2 Chapter 2

I ride quickly back home, knowing that every second I waste means more trouble in the end. Once I arrive, I stow my bike in the garage and walk inside, bracing myself for the inevitable lecture.

My mom's standing over me right as the door shuts. That's saying something, because she isn't a tall person. I'm three inches taller than her as of April, and I will never let her forget it. "You're late," she says sharply, "and you made me late for my afternoon mug of coffee! I always have it three minutes after you get home, but you completely threw me off schedule! I'm light headed and it's your fault!"

I look down, sighing a little, "Sorry."

She softens a little, "Why can't you just be more responsible? Just... go to your room, I'll call you when dinner's ready."

Nodding sullenly, I shuffle upstairs, opening the door to my plain looking room. Instead of doing homework as I usually do, I sit on my bed, pulling out my laptop and searching the missing boy's name. Thomas Freeman. An ordinary name for an ordinary city. There's no missing records or news reports about him. That's so strange; I thought that the police would be spreading the word. No one ever goes missing.

I search for hours, scanning the web for any information on him. Defeated, I set my laptop on the nightstand and flop on my bed. I have to find him. I know what I have to do, but I don't think my parents will like it.

I dump the contents of my backpack out onto my bed, repacking it with the emergency kit stashed in my closet. I throw on my jeans, a white t-shirt, and my favorite maroon sweatshirt, pulling my frayed Converse on as I quietly walk downstairs. Pulling my sweatshirt hood up, I grab my bike and ride to the Freeman house.