(Matilda's POV):
When we arrive, the first site that catches my eye is a swarm of children whispering something to one another. A few snickers ripple through the crowd.
"What's up with them?" James asks.
"I don't know, but I don't think it's good," I reply worried.
I go up to the circle of children.
"What's happening?" I ask them, attempting to sound casual.
Immediately they cease the whispers and turn to me. Sophie Ballard steps from the crowd.
"Matilda, you're friends with Sophie Springer, right?" she asks me.
I file through my mind to match the name with the face. Long, brown hair with brown eyes and skin that's just a tad darker than mine. Not too popular among our class, but neither am I.
"Well, I talk to her sometimes, but-"
"You'd better talk to her now. She's in a state. She's outside of Mr. Turkentine's room.
"Why do you care?"
"We're just looking out for 'er best interests," a familiar voice drawls arrogantly.
Why Carmichael?
"Yeah right," I scoff as I walk away.
Charlie and James follow behind as we come across a girl of about ten crying her eyes out.
"Sophie?" I ask gently.
She looks up and sniffs.
"Matilda?"
I sit down beside her.
"What happened?"
She gulps and takes a deep breath.
"It's Dani."
It takes me a while to remember; Dani Williams, Sophie's best friend. Long, light-blonde hair and bangs. She and Billie often played jacks together when Billie actually decided to come to school, which has only been for about a day. Otherwise she and Sophie would be together playing a hand game or something.
"Did you guys have a fight?"
She sniffs and shakes her head.
"She didn't come to school this morning."
"Maybe she's just running late?" I suggest.
Sophie shakes her head with a sniff.
"We always walk to school together. When I went to pick her up, her mother was in tears."
"Well, when did you last see her?"
"Yesterday. We were walking home together and then she and I passed by the Wonka factory. It's the only way home that has the candy shoppe in that route. As we walked by, she heard a noise and decided to follow it, even though I told her not to. She turned a corner and I haven't seen her since."
"Well, that's that. Let's get to class," James says.
Like a flash, I have his wrist in my grasp.
"Not so fast," I growl.
"Sophie, where did the corner lead to?"
She thinks about it for a while.
"The side of the Wonka factory."
Odd.
"Isn't that where Billie and Alfie were last seen before they disappeared?"
"Well, they were last seen around there," James remarks.
He gives me a look of suspicion.
"Matilda, what are you implying?"
"I'm not implying anything," I tell him.
"However, I have a hunch there's a chance that the Wonka factory could somehow be related to the disappearances."
"Come off it, Mati," he exclaims.
"There's no way it could be related. Dani's probably just playing hooky."
"Dani? Playing hooky? Get real."
"She would."
"I think Matilda may be onto something," Charlie points out.
"Dani wouldn't be one to play hooky. She's too focused on her grades."
"That's exactly why she would. No one would think she would play hooky because she cares so much about school. In fact I'll prove it to you. Tomorrow we'll go to the factory and look behind there. I'll bet you she's hiding there waiting to scare us."
"You're just paranoid, lover boy," I scoff.
James's face start to turn red and I smirk. I know for a fact he's crushing on Dani.
"And besides, tomorrow's my birthday party and you promised to show up."
James gives a sigh.
"Fine. We'll go after your party. All four of us."
"Four?" I ask.
"You, me, Charlie, and Sophie."
"Alright. It's settled."
At that moment, the bell rings. As we head into class, I can't help but wonder if I made a mistake. Who knows? Maybe I'm right.