Where Are They?
Aaron leaned over as Taylor rapped Logan tightly in a blanket. His wife was making funny faces at their daughter and even though she didn't smile much yet she still showed interest in the show being put on for her. Aaron and Taylor were taking Logan to the beach for some relaxation time. She turned a week old that day and Taylor felt they needed to be together as a family.
Aaron shook is head at the thought. They had the next forty years to 'be together as a family' he couldn't understand why today was any different.
But even so he found himself walking though the jungle and down the sandy beaches of the island. Jack and Casey would be waiting for them, as would his own parents. He was excited about the whole day they had planned just because it was something different than their regular routines.
His eyes drifted from the foliage around them to the face of his sleeping daughter on his wife's shoulder. He couldn't help but smirk to himself at the quaint little picture.
Taylor loved it when Logan fell asleep on her. Logan had this amazing 'baby smell' as her mother put it. Taylor didn't know if it had to do with being a parent or what but she thought is was just intoxicating. And when Logan slept she could hear her rhythmic breathing. It was calming to her when her child was at peace. She smiled inwardly at the soft 'hmm'sthat her offspring madeas she slept.
It was then that she realized the walk to the beach had gone terribly fast; in fact they were rounding the corner to 'their' beach. Aaron tapped her shoulder though, re-dividing her attention away from the upcoming civilization to two men and a few more struggling with fishing net.
To her surprise it was Noah, Will, another man she didn't know, and Mia was even helping the bunch. Marie was standing to the side with Bailey, who was now a year old, and a red haired woman who Taylor recognized as Rachel. Someone else was standing with them but Taylor couldn't see their face.
She looked back to Aaron who gestured to the men again. This was his subtle way of saying… 'let's help'. So reluctantly, knowing her family was waiting for the two, she headed over to the frazzled mob of men.
" 'Guys look like you need some help." She said cheerfully. She looked for an empty set of hands and her eyes immediately landed on Rachel. "Would you mind?" She said holding out the baby.
"Not at all!" She said excitedly. Rachel reached out her arms with a huge, almost stupid smile on her face to take the now awake Logan. Taylor gave her thankful smile then turned around to help the men reel in their catch.
"The fish are crazy today!" Hunter grunted.
"Thank you captain obvious." Will said under his breath.
"Would both of you shut up and pull!" Mia yelled at them.
The other woman Taylor couldn't make out from behind bent over to help as well. Now the only two people not pulling in the heavy net full of writhing fish was Marie and Rachel, who conveniently had children in their arms.
The seven persons tugged for a moment more before getting the net under control. Taylor bent back up pushing her blonde hair off of her slightly damp forehead and smiled at the men and women huffing and puffing who were still on their knees. With a content and tiring sigh she turned around to reclaim Logan.
But when she turned…there was no one there. She looked around to see if maybe the two had moved out of the way, off to the side somewhere but Taylor couldn't see them anywhere.
"Marie?" She called out in confusion. "Rachel where are you?" She began walking back up the beach thinking, "Maybe they went on without us?" But when she got to the point where she could see the camp clearly…there was no Rachel…or Marie…nor either of the children.
Taylor had gotten the attention of the fisher-persons on the ground and they were quietly staring at her from behind. Aaron noticed her voice had a shake to it, which meant she was nervous. Will was also intent on listening to the young woman; his wife was one of the few she was looking for.
Taylor's confusion was not slowing turning into panic. She couldn't find Rachel or Marie, and if she could find Rachel or Marie that meant she couldn't find Bailey, or…Logan.
She whipped herself around, eyes darting back and forthsearching for the people she hoped she had just over looked. "GUYS?"Shestarted shouting as she picked up her walking pace to a jog and made her way to the jungles edge.
"RACHEL? MARIE?" Aaron and Will got up fear rising in their chests. Is this happening? Where were the girls and their daughters? How did they go missing? And more importantly…why?