Chapter 2: Kidnappings “WHAT?!?!” my mind shouted. “Get the heck out of here!” I suddenly dashed off, my hands trembling as I rushed to my room. I slammed the door shut, and took a deep breath. “Eliza? Are you okay?” a voice called out. I turned around to realize that Evelyn was there, sitting on her bed and looking at me weirdly. “Did something happen?” I froze, not exactly knowing what to do next. “No, no, everything’s alright. Why do you ask?” “Because you’re hyperventilating, and look like you just ran across this entire place,” she responded. “Also, it looks like your face just turned 10 shades whiter.” “I’m just going to head to bed now. Goodnight!!!” I said while slowly walking to my bed. Evelyn looked at me oddly, then said, “OK then, goodnight,” then headed to her bed and fell fast asleep. I, on the other hand, couldn’t even close my eyes for more than a moment. The Headmistress’ words kept going on loop in my head. What did she mean by “Evelyn’s kidnapping was a success?” She wasn’t kidnapped, she was brought here. Right? After a good hour or 2 of being awake, I slowly dozed off. Only, my dream tonight was different. It did start out with the 2 shadows hovering over me, but, instead of another blurry shadow taking me away, the Headmistress did. I woke up in a sweat, wondering why now my dream had changed. Did it have something to do with what I heard on the phone call? I quickly got dressed, not even bothering to brush my hair before I dashed to the dining hall. I met Violet and Chloe there. They both looked at me weirdly, just like how Evelyn did last night. “Girly, are you ok? You seem a bit off today,” Violet said. Chloe chimed in. “Yeah, I’ve never seen you look worse!” I rolled my eyes. “Wow, thanks, that makes me feel sooo much better.” “Sorry Eliza, we’re just wondering if you are ok,” Chloe said. “You just don’t have that same energy to you that you always have.’’ I leaned in to whisper to them. “Meet me in my room after dinner, and I’ll explain everything.” “Everything about what?” Evelyn said, suddenly appearing near me. I decided that I would tell her too. I mean, the phone call I heard was about her! Once we had finished our chores and dinner, Violet, Chloe, Evelyn and I headed back to my room, and I sat down and explained everything I heard in the phone call. “You’re kidding right,” Evelyn asked nervously. “This is all just some sick joke, right?” Chloe stepped in. “I know my bestie, and that’s not her lying voice. That means she’s dead serious.” “Yeah, look at how pale she’s been all day,” Violet added. “Trust me, I would never joke about something like this,” I said for good measure. “Evelyn, you were kidnapped from your actual family.” She burst out into tears, but I saw Chloe in the corner with her face scrunched up, which was her thinking face. “Chloe, what realization did you just make?” I asked. She paused, then started talking. “If Evelyn was kidnapped from her family and brought here, could that mean that…we were all kidnapped as babies?” I stood there, frozen in shock. Kidnapped? Me? This couldn’t be happening. My legs gave out and I fainted. ◆◆◆
