Chapter 13

- S U T T E R -

11.07.16 // 7:21 p.m.

THE SUN LOST the battle tonight just a few minutes ago. The darkness cracked through the orange horizon and overtook it like a bully. I lean on my windowsill with my elbows and replay what happened early this morning over and over again in my head.

I don't know if I am imagining or if this is some kind of mystical, messed-up voodoo, but whatever is, I hope it would lead me to Blaire. I keep my hand in my pocket, wrapped securely around the note like it is the only string left that connected me to her.

I don't want to read it again, I can't bring myself to do it or it would just make everything a reality. I close my eyes and breathe in deeply through my nostrils, inhaling the heady scent of fall and wet leaves.

I have to do something-- no, I needed to do something to get Blaire back. If the police aren't going to make an effort to find her fast, then I have to take matters into my own hands.

A world without Blaire is a world I don't want to live in. My fingers absently play with the wristband Blaire gave me last year. It has her name carved in and a small heart with a flower she drew herself. I stare down at it, fascinated by the penmanship and the artistry put into just one bracelet.

I love you, Blaire, wherever you are, please never forget that.

The door opening from downstairs interrupts my thoughts and pulls me back into reality. I leave my room and take the stairs two at a time, being greeted by my mom who is yelling at someone over the phone, most likely my dad.

"I don't know what you want me to do, Richard! We have a child to raise and I will not allow you to move states and marry another woman. You are staying here until Sutter goes to college, end of discussion!" She shouts before hanging up the phone and placing it down on the couch. She looks up to me and smiles, a fake one that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Oh, Sutter honey, I am so sorry about Blaire," she says, pulling me in for a hug and rubbing my back, a motherly gesture. I smile tightly before pulling back. If there is one person I could trust more than Blaire, it is my mom.

Tell her about the note!

I fish the note out of my pocket and grip it tightly in my fist.

"Mom, if I showed you something that could lead to Blaire's kidnapper, would you help me find out who it is?" I ask.

"Of course I would sweetie. Anything you need, I will be here," she assures me and I nod my head before handing her the crumpled-up note.

"What is this?" She asks as her green eyes flicker around the paper.

"It's a note that Blaire's kidnapper wrote to me this morning when I was coming back from the police station." And I crashed the car...

"Honey, this is a receipt for a dozen roses from the Beverly Hills Floral Shop," she says and I give her a quizzical look before snatching the note out of her small hands.

Indeed, it is a receipt from the flower shop. I never bought roses from the flower shop. I dig around in my pockets some more but come up with nothing. My mom stares at me with eyes filled with worry and confusion.

"Sutter, I know you're sad right and you're scared, but that is no reason for you to start going crazy," she tells me, placing her hand on my arm, but I am quick to jerk away.

"I promise mom, I had a note from him. It was in my pocket, you have to believe me," I say, my eyes wide.

"Sutter..." she trails off and I thrust my hands into my hair and groan in frustration

You're going crazy, Canton.