Chapter 2

As we head to Beach Circle, I look around, I see a woman. She's wearing a blue cap, a yellow t-shirt with a huge symbol on it and blue pants. I squint to study the symbol better. It has a huge crescent moon with a candle on top. From the bottom, the moon looks like it's melting. But there's something wrong. I squint more to see the symbol better and I see the problem. It's not the moon, it's Earth. I forgive myself for the mistake; anyone could've made it, seeing that everything is made in silver, very few people could have made out the linings which are supposed to represent the continents. And the bluish tinge, put to represent the ocean, blends so well with the yellow that you can't see it from so far. But I still feel like I'm missing something. I squint harder and see the final piece of the puzzle. The candle is in the shape of a crown. I finally see the weird thing in the symbol. The candle is not melting at all. The symbol represents the Earth like a candle, melting away. It's different and a bit scary. But, I don't care. The only thing on my mind should be investigating the hardware store. But, that lady is just so mysterious.

I look at her one last time and I see her raising her hand and waving to a man wearing the same clothes as her. She must have been sending a signal! The man then sent the same signal to another person down the road. The cycle kept continuing till we reached Beach Circle.

We see the Hardware store, about which we were completely wrong. It was a place from which you can rent bicycles. Nothing weird about that. The only weird thing I saw, was that the chain of signals reached inside the store. One girl inside waved to the man unknowingly that it was a signal. The person giving the signal didn't take it as bad as I thought, he took it much, much worse. The man supposed to be receiving the signal forced the girl out and stuffed her into a sack. The girl must have been sedated by then, because she didn't show any means of escaping. The man heaved the sack over his shoulder and ran to the nearest alley. I motioned to Conner and Diana to follow me and we ran after the man. He stopped near a car and put the sack inside and hopped in. Just as he was about to drive away, he saw us. We ran as fast as we could to Diana's house. When we reached, we fell down. We were so exhausted. If we weren't, I would have definitely spotted a camera hidden in the room. But I was exhausted, I didn't spot the camera which wasn't there before.

We get a few drinks from the fridge and head down to Diana's room. We just look at the wall for sometime, then I break the silence by saying, "A shame, right? What happened to the girl?"

"Yes. We were there. Instead of facing that man, we ran away. That girl could've been safe had it not been for us running away." Diana said quietly.

"I agree with Diana. We cowered away. If anything happened to the girl, it's because of us." Conner agreed.

"You're right. Both of you are. But what are we going to do about it? We can't just sit here and pout about it, we have to do something. We can start about discussing what we know about the girl" I said, trying to lift depression from the room. I feel like this is one of my specialties. Not lifting depression, of course, but, detecting it. And not only depression, many other feelings, like happiness and excitement and sadness and fear.

"I remember she had curly black hair, blunt-bob. Seemed our age, 15. Was wearing huge sunglasses which made it impossible to see her face. White-toned face, pink cheeks. The car's number plate was 41 tr U15 m. Bellbottom jeans and a pink asymmetrical top. Wears watch on right hand." Conner said. Conner has a photographic memory, so, it's very difficult for him to forget anything.

"Yes, aviator sunglasses. She wore them at the tip of her nose. Conner's right, it was impossible to see her face." Diana said.

"Not impossible, nearly impossible. She had dark blue eyes and oval face." I say, smiling.

"How'd you get to know the eye color and face shape?" Diana asked, bewildered.

"Simple. When the man stuffed the bag in the car, her face was visible for millisecond. By then it her face was pale-white." I say.

"So you paid attention to details?" Conner asked.

"So did you." I reply.

"Yeah. Look at the time! We should be getting home." Conner says, looking at his watch.

"Yes, dad would be worried about me." I say, turning towards the door.

"Tomorrow, swing by around 5. We'll discuss any breakthroughs or leads." Diana says as I open the door.

Conner and I leave Diana's house. We call for a taxi and sit. Inside, we discuss the issue a bit more.

"So, you know who the girl is. What's her name? And before you try to deny knowing her, save it. I saw your expression when I told you all of her features." Conner said.

"Fine. I know her. She's Sarah Bailey. A good friend of mine." I say.

"Hmm. And I suppose you've already got some leads which you don't want to share with us."

"Of course. How could you even have a doubt?!" I ask, half laughing.

"So share them!" Conner says.

"Yes, yes. Sarah didn't receive the the signal unknowingly. She did it on purpose."