I ran downstairs and told aunt Stella about everything- the book, the ghost, and how Justice was taken.
I was too upset to cry. "It's all my fault! If I hadn't opened that stupid book!" I stomped my bare foot into the floor without thinking. Even in that much pain, the tears still wouldn't come. I skipped breakfast and ran three fourths of a mile, all the way to the Mystery Shack, where the twins were hanging out on the front steps. I was out of breath, and I spoke in half sentences. They came up to me. Dipper asked what was wrong. I was sniffling, but not crying. "Last night..." I was still trying to catch my breath.
Concerned, Dipper threw his arms around me. "Jana, what happened last night?!" Mabel chimed in.
"Is everything okay?" Still hugging Dipper, I felt the tears well up in my eyes. I batted at my left eye, sniffling. "My sister was kidnapped!" My voice sounded all stuffy and weird. Seeing the commotion,
Wendy came outside. "What's going on?" I was staring at the ground. "Justice got kidnapped last night."
She gasped, putting a hand on my shoulder. "I'm sorry, Jana. We'll find her. Someone will." She gave me a small hug and walked back inside, probably upset that her new friend was gone. My tears suddenly stopped, I felt more angry than anything. All I could think about was how much I wanted her back;
how much I wanted revenge. Dipper still looked concerned. "Jana-" "It's okay." "What?"
"It's okay because we're going to find her. The three of us." Neither of them were too sure about this idea. "Together." We were standing in an almost-triangle, so I put my hand in the middle. Dipper's expression turned to one of pure confidence. "Together." He placed his hand on top of mine. Mabel was tugging on her sleeve. I gave her a pleading, puppy-dog look. She shrugged, and topped off the pile of hands. "Together."
I slept over with Dipper and Mabel that night. No way was I staying in that house after last night's events.
I left a note on the fridge for aunt Stella.
Staying at the Mystery Shack with my friends. Might not come back for a few days.
Will call in the morning.
Love,
Jana, Xoxo.
Listening to silence and the sounds of breathing, I told myself it was okay. Everything was going to be okay. Who was I kidding? Nothing was okay. My sister was missing.
