12

The afternoon was spent learning the songs for Phantom of the Opera and then there was a hilarious hour when everyone tried on the costumes Miss Wharton had brought to see if they fit.

The class broke up about four. The sky was already darkening. The kids could see another storm rolling toward them slowly like the tide coming in.

Vocal Adrenaline made a quick exit as if they were too good to hang out with the rest of them.

"We should check out the pavilion where we are going to be performing." Rachel suggested and she was surprised when a large group decided to go with her. Finn was her first volunteer. He didn't volunteer to be with Rachel. It's just that she looked a little spooked. And he didn't like that look on her. Artie was in. Brittany and Santana agreed to come. Santana mostly so she could figure out what Brittany kept seeing in the woods. Matt from the Warblers was all in. He seemed a little smitten with Santana. Matt had yet to notice that mohawked Puck didn't really appreciate the smaller guys attention toward his sometime girl. Puck decided to check out the pavilion.

Wes and David said they had some things to take care of and Blaine begged off because of a headache.

"Should I stay?" Kurt whispered.

"Ah no," Blaine said. "Go hang out with your friends. I'm just going to take a nap." So Kurt put his arm through Mercedes and large group set off with the directions that Jesse had given them.

Although they hung out at Betton Beach after inspecting the new pavilion, the storm was getting closer and it seemed to be moving faster and faster their way. "The wind is picking up. If we don't leave now, we are going to get soaked." Finn observed.

They got drenched anyway. Minutes into their walk they were soaked to the bone and shivering. The rain was coming down in sheets and the wind was blowing so hard that the kids could barely hear each other.

Artie was falling behind because he was having a hard time maneuvering his chair in the rain soaked ground.

Brittany noticed and headed back for him but she must have picked the wrong path because suddenly she was alone in the dark and the rain. She called for Artie and she called for the group but she couldn't hear either one.

But then she saw the girl-the girl in the pink nighty-standing in front of her. The girl was staring at Brittany vacantly but she was also beckoning her.

"Do you want me to come with you?" Brittany asked.

The girl disappeared.

And Brittany screamed.

Her scream was so loud that everyone heard her. "Brittany!" Santana yelled racing back.

"Brittany!" Artie said, finally getting his chair to move like a speed racer. "Brittany, Brittany."

The group searched frantically for almost an hour in the worsening storm but she never turned up. Finally, a patrol car showed up. The sheriff got out. "Everyone's worried about you. Did you guys happen to miss that a storm's come up? They think you got lost. I'll radioed in for Sterling to bring the cars for you."

The group practically jumped all over the sheriff. "Brittany's missing! Brittany's missing! We heard her screaming! We can't find her! She's lost!"

Somehow he caught the gist of the story, was able to convince the frantic teens to get into the minivans that had come to collect them and go back to the hotel.

The rest of the group were waiting on the covered porch as the vans pulled up, Blaine came out into the rain when Kurt emerged. "Where were you? Are you okay? What happened?"

Marty and his sports car pulled in.

Wes and David came down too and helped guide everyone in. Finally, the sheriff convinced everyone that it would do no good for them to head back out in the rain. "You don't know the island. You could wander into the wrong area in the dark. I'll get locals out and looking. We'll find her. Go upstairs, put on some dry clothes. We'll take care of it."

Santana came crashing down the stairs with a picture of Brittany. The sheriff grabbed the snapshot. He paled but then nodded. "I wouldn't worry. It's a small town but it's a big island. We'll find her."

Jesse came down the steps. And Mystie ran to talk to him. It sounded like they were arguing and then Mystie came flying down the stairs toward the sheriff. "Kylie's missing too. She's never came back. She went into town with Jesse. But she never came back!"

The sheriff nodded gravely. He looked around the room catching Miss Olivia's eye. He looked away first. Then he looked at Marty and his eyes narrowed. Then he motioned for she and Jesse to come down. Everyone else was gathered around. Too riveted and scared to go change into dry clothes.

"You were with Kylie?"

"We walked into town."

"And you are Miss Olivia's assistant."

"And where was she this afternoon?"

"I was here. Working with my piano player to edit down the music for the concert on Friday."

The sheriff turned back to Jesse. "And how come Kylie didn't come back with you?"

"I had to meet someone."

"Who?"

"Kylie and I split when I had to go. She said she was coming right back here. She should have been here hours ago."

"You have anything to do with why she didn't make it?"

"No!"

"When did you split?"

"5:00ish."

"I called Jesse at 5:30 to ask him a question about the show. There was a guy talking to him in the background."

"Are you offering him an alibi?" The sheriff asked.

"I'm just telling you everything I know," But then Olivia looked down guiltily. She wanted to tell him about the Tan fishing shack. If there are two girls missing she should tell him, she should just tell him. Tell him everything. But before she could muster up the courage to break 20 years of silence and lies, the sheriff turned and made to leave. "Now I've got two missing girls!"

"Marty!" The sheriff called as he reached the door. When Marty approached the sheriff dropped into a tone so low that Rachel had to strain to hear. "So two of you have now returned to Cranesbill's 20 years later?" He stared at Marty long and hard.

"I graduated the same year as Sterling. You still have a town full of suspects, Sheriff."

"All I got is two missing girls who've gone off and gotten themselves lost. I don't need any suspects." The sheriff stormed to his car and slammed the door of his police car before squealing off.