•3291 words•

Addi comes through the front door and slams it shut. She's panting, and red in the face.

"Hi, Addi! Have a nice walk with Myliey?" I question.
"Uh...y-yeah," she mutters, still panting.
"In fact, where is Myliey?"
"U-Uh, about that," she wheezes, holding her finger up to me as her little body droops down towards the floor. She looks like she's just ran a marathon.
"Myliey- Myliey is- I don't know where she went. I was walking in front of her and then I turned around, and- and she wasn't there anymore. So then I ran as fast I could to get back here and tell all of you! Could you help me find her?"
She starts to cry.

I don't like her, but I walk over to her and give her a hug.

"It's okay," I say, trying to comfort her. "We'll find Myliey. She can't have gone far."

Addi smiles at me and then grabs my hand. Ugh, little childrens' hands- they're either sticky, muddy, have food on them, or are wet. In this case, Addi's are wet. Interesting- Myliey never said they were going to the beach.

I take her upstairs, still frustrated as to why she feels the need to hold my hand, and sit her down on her bed.

I ask her a few 'detective questions' as to what could have happened, and by the sound of it- this sounds very serious. Long story short, she told me that she saw a hand grab Myliey. Although, come to think of it, that's not the same thing she told me when she walked through the door.

"Kyron!" I shout in a panic.
"Yeah, Ashie?"
"Myliey's gone missing. Like, seriously."

'Seriously? Pfft. Why do you believe a demonic 6-year-old?': you may ask. Well, I've read through the whole section of missing people in the guidance booklet, and this is serious.

Kyron calls Berkley's and tells them that Myliey's gone missing. They don't believe him at first- because apparently she went 'missing' the other week. Turns out that was just a false alarm. I take over the phone and tell them everything I know- then, they think it's serious.

Berkley's workers turn up at our house and others start to search for Myliey. We're allowed to look for her too, but just for today. After that, we're not allowed to help find a missing roommate- it's the rules. We'll just have to wait until she either comes home or gets found, if she does.

Addi came to live with us 8 days ago now, and her and Myliey have become inseparable. I'm quite glad, actually, because no one else wants to spend time with Addi. I feel a little bad for her, but I also don't- I know how bad her meltdowns can get. I only lived with her and Jamie for about 2 months, but wow, she really tested me. She tested the amount of decibels of sound my ears could cope with, I know that. With all the noise she made, you'd be surprised that I didn't go deaf.

We first reported Myliey missing 2 hours ago, and now the police are on the case. They took Addi with them to look for Myliey, as they think that she will tell them where her and Myliey went on their walk. They left the house at 8 am this morning, and Myliey said that they were going on a walk to the watertowers. Maybe that explains why there was water on Addi's hands-

OH MY GOD! I might be onto something. This might be biased, but I think I sound like a real detective.

I ring up Berkley's to tell them more information. Things like: what time they left, where they said they were going, etc.

But hold on, why would Addi's hands be wet? They were going to sit on top of the watertowers so...

Hmm.

All this week, Addi and Myliey have gone on walks with each other, and they even went to the cinema, one time. They really are best friends now, I think. It is pretty cute, but because I know Addi, it also isn't. I just hope that Myliey soon realises the extent of Addi's outrage.

***

It's now been 3 days since Myliey went missing, and there's still no evidence of her anywhere. Addi has been crying a lot, because she misses her. Despite not really liking Myliey myself, I kinda miss her too. Even though she has an attitude, she is actually a good roommate. She adds a little bit of character to the group.

We're all sitting in the living room, doing our own thing. I suppose we're not doing much- except still trying to adjust to the fact that Addi lives with us- creepy, little Addi. Since Myliey went missing, she's been acting stranger than usual. Even when we've taken her on fun boat rides around the island and done other activities with her, she hasn't stopped acting like she has a secret that she's too afraid to tell anyone. What can I say though? I have a secret too.

Since Myliey disappeared, things haven't been too different around here. Our new supervisor, Ron, has been surprisingly sad about her disappearance, but that's about all. None of us have really cried, apart from Addi. When she came to the house, she immediately 'clicked' with Myliey. It was like they were just automatically best friends- kinda like they were long lost sisters. Although, that would be impossible. Whatever. I just know that they had a bond. Sort of like the bond that Brooke and I had when we first met.

Despite the room being silent, I feel like it's too loud- a type of loud that makes me feel like there's too many people in here. So, I leave the room. I walk into the kitchen to take a breather. I can't go back in the living room- it's too quiet. I need something to change- I need to make people talk, to make people make noise. Normally, I like it when it's quiet, but not this type of quiet.

"Listen up everyone!"
I decide I have enough courage to go back into the room and break the silence. But now I've just realised that I don't know what I'm gonna say next. Shoot.

"Um... wanna play a game??"
"Sure," Kyron says, giving a little smile. Of course I smile back at him.
"What are you thinking of playing?" Addi asks, "Coz don't want to do anything boring."
"That sounds like a great idea!" Ron says, before standing up from the sofa. "So what do you wanna do?"

I look at Brooke, because she's usually good at thinking of something to do, but she just smirks and shrugs her shoulders. Sometimes she really is good for nothing. I love her though.

"Why don't we go down to the beach, instead of playing a game? I think it would be better," Ron asks. "We all know what happened when we tried to play Guess Who the other day."

The sun seems to be setting, so maybe a walk on the beach would be nice... but I can't be bothered- and I don't think anyone else can be, either.

"How about truth or dare?" Addi suggests.
"Ugh, so original," I say sarcastically, rolling my eyes.
"What?" Jamie says out of the blue, sounding quite offended, "Sometimes it can actually be quite a good game."
"Fine," Kyron says, also sarcastically. He seems like he agrees with me, more than anyone.
"Brooke, what'd ya think?" I ask.
"I'm not bothered," she replies, logistically seeming unbothered.
"I'll ask someone first," Jamie says, "Addi, truth or dare?"
"Dare."
"Okay, tell us a secret."

Omg, has Jamie been thinking the same thing I've been thinking all week? I mean, maybe.

"You just seem like you've been keeping a secret ever since you got here."

Omg, he has!

"Fine," Addi says, "You better prepare yourselves for this one though."

"Okay, guys, can you just hold on 2 seconds? I need to go to the bathroom," Ron says. We can't be bothered to wait for him, though.

"Okay," Addi stutters.

"Guys, I killed Myliey," she says, seeming creepily proud.

There's not even any need for a 'what?'- everyone's heard her, and everyone's just in utter shock. That includes me. There's just no time for conversation.

"Yeah, you heard me right. I killed Myliey. I drowned her," she says, emphasising the word 'drowned.'
"I-Why?" Jamie decides to bravely ask.
"Don't say that, Jamie. Don't act innocent- you know why I killed her."

I gasp.

"What?" Kyron wonders in horror; his forest-green eyes perusing Jamie's. Jamie looks down in... guilt? He seems so ashamed of himself, but none of us know what he's done.

"Yeah," he says, not lifting his head up to look at the rest of us, "I guess I do know why you killed Myliey. It's a pretty pathetic reason though."
"Ugh, it isn't. Guys, let me just tell the story to all of you. When I was 4, I was hit by a car and put into a coma. While I was in that coma, a devil spoke to me and said that I had to kill my next best friend. A few weeks after that, I woke up, and I knew that what I heard was indeed the devil. Not only that, but because my nose had been badly broken in the accident, I had to have multiple surgeries on it. During all of those surgeries, I heard the same voice which told me to kill my next best friend. Myliey's the only best friend I've had since then, so I killed her. I had to. The devil said I had to drown her."

She emphasises 'drown' again.

Everyone stares her in shock. What in the world did we just hear? Was she actually hearing the devil, or ghosts, or was she just making this up? She's probably finding a really stupid excuse so we don't get mad at her, but oh boy, I'm still mad. We all are. She's killed... Myliey?

Well, I did tell you she's psychotic. I guess I was right.

I suppose I'm a way, Myliey deserved to be killed. Trust me, I'm not a horrible person, but what she did when we were in the UK stuck with me forever. She shot Kyron and tried to kill Brooke. I'm pretty sure she lied about being made to do it. In fact, how do we know that Addi has actually killed Myliey? I'm sure we'll soon find out though. The police are gonna have to be told, and so are Berkley's. Mind you, what can they do for a 6-year-old psychotic murderer?

"No way," Kyron says, shaking his head. Addi's saturnine face glances back at him, and she smiles. Her head nods up and down, doing the opposite to what Kyron's is, gesticulating, 'Yes way.'

"So that explains your nose-"
I'm silenced by her index finger and nodding head. A little more chatter continues, so I decide to blurt out my biggest secret- to break the awkwardness, you could say. I know it's not my turn in truth or dare, but here goes nothing.

"I'm pregnant."

2 words. That's all it takes for your boyfriend, roommate and roommate's creepy little sister to gaze into your soul. None of them can speak either: they're too shocked. Despite how awkward this silence is, I am actually quite enjoying it. It's a different silence to the one I was experiencing before- a better one.

Brooke smiles at me, because she already knows. It's a cheeky smile, but one that I love.

*!!!AUTHOR'S NOTE!!! IT MAY HELP FOR YOU TO PLAY HO HEY BY THE LUMINEERS FROM THIS POINT TO THE END OF THE CHAPTER. YOU MIGHT GET A BETTER VISIONARY IN YOUR HEAD. HERE'S THE VID:

Or you can listen to it on Soundcloud/Spotify/Apple Music/etc, I just can't put the link in :(*

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

Then, Kyron grabs me by one of my arms. What on earth is he doing? I may be 4 months pregnant and have no bump, but there is a little human inside of me- and Kyron hasn't grabbed me gently. He better not hurt the baby- correction; our baby.

We're running out of the house, down the steps and onto the beach. For some reason, he's grabbed his guitar on the way. His guitar is his escape for everything, though, so maybe he wants to take me to the beach to relax for a little while. But why did he grab me and why are we running?

Everything has been extremely stressful lately, and I think we all need to take some time to de-stress. I guess Ron was right- the beach would have been better than a stupid game.

It's around 7 pm and the sun is setting: the sky is a beautiful pinky-orangish colour,  but I don't know why Kyron is bringing me here. He still hasn't said a word. Honestly though, I don't really mind this- the sunset is beautiful and so is Kyron. Actually, there's no place I'd rather be. Sugar- I forgot that I've just told him I'm pregnant. That could change this stunning atmosphere.

Eventually, he lets go of me and sits down on the soft, grainy sand. He remains silent, but he signals for me to sit down. I bend my legs and lower myself to the ground, before turning around. Brooke and Jamie are watching us from the house. Truthfully, I would've thought they'd be laughing at us, but they look quite petrified.

Kyron pulls his guitar out of its case and with both of us now sitting on the sand, he begins to play (and sing) our favourite song- Ho Hey, The Lumineers.

"I belong with you, you belong with me, you're my sweetheart..." His voice starts to fade after noticing that a bottle has just washed up upon his feet. Our feet are gently splashing in the sea, the sand comforting our legs. He puts down his guitar and stops singing completely. He then takes the glass bottle and notices that there's a note inside. Despite how startled we both are, we remain quiet.

This sounds incredibly cliché, I know, but we swear that we have no idea where this has come from. Kyron takes the piece of paper out of the bottle, and gently places the glass onto the sand, that quickly swallows it. Assuming that it's come from far away, the note looks in pretty good condition, as well as the bottle. It hasn't gone a funny colour, gone mouldy, or ripped. In fact, the writing also looks intact. Kyron then starts to read the note.

"Everything happens for a reason. Yes, that includes this.
Where would you be right now...? If you hadn't met the one you're sitting next to..."

He stops and we both slowly turn our heads to look at each other. We're both in shock.

"Think about it. Where would you be?
Where would you be if you hadn't joined Berkley's? Or Crofley's?"

He stops again and this time our stares become stronger. This is getting insane eerie.

"Where would you be if you hadn't taken that chance?
See, that's the keyword: chance.
Young 'en, if you ever learn anything in life, remember 2 things: take every chance you get, and, everything happens by chance.

If you remember those two things, your life will be as good as you can imagine. Now, while you're still young, go and enjoy it. Enjoy every minute of it- for me.

Anonymous x"

"I have no words," I say, somehow going against what I've just said. In fact, it is quite ironic what the message says because I remember my father saying something similar to that when I was around 5 years old. My real father. He said, 'Take every chance you get in life, because some things only happen once.'

I'm pretty sure I'll remember that until the day I die.

Kyron puts the message down slowly, without taking his eyes off of the waves in which the beautiful sunset is reflecting upon. Then, after breaking his daydream, he moves the message, the bottle, and his guitar out of the way. He jumps on top of me and I let out a little, 'Ah, watch it!' as he knocks me onto my back. Now, he lays here next to me, and we're cuddling- our eyes are glued to the coral colours of the sky. He puts his hand on my belly and pauses for a moment, before saying, "I love you. But you aren't the one I love the most."

What? Who does he love more than me? Jesus, Kyron. It might sound a bit selfish, but I thought he loved me more than anyone else. If he's trying to be romantic, he's doing a terrible job. God, sometimes I hate it when he's like this.

"I love our 'mini-us' the most."

He sits up and takes the note, folding it into a paper airplane. Then, picking the paper airplane up, he launches it as far as his arms will allow. It glides through the sky and from my perspective, it's gliding into the horizon. From the angle I'm seeing this, it looks like a real plane, and this view is beautiful.

He then reaches into his shorts' pocket, and pulls out another piece of paper.
"Remember this?" He chuckles.

It's a page from my diary. And on it, reads:

'Today:
Jamie is an idiot. Thinks Mark is my real dad- pathetic. I just want to go back to New Zealand. Actually, I want to start a life with Kyron in New Zealand. Just him and I. Kyron and I.
I want to marry him.

Ash x'

He reads it out to me, and chuckles again.

"Where did you get that?" I ask, angrily. Where did he get that?

"Ash, it's when you tumbled down that hill in that office. Remember? It was in the UK. Well, when I went to check up on you, I found the letter, and decided to keep it. I guess your dream never came true though... You said you wanted it to be just you and I, but we've got a baby. A BABY!"

"I guess it's pretty cool," I laugh. "But sorry about that letter."
"Have your views changed since you wrote that letter?"
"No!" I giggle, hugging him.
He kisses me on the cheek and says, "Well your dream is the same as mine."

He then folds it up into a paper airplane like the other one, and tosses it into the ocean. We both laugh a little more, cuddling each other.
'
With Brooke and Jamie, our best friends, watching from a distance, Kyron and I stand up and run off into the sunset together. The sand providing a soft cushion for my feet, I run as fast as I can, with our little 'mini-us' inside of me. I wasn't ever planning to start a family at this young age of 16, but I suppose the fact that I've never really had a family to call my own, plays a factor in me going in this direction. I guess it's just time to unlock a new chapter in my life. I'll call it '16: Teen Mum.'

Brooke was right: maybe 16 is too young to have a kid. But as I said, I think I can handle it. Both physically and mentally.

Ash x