2 years later…

Two years went by with no change. The police never found any clues. Myra disappeared off the face of the planet.

Five months after the disappearance, the police announced Joey dead.

Everyone believed she was. Me too.

So you'll never believe the shock I got two years later, six days after Christmas.

I was lying across the sofa in our small living room, watching some crap games show on the TV. When the doorbell rang.

Probably Aunt Marie delivering her annual late Christmas card, I thought.

'Dad! Door!' I yelled towards the kitchen.

'God Emma, don't strain yourself or anything.' Dad said, walking down the hall.

I shrugged and turned my attention back to the TV.

Until I heard dad's yell.

'OH MY GOD, EMMA! IT'S JOEY!'

I started and blinked, wondering if I had heard him right. I literally tumbled off the sofa in my haste to get to the front door. I believed dad one hundred per cent. He would never play a joke that cruel…

I ran into the hall.

There she was.

Pause.

'Oh my God, JOEY!' I screeched, shoving dad out of the way and collapsing against her. I didn't realise I was sobbing until dad peeled me off her and handed me a tissue.

I looked at her, then did a double take.

Joey's clothes were ripped and covered in blood. Her hair was a tangled mess. She had huge dark circles under her eyes. But those weren't the only changes.

She was pale; really pale, almost ghostly. She had gotten taller and thinner. She was… beautiful, there was no other way to describe her. But her eyes scared me. Two years ago, they had been a warm blue. Now they were a dark, empty black.

'I'm going to call your mum.' Dad announced, and then walked out of the room.

'Joey,' I squeaked when he was gone, 'What happened to your eyes?'

'Huh?' She started and blinked. Even her voice had changed. It sounded almost like a song. 'Nothing.'

'Oh Joey.' I said, 'I'm so glad you're here.' I grasped her hand, and then released it in shock. It was freezing, as cold as ice.

'I'll get you a blanket or something.' I said, then left her standing in the hall.

When I came back, my eyes narrowed in surprise. Joey was sitting on the bottom stair, her eyes closed and a hand over her mouth.

'Joey?' I asked, confused. 'Are you okay?'

She opened her eyes, shuddered, and then took her hand away from her mouth. She managed a small smile. 'Yeah, I'm fine.' She said. 'I guess I'm just a bit… overwhelmed.'

'I know the feeling.' I said, grinning and throwing the blanket at her.

Then, the doorbell rang again.

I chose that moment to remember that I had invited Annie over tonight.

I looked at Joey. 'Brace yourself.'

For some reason, these words had an effect on Joey. She gave a huge jerk and a look of terror crossed her face.

I raised my eyebrows at her and then opened the front door.

'Hi, Emma.' Annie said. And that's when she saw Joey.

'J-Joey?' She stammered.

Joey nodded.

At first Annie looked confused. But then her face split into a wide grin.

'Oh JOEY! It's you!' She yelled, running in and pulling Joey into a hug.

Joey gave a small grin and gently but firmly pulled Annie off her.

I shared a look with Annie, who was back to looking confused.

'Joey, what…' Annie started. But then the doorbell rang.

I opened it and almost got ran over by Joey's mum and siblings. When they saw her, Janice literally screamed, Tiffany burst into tears and Justin leaned against the wall, looking pale.

There was a silence, and then Joey murmured softly 'Hi mum.'

'I called the police.' My dad said, joining us in the hall.

'Joey.' Justin said. 'Where have you been?'

Joey didn't say anything.

'Do you have any idea how worried we've been?' Janice said faintly.

'I don't want to talk about it.' Joey whispered.

'But Joey…'

'Mum, leave it.' Joey snarled, looking up and glaring.

'Don't talk to me like…'

'I DON'T CARE!' Joey suddenly yelled, leaping up from the stair and kicking the wall in anger. 'I SAID I DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT!'

We all stared.

'Please, mum.' Joey said, looking at Janice. 'I just want to go home.'

Joey's mum blinked, and then nodded silently. A single tear rolled down her cheek.

'Okay.' She said, sounding weak. 'C'mon kids.'

As Joey was walking out, she turned to me and Annie.

'Bye, Emma. Bye, Annie.' She muttered.

'Bye.' We said in unison.

When she had left, Annie looked at me and said, 'Wow.'

'Yeah.' I said, nodding, 'Joey comes back. What a plot twist.'

'She's changed.' Annie said. 'She's changed a lot.'

I nodded again. 'What do you think happened to her?'

'I don't know. All that blood…' Annie's voice trailed off, and I felt slightly nauseous.

We stood in silence. Then Annie said 'It doesn't matter. She's still the same person.'

I nodded. 'Still the same Joey.'

Sorry about not updating. But it's summer, and the weather's been nice, for once.

R&R (please)

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