Chapter 15:
Cassidy sat down on a bench under one of the cedar trees in the school courtyard waiting for her sister, Rory, and Lexxi. She smiled when she thought of the younger girls who in the short time she'd known them, she'd come to adore. Her friends from school thought that it was weird that she and her sister spent most of their free time with the little brunettes. Cassidy just ignored them, they didn't understand. Rory and Lexxi were like family now. They did everything together, helped out with homework, and just loved each other.
Cassidy always loved children, she always wanted younger siblings and in a way she felt that sisterly connection with Lexxi and Rory. She couldn't really explain it, but it was there and real. She knew she would do anything for both of them and knew Carrie felt the same way. They looked out for them, taught them, helped them, and just spent time with them. She especially loved movie night at Andrea's because she got to hang out with Andy. She, Andrea, and Rory would always sit together and laugh at jokes that Mom, Isabella, Lexxi, and Carrie wouldn't get. She felt like she had a real family on those nights when it was just the seven of them and no work or school to worry over.
Smiling she let her mind wander as she looked out over the school grounds. Little Lexxi is her music partner. She laughed softly thinking back to the time they had put on a show for Andy. Cassidy had dressed up as Dorothy from the wizard of Oz while Lexxi played the role of a munchkin. They had sang and danced about to the 'Munchkin Land', 'Lollipop Guild', and 'Follow the Yellow Brick Road'. Andy had laughed, sang along, and applauded their silliness. It had been one of the best nights Cassidy could remember having. She always enjoyed her time with Lexxi as well as Rory. She and Rory would draw and play video games together and she loved every second of it. Being at the DeMarzio estate was like being at a second home and Cassidy never wanted it to end.
Cassidy's thoughts came to an abrupt halt when she heard her name screamed in a voice filled with terror. Her brain seemed to stop functioning and she stared trying to figure out what it was she was seeing. She quickly began to panic when she noticed the car and then the figure carrying a fighting Lexxi swiftly to it. Jumping to her feet she ran as fast as she could across the lawn, fear growing, heart racing, and throat dry and scratchy as she screamed for Lexxi as she watched them reach the vehicle.
She wasn't going to make it. Tears filled her eyes but she blinked them away and pushed herself to run faster and through the pain in her legs and chest. She couldn't tell if it was a man or a woman carrying Lexxi all she could figure out was that the person was not supposed to have her. Caroline was yelling her name but she ignored her and kept running. The burning behind her eyes increased when the car sped off. She ran faster chasing it trying to see the license plate or the make and model of the car. She ran further trying to follow the car as fast and as far as she could.
Cassidy collapsed to the ground panting and screaming for Lexxi over and over when she lost sight of the car. Fear and hopelessness seizing her heart when she finally let herself think about what had happened. Lexxi was kidnapped, gone, taken and she wasn't fast enough to get her. She stopped fighting the tears then and was overcome with body shaking sobs that stole her breath again and left her gasping for air. She felt Caroline when she stopped behind her but she couldn't move as her world had just fallen apart.
Shaking heavily she finally looked at Caroline, "They took her! Carrie they took Lexxi. Oh god... Carrie she's gone... she yelled and I ran... and ran... she... was... fighting... and I was too slow... I let them take her... I let her down... She... she... called my name... I couldn't stop them... Carrie... she... she..." she wailed between sobs her voice breaking and failing her when she couldn't breathe fast enough. She let Caroline pick her up from the ground and carry her back to school to get into the car. She saw Caroline dialing out on her cell as she walked back to the school building to get her bags and Rory.
Cassidy was trying to figure out how this could happen. Dalton was good about not letting the younger students wander unattended after classes. Someone had to get them from designated areas. She couldn't wrap her mind around the fact that someone had gotten to Lexxi. "Lexxi shouldn't have been alone." she whispered to herself.
When Rory and Caroline climbed into the car, Cassidy grabbed Rory and just held onto her, her tears falling silently down her cheeks. Caroline watched them and then told Roy to get them to DeMarzio's as fast as possible. When the car started moving Cassidy sat Rory next to her and buckled her seatbelt. Leaning her head against the window she sobbed and prayed to every god she'd ever heard of that Lexxi would be alright and would come home safely and soon.
She had let this happen by not paying better attention. Not being fast enough. She hated herself, and she knew, just knew in her heart, that Lexxi, Andrea, Rory, and Isabella would too. The night could only get worse she knew it. The tears she'd finally gotten under control began to spill again. She cried silently until they reached DeMarzio's and she felt her heartbreak again before gut wrenching sobs broke from her small fragile body.