hug.
"We forgive you, Lils," Oliver said, giving her a swift kiss on the lips. "Now, let's go downstairs. I'm starving."
Lilly laughed. "It's amazing how simple the male mind is," Miley said, rolling her eyes as Oliver opened the door and bounded down the stairs. She and Lilly followed. They were surprised, however, to see Mrs. Truscott standing at the door, conversing with a policeman.
"Mom, what's going on?" Lilly asked.
"Oh, Lilly, this is Officer Parker," Mrs. Truscott said.
"Hello, Officer," Lilly said, feeling a little nervous.
"Hello, Lilly," Officer Parker said. "I'm just talking to your mother about the security measures we are going to proceed to use in light of the Wilson brothers escape. I want you to know that we are going to do everything to be sure that nothing happens to you or your family."
Lilly's nerves instantly relaxed. Officer Parker's voice was so reassuring that it instantly calmed her.
"We'll be having a squad car outside your house 24/7 until the Wilsons are captured again," Officer Parker continued. "If you suspect anything, we'll be sitting right outside. You let us know."
"Thank you," Lilly replied. "What about Oliver?" she asked, pointing to him.
"Well, with his mom now on active duty, I think the Wilsons should be more afraid of her than she should be of them," Officer Parker said with a chuckle. "Right, Oliver?"
"Oh yeah," Oliver said. "When she found out that they took us right under her nose, she swore to show them no mercy!"
"All right," Officer Parker said. "Well, I'll be right outside," he added, pointing to the police car parked across the street. "Just let me know if you need anything."
"We will," Mrs. Truscott said. "Thank you." Officer Parker nodded and exited the house. Mrs. Truscott closed the door, and as she did, Lilly could almost feel her fear leaving the house as well.
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Okay, cheesy ending, I know. Next chapter, I PROMISE, will have some suspense in it. It's getting to the part where the main plot is coming in. I'm thinking that this story is going to be longer than SOS, but I don't know right now. Anyway, continue to post your reviews. Thanks, guys!