Riele's POV

The door bell rang repeatedly making it was obvious who was outside. I sighed "Can you get it Jade?" I asked her. She swung the door open and in came an enthusiastic Ella with her family. Well that was until she saw me and all hell broke loose.

Once I was done I was a mess but I tried collecting myself together which proved difficult at first but I managed. "There you have it" I said watching everyone's expressions. Carl was beyond shocked; Sean had on a sympathetic smile; Jade's mascara had washed off her face, notifying me that she was crying as well while Ella's face held no emotion

"Hold up, Lizzy isn't here" Carl said in realisation as the other's eyes opened wide, clearly just noticing. "She's at work. Plus she knows about it" I explained to them

"I don't mean to be rude but who are you guys?" he asked the other people in the room who he clearly didn't recognise. Their looks of shock instantly became looks of pure confusion.

I explained everything to them and yet again Jade had tears in her eyes. She stood up in a flash and hugged Jace who was shocked but nonetheless embraced her in return. She detached herself from him "I'm sorry" she blew her nose with her handkerchief.

I was about to speak when someone burst into the house from the front door. It was Mary's friend from school, Babe. "Ms. Downs, Ms. Downs there's a problem. Mary is missing" she said out of breath as she panted

I opened my eyes but shut them instantly as bright light shone on them resulting me to letting out a groan. I decided to try again; I opened them slowly this time, though it was still a little too bright, I adjusted to it

I blinked a few times to get past the blurry and fuzzy image of my surrounding before I heard a familiar voice "Are you ok Rie?" the person asked before coming in my sight.

"I'm ok Ella" my voice came out hoarse and forced. I held my head as a pang of pain hit my head full force "What happened?" I asked holding my temple but all I got was silence as response. I turned my head to look at everyone in the room then asked them again "What happened and how did I get on the couch?" I asked just noticing where I was on

Yet again I got silence in return "Will someone tell me what's going on?" I asked impatient. Jace sighed

"It's better to tell her the truth guys than keeping her in the dark" he said then shifted his attention to me. "Rie you passed out when Babe came in and told you Mary was missing" he explained and everything came crashing down

"What?" I asked barely above a whisper looking at the teary face of Babe. "It can't be" I shook my head looking at everyone in the room. "I thought-I thought it was a... dream" I said. "No! You're lying" I shook my head not believing it but they all nodded, affirming it

"You're lying. How can you lie to me Ella? I thought we were best friends" I said to Ella not believing. I laughed "It's a prank right? Yeah, I know it's a prank. IT'S A PRANK ISN'T IT?" my brain was jumbled, I couldn't think straight.

"Ms. Downs, I'm telling the truth. It's not a prank. Mary is mis-" Babe was cut off by me

"SHUT UP. YOU'RE LYING. YOU'RE ALL LYING" I screamed, by now tears were clouding my vision. I couldn't see clearly as they formed in my eyes. "Mary can't be missing. She would never. She promised not to leave me when Jace died. She can't, I don't believe it" I was talking to myself. For an outsider, I would look like an insane being but I know what I'm talking about

I was crying on where I laid, tears pouring down my face. "Riele. It's ok" I looked up to find Jace speaking to me.

"It is not. You don't understand. When you left, I was a mess. I cried every five minutes, I missed you terribly but there was no one their to comfort me except Mary. She would watch me cry myself to sleep. She would lay on the same bed as me when I told her I was too scared to sleep. She promised me she would never leave. SHE PROMISED ME but guess what SHE DIDN'T FULFILL THE PROMISE" I screamed at his face

I watched with a teary face as he sighed "Rie, I'm sorry. I'm deeply sorry but crying won't solve the issue. Or are you telling me that you crying now will magically bring Mary through that door?" he asked to which I shook my head

"Exactly, for my sake please stop crying and let's think of ways to find her because you laying here all night won't solve anything, OK?" he asked.

I nodded "Ok" I whispered then reached out my hands to him, he understood, then proceeded to carrying me up to sit on the wheel chair. I blew out a breath then wiped my face, getting rid of any suspicion of me crying, except the evident bloodshot eyes. I rolled the chair over to Babe where she sat quietly at the corner crying

"Hey Babe" I said softly as she turned to face me. "Come here" I beckoned her over then she stood up and followed me to the middle of the room. Everyone's attention was on her. "Ok Babe, now tell us how it happened" I urged her to talk. She took in a deep breath and began

"After our classes ended, the four of us: Mary, Mike, Elena and I had already decided to have a sleepover at my house to which my mom had agreed on. She came to pick us up and we were off to my house. When we got there, we danced, ate then went to visit the tree house we built at the back of my house. We began talking mindlessly about things when suddenly Mike and Mary began arguing. At first it was a playful fight but over time it began serious. Luke and I were trying to split them up and tried making them calm down but they didn't. Mary had enough of it and went outside to cool off and told us not to follow her; After a while, I was getting worried since she hadn't come back then told the guys I would go look for her. I searched everywhere in the house and at the back but couldn't find her; I told my mom and the guys about it and they helped me search but we still didn't find her then Luke called us saying he found something. When I got there, I found one of Mary's bracelets on the ground and a piece of her cloth clearly torn with blood stains on it. Then I ran here as fast as I could" she finished

"Are you sure it was hers?" Sean asked to which she nodded

"Yes I'm sure. It was the same cloth she wore a white and black polka dot dress. I have it here" she said dipping her hand into her pouch bringing out a torn piece of cloth with red stains on them.

I gasped "That was the same cloth she wore before she left". Sean grabbed the cloth from her "What do we do now?" I asked terrified

"We go back to the scene of the crime" Sean suggested

"Now! But someone has to stay behind and watch the kids" I suggested.

"I'll stay" Jade volunteered to which I smiled. Jace helped me get into the car, settling the wheelchair in the boot. Everyone got in and Sean drove us to Babe's house as she gave him the directions