Chapter Seven
Steph's POV
The bed dipped beside me but I was unable to open my eyes. It was as if they were glued shut. I wanted desperately to see who it was, but my body would not permit it. All I could do was wait for some kind of indication. So I did.
For what felt like the longest time they just sat there, not moving, hardly even breathing, not making a sound. "I love you," they finally said, and I wasn't at all surprised to hear my darling husband's voice full of worry as he said it. I worried about myself. I worried about my family and what would happen to them if something happened to me, or what would happen to me if something happened to them. "We're going to fix everything," he continued, a hint of a deeper emotion in his voice now, it sounded as if he were about to cry.
I tried to tell him I knew he was right, but all I could manage was a small groan. To which he replied by stroking my cheek and kissing my forehead. Then he was gone. I drifted once more into the blackness I had come to love and fear all at the same time. On one hand it gave me the much needed rest that the doctors said I had to get, but on the other hand, it provided the perfect opportunity to dwell on things that ought to have been left behind years ago.
What day is it? I thought just before the blackness consumed me entirely.
Ricky's POV
I read the email several times without comprehending a single word. It just seemed like a bunch of words strung together, then again, it was two o'clock in the morning and I had been up for sixty-two hours straight. I scrolled back to the top for another pass at it and suddenly understood what was trying to be said.
Ricky,
I don't think my life is worth living any more. Everything has gone from bad to worse. Mum's been asleep for days now and Dad isn't taking it too well. Nathaniel knows something is wrong but doesn't want to let on coz it would worry us even more. Kegan is just being Kegan and The Twins are⦠incomparable in their ability to pretend that nothing matters except how their hair looks. My Grandparents and Great Grandma are all out of their minds and Grandma Morelli keeps saying she tried to warn Dad about Mum, but he never listened. Some times I just want to die!
On top of all my family issues Zaniel broke up with me, and for no apparent reason. The worst part is though, he did it over MSN. HOW INCONSIDERATE CAN YOU GET?
Anyway, we're really getting close to HH, I just hope we get him soon so we can finish this ordeal for all everyone. Mine will end much sooner however. I can't take it any more. There's just so much pressure on me, in school, in society, even in my family. I'm not gonna be the worlds bitch any longer. Everyone is just gonna have to go and find someone else to do their bidding. I don't care anymore!
C-ya
Sexy Lexy
"Shit," I breathed. "Crap. What the FUCK have I done!"
Instantly I was awake. Grabbing my cell phone I pushed back from the computer desk. The chair scraped horribly on the hard wood floor, but I didn't spare the moment to grimace. I was already dialling Morelli's cell as I got out of the elevator and ran across the parking lot.
"PICK THE FUCKING UP MORELLI!" I yelled as the phone continued to ring.
"Daddy's phone, how can I help you?" said a small voice on the other end. Fuck!
"Where's your Daddy?" I asked Nathaniel as I turned the engine over.
"He's in with Mummy at the moment. He said not to disturb him. She's very sick and needs rest, but if we annoy her too much she'll get sicker."
"Where's Elexus then?"
"She went out."
"Where did she go?"
"Do I look like the information desk?" he asked creating the illusion that he was much older than he really was.
"Listen this is very important, you have to go get your Daddy."
"But he's-."
"Yes I know he's with your Mummy and he said not to interrupt, but you need to interrupt. Tell him its Rick."
"You's the scary man."
"Yes, that's me. I need to talk to Daddy, Lexy might be in trouble."
There were muffled voices for a few moments and I heard the phone being handed over. "Ranger?"
"Morelli, this is an emergency, do you know where Elexus is?"
"She's in her room, why?"
I stopped at the lights and transferred the phone to my other ear. "She's not in her room. Where is she?" I urged.
"How do you know she's not in her room? Where are you?"
"I'm still in Toowoomba, but I can guarantee you she is not in her room."
"How?" he asked sceptically.
"Because Nathaniel said she went out."
"Ranger, Nathaniel is four. What's the big deal anyway?"
"She's stressed and likely to commit suicide. You need to find her as soon as possible."
"I was right all along. You're out of you're mind, Ranger. Elexus is not going to commit suicide. She's smarter than that."
"Have you read her latest email to me?"
Nathaniel's POV
Daddy's face went a pretty shade of white as he looked at the computer screen. He looked at me with a quizzical look and immediately closed his phone. He didn't even say goodbye.
He ran upstairs to tell Eliz and Jocey something about Kegan and when he came back he grabbed my coat from the hall closet and threw it at me. I picked it up and put it on as he put his own on then I pulled my boots on and followed him out to the car. He sat me in the front seat next to him. I was never allowed in the front seat, everyone said I was too little.
Daddy ran around the front of the car after strapping me in and got into the driver's seat. "Where's Elexus?" he asked me as we sped out of the driveway.
"I don't know." It was true. I didn't know. Elexus had just kissed me and left, she had purposely blocked herself off.
"Come on Nathaniel you have to know. You always know."
"She just left."
He was scaring me. His eyes were wide and he kept running his hand through his hair until it stood on end. He glanced at me as we passed the Cluck in a Bucket. "She just left?" he asked. "Nothing?"
I shook my head. "Is Lexy in trouble?" I asked
"Only if she does something stupid. We need to find her. I need you to find her Nathaniel. You know her better than anyone."
"But we're in the car, Daddy. It won't work. The car is metal."
He looked around as if just noticing that we were in the car. "We'll have to get out and walk around for a bit. Do you think your legs can handle it?"
"I forgot my scarf."
"It doesn't matter. We need to find Elexus."
He stopped the car and we got out. It was cold but it wasn't snowing. As soon as I was out of the car I reached out for Lexy. I wasn't sure if it would work, because I had never actually tried to find her before. Whenever I found her before it was because she wanted me to find her. I closed my eyes so I could concentrate more but all I got was Daddy. "It's okay Daddy. I whispered. Lexy's a big girl, she'll be okay."
I opened my eyes and looked up at him. He asked the question without asking it. I shook my head sadly. "I can't find her Daddy."
He pulled out his phone and dialled. "Please tell me you put a tracker in her necklace." He said without saying hello. He listened for a moment, then said, "Good. Track her." I watched him out of the corner of my eye as I walked to the middle of the square for better reception. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU CAN'T?" he yelled. He shut the phone again and looked at me. "She was wearing her necklace wasn't she?"
I nodded and he started dialling again.
