Hello all! Chapter 10 of this story is finally posted! More drama and secrets will be in store for you. Before I begin this chapter, I would like to give a big thank you to all those who reviewed all my chapters for this story. So, read on to find out what will happen to Mitchie...
Chapter 10:
3 hours later, about 1.30a.m:
Caitlyn woke up groggily, rubbing the sleepiness from her dark eyes. When she her vision was cleared, she saw that there was a downpour. Rain trickled down the glass window panes and leaves rustled in the strong wind. Caitlyn could hear Ella's steady breathing from the bed above her.
The teen turned her head towards her best friend's bed. Although it was almost pitch dark, Caitlyn could see that Mitchie was not in her bed. Puzzled, she got out of her bed to investigate. She grope about in the darkness, trying to make sure that her friend was not anywhere near her or she may bump into her.
"Mitchie? Are you there?" Caitlyn called out softly, reaching the other side of the room. Feeling Mitchie's bed, Caitlyn was quite sure that Mitchie was neither in the room nor in her bed. A feeling of nervousness shot through her entire body, wondering where Mitchie was. Could she be missing?
But she wanted to be sure before alarming anyone, so she felt for the room light and switched it on. The sudden brightness made her close her eyes. Once her eyes had already adjusted to the light, Caitlyn scanned the room. Aside for Ella and herself, no one else was in the room.
A flash of lightning and a roar of thunder went though the room. Out of a sudden, Caitlyn spotted a letter on Mitchie's bed. It read: To Caitlyn and Ella. The words were scrawled in Mitchie's neat handwriting. "How can I be so oblivious?" Caitlyn muttered to herself. She picked up the envelop slowly and opened it, unfolding the letter.
Inside, it read:
24th January 2008.
Dear Caitlyn and Ella,
I hope you will understand what I am about to write in this letter. You might have noticed that I am neither in the dorm room nor round the school. By the time you read this letter, I will be taking a bus to the next town or I am already there. The reason for my running away is because of Sierra.
Sierra died of cancer about 10 days ago. Mrs. Martin would be holding the funeral at the next town tomorrow. Even though almost everyone forbidden me to go, I still would like to say my final goodbyes to Sierra. This is the reason why I have been so distant with you girls lately; I was depressed because of Sierra's death. Please, forgive me for not telling you this earlier but you know how much I hate the attention and I did not want both of you nor Shane to worry about me. Please, don't reveal anything to Shane, I will tell him when I am ready.
As much as I fear to be punished, I am afraid I have to do this. I promise you guys I will be back by tomorrow evening, tomorrow night the latest. Please don't tell anyone about this, I want to keep it low.
Do not worry about me, I will be fine.
See you girls soon,
Mitchie Torres.
Caitlyn's eyes were filled with tears once she read the letter. Allowing a tear to drop onto Mitchie's bed, she carefully slipped the paper back into it's envelop. She glanced out the window and back to the envelop. It was like a thunderstorm out there. Something might happen to Mitchie.
Even though Mitchie wrote not to tell anyone, Caitlyn knew Ella and the others needed to know about this. She even considered reporting it to the headmistress. Hurriedly, she scurried to the other side of the room, where Ella was fast asleep. "Pzz, Ella, Ella wake up!" Caitlyn whispered, shaking the girl.
"Huh, Caitlyn, 5 minutes more..." Ella mumbled, brushing Caitlyn's hands away. "This can't wait El, Mitchie has run away!" Caitlyn answered a little louder. That got Ella's attention. She jolted up straight away, a disbelieving look in her eyes.
"WHAT? How? When? Why?" She exclaimed loudly. "Shush!" Caitlyn scolded her friend, handing her the envelop, not meeting eye contact with Ella. Ella quickly tore it open and scanned it. When she was done, a tear trickled down her cheek. "So this is the reason Mitchie has been so distant lately." Ella uttered out.
Caitlyn nodded her head vigorously. "But that is not the reason I am waking you up. There is a thunderstorm out there, Mitchie could get hurt." She explained. As if on cue, a flash of lightning and a deafening crack of thunder filled the room. Ella shuddered. "We have to tell the others what is going on. Mitchie could be in danger out there." Caitlyn continued.
"But Caitlyn, I think Mitchie knows what she is doing. Besides, it was mentioned not to tell anyone!" Ella defended, shaking her head. "Look Ella, in this rain, anything might happen. Do you want Mitchie to be safe or not?" Caitlyn yelled, now furious. Ella thought of it for a moment, and said. "Let's go. This is for Mitch's own good."
With Mitchie...
The 18 year old was running, fast in the rain. The downpour was getting heavier by the second. Mitchie was already drenched to the skin, her body shivering with cold. She wished she was back in the dorm room, under the perfectly warm covers.
Mitchie's lips were blue with cold and she knew she was going to get sick. Only the dim light of her torch could lead the way for her. Mitchie had been going around in circles for hours, her vision blurred by the rain and dim light. She could easily find her way to the bus terminal in the morning; it was always right in front of her eyes.
But looking for the bus terminal at night was like searching for a needle in a haystack. Plus the downpour going on, it was twice as hard to see. However, Mitchie was determined to go on, she had already came that far, shouldn't she continue her journey. Besides, she needed to see her best friend for the last time.
Finally, after what it seems like hours to the 18 year old, a shelter came into view. Heaving a gigantic sigh of relief, Mitchie plopped down onto the seat there; at last her aching feet could have a break. She unzipped her wet back park, glad that she re- packed all her clothing and necessities into a water proof plastic bag.
Mitchie gulped down a huge amount of water and tried brushing the water from her hair and face. She unwrapped a ham sandwich which was taken from the bag and munched on it hungrily, gobbling it up within seconds. When she was done, Mitchie looked around. There was not a single soul, the place was deserted.
Mitchie couldn't help it. She buried her head in her arms and sobbed. She felt so lonely right now. She wanted her family, her friends, and her fiancé. Mitchie cried harder when she realized how hurt her friends and Shane must have been when Mitchie didn't told them anything.
After about ½ an hour of crying, Mitchie gathered up her things and continued her journey.
Back At Alfea College:
Caitlyn and Ella went out of their dorm room and crept to the room opposite them, which Tori, Brynn and Malory shared. As both of them opened the door, they could hear their friend's steady breathing. Ella didn't want to disturb them, but she knew that it was for the good of Mitchie.
Caitlyn shaked Brynn gently. She groaned and flipped onto her back. "Brynn, Brynn, get up!" Caitlyn said urgently and maybe a little too loudly. The eyes of Malory and Tori fluttered open. "Hey Cait, El, why are you here?" Malory asked, stiffing a huge yawn. Tori agreed to that statement.
"We will explain, first get Brynn up." Ella answered. Malory and Tori nodded their heads and their screamed as loud as their vocal chords could allow. Brynn jolted up in fright and confusion and stared angrily at her friends. "Why are all of you waking me up at 1.50am?" She demanded.
Caitlyn and Ella briefly explained what was going on and the reason why Mitchie had fled from the school. Their 3 friends gasped when they heard what had happened. "So what do you want us to do?" Tori inquired, a worried look on her face.
"Wake all the 6B girls up. Tell them what is going on. Then we will go to the headmistress and start looking for Mitchie." Caitlyn told them. "We are on it!" Three voices chorused in unison. Slipping on their robes, the 5 6B girls split to different dorms.
Minutes later, all the other 14 6B girls were gathered in the common room, trading anxious looks. Some were ever praying for the downpour to end for fearing that Mitchie might lose her way. Most of them were talking among one another, not knowing what to do.
Caitlyn sighed and clapped her hands loudly, drawing all the attention onto her. "Look guys. I am sure you know what is going on. It is no point if we just stay here and wait for Mitchie to come back, she might be injured in this storm. So I say we go to Miss Fleming, get her permission and split up to find Mitchie." She proclaimed.
There were murmurs going around the room after Caitlyn's speech. "But we may get hurt ourselves if we go looking for Mitchie. Besides, doesn't her letter say that she will be back by tomorrow?" Chelsea protested, yawning. Some of the girls agreed and asked if they could go back to bed.
Anger was boiling up in Caitlyn. How could Chelsea say that? Wasn't she worried about Mitchie's safety? Ella placed her hand on Caitlyn shoulders, telling her not to flare up too much. Caitlyn relaxed a little.
"How about we vote?" Liana spoke up, also seeing Caitlyn's anger look. "Fine. Who wants to get out there and help Mitchie raise up your hands." Ella replied. More than half of the girls shot their hands up. Liana quickly did a quick count. "14 plus my hand is 15." She declared. Caitlyn grinned broadly. Majority wins.
"Your right Cait, for the better good of Mitchie, I am in too." Chelsea said suddenly. Ella gave her friend a hug and Caitlyn smiled at her. Others who had objected to the plan also agreed to it, not wanting to be left out.
"Well, let's go to Miss Fleming then!" Alexia said and the 19 6B girls thronged out of the common room.
(A/N: I know I keep switching my format with Alfea College and Mitchie. Bare with me, I want to hold the best till last!)
With Mitchie:
It has been an hour since her rest break at the shelter. The downpour was stronger than ever and the wind was howling widely. Mitchie was still finding her way to the bus terminal, cursing the rain every time she fell. The dim light from her torch was the only source of light she had, but the light was fading... fading...
And, when Mitchie thought things couldn't get worse, the light from the torch flickered a few times and the battery went dead. Mitchie was stunned for a moment, but only for a moment. "Argghhh!" She yelled, beating the torch with her hand.
The battery was fully flat. There was really no light left and Mitchie found herself face to face with darkness. "Why didn't I bring extra batteries?" The 18 year old cursed herself for forgetting. The area was pitched black. Mitchie didn't want to admit it, but she knew she had to. She was lost.
Panic started engulfing in Mitchie. She had some hope in her when her torchlight was still working. And she did not have any candles either. Even if Mitchie bought candles, it wouldn't last very long in the storm. Thoughts about what would happen to her filled Mitchie's mind.
She hurriedly shook the thoughts of. Mitchie needed to stay positive; it was the only route of surviving in the storm. Mitchie dropped the torch into her really soaked bag and continued her journey...in the darkness...
So, that is it. A good way to end a chapter huh? Anyways, I know I am being mean to Mitchie but I love the drama so just bare with me. And for those who loves suspense, good for you cause there will be more suspense in the next chapter!
Please read and review and hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Cheers,
TrixieNancy124.