I walked by the houses, keeping an eye out for my aunt's place. The only sound was that of the crisp, fallen leaves beinh curshed under my tennis shoes. I did'nt hear any birds, no surprise there. There was a small breeze but it still felt icy cold, which made me glad I decided to bring gloves as I was still holding onto the bouquet of lillies and holding my camera up.
"Well, this is the street my aunt lives on", I spoke to the audience throught the camera. I felt a little silly admitably since it kinda felt like I was talking to myself outside, but the subscribbers for Marble Hornets would hear me so I kept that in mind. "The house me and Alex lived in is on the other side of town. I decided, since she lived here and all, that my Aunt Edna might at the very least know what might have happened ten years ago. I just hope that's she's willing to talk", I mused.
When I did see my aunt's home I quickened my pace, almost jogging actually. The house had a Victorian charm to it. Well, so did most of the houses along this street, but they each had their own characteristics. My Aunt Edna's house was painted a sort of yellowish colour that was fading, and the window shutters were a dull white. The garden just had some shrubs. There were'nt any flowers unless you counted all the daisies that littered the grass.
As I stood at the front door, I did a small sigh and knocked on the door. I hope my aunt is home. I don't think any of my other family members would have any answers...well, maybe Alex. But hell if I know where he is.
Thankfully my aunt did open the door. I obviously held the camera low to not show her face. My aunt was shorter then me by a couple inches, maybe two or three. Her hair was a light brown, styled into a finger wave bob like you would see back in the 1920's and being in her late fourties her age was starting to show slightly, but there was a grey hair yet to be seen.
"Oh Rebecca your back", my aunt smiled brightly and brought me into a hug. I smiled a little and hugged back, getting such a strong smell of my aunt's perfume that it was a miracle I had not fainted there and then.
"Hi auntie. Brought these for you. Lillies are your favourite, right?", I held the lillies out and my aunt took the flowers and took in the scent.
"Yes, they are. These are lovely Rebecca. Well come in, don't stand in the cold", my aunt took me by the hand and I let her lead me to the kitchen. "I'll just put these in some water and then make some tea".
"Oh, I'll make the tea", but Aunt Edna sat me down on a wooden chair at the table.
"No, I'll do it". She put the flowers away before she started making the tea, during which she asked,
"So how have you been? I have'nt heard from you in a while". I cringed a little as I thought of all that has happened, feeling lucky my aunt's back was to me.
"Um...So-so. Some day's better then others", I answered in a casual manner. Well, technically it was'nt a lie as such. Some days really were better then others. "And what about you auntie? Have you been good?"
"Yes, I've been fine", my aunt placed a warm cup of tea in front of me. "By the way, I have your birthday and last Christmas presents here".
"Oh, um...thanks, for that I-".
"I really wish you gave me the address of where you were. I swear you would have had me worried sick if you had'nt been sending me emails now and then", my aunt sighed. That caught my attention. So I was still responding to my aunt during the seven month blank?
"Um this is probably going to sound odd to you, but did I ever mention any thing about a notebook in my emails? It's just that I've been busy...with stuff, and I can't really remember".
"No, why?", Aunt Edna questioned, raising a quesitoning brow.
"Um, no reason...just, no reason". Aunt Edna did'nt say anything, but just nodded and sat down before she asked,
"Since when did you have that camera?"
"Oh, this? Um, just bought it recently", I replied, but I decided to change the subject. "And how's the relative's on dad's side? They okay?"
"From last time I spoke to them yes. You remember your cousin Rachel don't you?"
"Erm, yeah I remember her. How is she?"
"Well, she got a scholarship for medical school in New York".
"That's...that's great", I said. I felt a little envious of my cousin. She got to go to collage while I was currently trapped in bull-
"Are you okay Rebecca? Your mind seems somewhere else?", my aunt brought me out of my thoughts and I decided to get down to why I was here.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Um, look auntie. Do you remember ten years ago? In July?"
"...No, nothing that I can recall", I noticed Aunt Edna seemed a little hesitant and I opened my coat a little and pulled the magnify glass pendant of my necklace out for her to see.
"Do you remember this?"
"Y-yes. You got that from your mother and I's mother. I did'nt think we would ever see it again after your bike accident", Aunt Edna was smiling, but it seemed nervous and she was'nt looking away from my necklace, almost giving it a questioning look. I resisted narrowing my eyes and decided to press on.
"Well, do you remember the case of the two children who went missing in the woods?" My aunt froze. That seemed to get her attention.
"I...I don't know-"
"Aunt Edna. I saw some stuff that's telling me there was no bike accident", I said in a stern tone. "Since you live here you have to know something, anything. Your my only real lead right now since I don't know where Alex is so please don't try and push this away".
My aunt sat across from me, an almost dazed look in her eyes. She was probably processing what I had said.
"I don't know the full story. Only about a week's worth and one or two little things", Aunt Edna eventually said. "Your parents said you were so much better after you woke up, that we decided it was best you did'nt know what happened and told you that you were in a bike accident".
Now we were getting places.
"Well, what happened then?", I edged her on. My aunt sighed and stared out the window.
"From what I know, it started when you and your friend Michael Gallis went out to the woods. Looking for wilds animals I think. Do you remember Michael?"
"I've been remembering him more and more lately", I admitted.
"He was a nice boy if I remember", I aunt sighed. "He was a bit of a look alike of Alex in build and hair in a way. Well, you went to the woods, but you were'nt back by the time you said you would be back at your parents home, so naturally we called the police.
"They went to look in the woods first since it was the place the both of you were going. It was evening by then so they wanted to search around as much as possible before dark. When they got to the woods they saw your bikes just outside of it, so they wanted to guess that the both of you might have simply gotten lost.
"But they found some fabric from your shirt snagged on a tree branch so they decided that there might have been a kidnapping. All that week we searched all over town, and even some neighboring towns but we found no signs of either of you. At the end of the week a few of the police did one last search of the forest while most went to do searches in nearby counties.
"But one of them found you in a clearing. You were just laying down on your back. Not moving an inch and eyes closed, right in the middle. When one of the offices knelt down by you just shot your eyes open and started screaming like you were being murdered. You would'nt stop screaming. They had to forcibly give you a sedative or something in the ambulance to the hospital".
I sat there listened as my Aunt Edna told the story. It was more or less as I thought, though I kinda thought that I had actually meant to have been a third child to be kidnapped but just got lucky.
"And how exactly do you know all this".
"Your mother, the medics and the officer that found you. He said you were screaming as if you were trying to be a banshee. I'm not too sure what that is though".
I thought for a moment. If I remembered correctly, banshees were mythological creatures from Ireland, usually depicted as woman of any age that could be beautiful or ugly, that were said to scream when death was close for someone. Some stories even said that certain families had their own banshees that cried out death for those in their family.
I don't know why but knowing all this gives me an ill feeling. But nack to the main point...
"Well, was Michael ever found?", I asked. If he was still around, it would be a major help. He would possibly be in collage now, but I'm sure I could find his parents and get them to give me his contact information.
"No. In fact he was declared legally dead sometime ago". I felt as if a stone had dropped to the bottom of my stomach. What if it had been him that returned and not me. I was'nt going to ask why Michael was declared dead. Not yet anyway.
"I see", I mumbled. "So I was missing for a week then? What about the other three?"
"I don't know", Aunt Edna admitted. "I only know from your mother that you were possibly suffering from a concussion and were still in shock and that you had to make regular trips to the hospital".
"Do you know which hospital?"
"Rebecca...I don't know everything, but I think you should stop while you-"
"Aunt Edna, I love you but I need to know", I cut off my aunt. I did it politely as possible, not wanting to mess everything up".
"...Let me write it down for you".
Well, today was a pretty good start if I do say so myself. I was currently in my hotel bedroom uploading my log on my laptop, not before texting Jay to let him know of course. The presents I got from Aunt Edna, a wooly scarf and a copy of a book was resting on my bedside locker.
As the video uploaded I took the purple diary from my bag and looked over it. I did'nt notice untill now but it seemed pretty old. I guess this might have been mine as well. I tugged a little at the lock that was keeping the two small hatches together and glared. For something so cheap looking, it did'nt look as breakable as I thought. Why did'nt it come with the key?
I thought for a minute or two and felt the diary. It was a hardback, but the hard cover was thin, so maybe I could use a knife to cut the hinges off? I did ask for breakfast to be delivered to my room so I could try it tomorrow.
Soon my mind began to wonder onto my missing notebook. Or notebooks if I got a second one during the seven missing months. True I got a another one to write in, but I guess I was a little freaked out about what someone might read in that.
My hand slowly wandered down to the scar on my side I had gotten from Masky when me and Jay went back to the house a third time. I still remember the pain he gave me, and yet the strange I got as he put bandages around it. I was'nt really embarresed about anyone knowing he stabbed me, but the fact that he licked all the blood off the knife and then bandaged me up before strangling me was something that made me wonder what the subscribbers would think if they found out.
Then I was worried about anyone finding out what Masky did the first time I met him. Making me taste some of his blood when I accidently stabbed his side in a attempt to escape after finding Jay knocked out.
"Stop thinking about that psyco! You'll drive yourself crazy!", I snapped at myself and punched the floor...I hoped no one heard me. I don't want to look crazy.
I looked at my laptop and saw the video was finally up. I was tired so I got off the internet, but I did'nt turn off my laptop. I just turned off the ceiling light and got into bed, getting comfort from the faint light of the laptop. I'll write in my notebook later. I just want to sleep. I don't know why but it did help me get to sleep better. I'm not sure how long it was, but I eventually found myself asleep.
I felt myself waking up, but it felt too early to wake up. I also noticed that I felt more comfortable and...wait. Since when did my hotel bed feel this comfortable? And...was someone stroking my hair?
My eyes shot open as my body tensed. Hopefully this creep did'nt notice. It was still dark, but I could make out my current situation. I was still in my hotel room, with some wierdo sitting me on his lap. Admitably it was warm and cozy ilike this but still...hold on, I recognise that jacket...oh fuck no. I moved my eyes to look up, tilting my head slightly back with as little movement as possible.
It was Masky! How the hell does he keep breaking into places without getting caught? Well, I suppose the same way Jay vanished from the apartment twice, but that was besides the point. What was he doing in my room touching my hair!
I gently moved my head back into it's original position. I could only hope he would notice I was awake and that he would'nt hurt me.
My heart felt like stopping when I suddenly felt his hand grip my chin and forcing me to like up at him. I could'nt look away and could only sit there and stare into the masked man's eyes...or well, his masks eyes. But it was strange. I did'nt feel as uneasy as I would have thought. Just curious. I'm not sure whether this was a good thing or not.
This feeling made me wonder what exactly happened in the last seven months. Stuff like this does'nt just happen over night. The staring however did make me a tiny bit nervous so gathering my courage I asked,
"I-is there a reason your here?"
He did'nt respond. He just stared at me, which made me wonder two things now. What his expression was under the mask, and if he did'nt have the ability to talk.
Oh wait. He did. He said, 'NO' when Jay tried to remove his mask after he had what seemed to be like a seizure.
The silence was getting to me and I glared at Masky and said,
"Look buddy, your starting to piss me off so why don't you just-"
I was cut off by the feeling of cool plastic on my lips. Was...was he kissing me? I mean I know he could'nt actually kiss me, with the mask and all. But seriously? Well, oddly enough it did seem ni-NO! What the hell was I thinking? This basterd stabbed me and now he's acting like...this?
I was snapped out of my thoughts by the feeling of a hand on the back of my neck. Ass must have been trying to distract me so he could choke me. But no, he just sort of pushed me into his kiss. Did he seriously think this was going to make me respond to his kiss? It's not like he would feel it anyway...would he?
Eventually he pulled away and pulled me against his chest,like he was cradeling me. All I could do was just sit there, mixed between confussion and pissed off as he started stroking my hair again. When I eventually fell asleep again, I had to admit to myself that this was actually not that bad.
The next morning I woke up laying in bed. Masky was'nt here.
"...Must've been a dream. A really weird dream", I gave low chuckle. It's not like any of that actually happened. And even if it did happen, which it did'nt, I could at least say he did'nt steal my first kiss. I did have a boyfriend during Freshman year, and a summer fling before Senior Year. There was never any sex but...
Why the fuck am I telling you all this?
I then notice my camera on the dresser and saw the light flashing. I looked at it and saw it was low on battery. I guess I forgot to turn it off last night.
A thought came to mind and deciding to humour myself, as soon as I changed the batteries I rewound the footage to see if I really did have any visitors. When the tape was back at the start I watched the footage on the camera's side screen. It was just me sleeping so I fast foreword a bit.
But then I noticed something like static so I rewound the tape a few seconds before there is static. After the static I nearly dropped the camera when I saw Masky walk into the shot, take the covers off me, sit in the bed and put me on his lap. The same position as the dream.
Or rather, last night.
Date: 12/06/10
Time: 09:35
I would have written yesterday's events in here...well, yesterday. ButI was tired, and what harm can writing an entry a day late do? I still miss my old notebook. I'm sure I left it in that safe back in the hotel Jay and me woke up in, I highly doubt I'd drop it without reason.
Dear God I hope no one reads it. Like I may have mentioned before I wrote personal things in there.
Well, at least I bought this notebook, so I can still make my own notes.
Well, it turns out that I had been kidnapped the first week of July, along with a boy named Michael. It's funny how he's starting to come back to my memory only now.
Aparently I had to repeatedly go to the hospital after I had returned. I plan to go to the hospital tomorrow and see if I can find the doctor that treated me.
I was going to go today, but I've been having some hallucinations yesterday. At least, I hope they're illusions. Maybe when I go to the doctor tomorrow, I'll ask for medicine. Today, I'll focus on two things. One, trying to relax and two, getting that damn diary open! Stupid padlock looks cheap but it's harder then it looks.
Rebecca Kralie.