Previous chapters of the Vista Falls story:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

How should the story continue? Voting is open on the current chapter!

Last time, after Mr. Francis caught them snooping in the alleyway behind the theatre, Vera, Delia, Ward, Rick and TJ all apologized and went to meet Chief Colbert and Officer Littlepoole in Cascades Park. The police officers were a little miffed that the teens hadn’t done as they had promised, but quickly forgave them. Chief Colbert explained that he had just heard from Mr. Dinello who had told them about the strange flowers that had been left at both Mr. Dinello’s house and the Wildlife Sanctuary. Chief Colbert and Officer Littlepoole wanted the teens to join them on the investigation—especially in light of what they had seen at the theater that day. Chief Colbert asked Vera to call Lucy and Kate so they, too, could join the investigation. Vera called Lucy who was quick to tell her twin about the roses that had been left at their house. Lucy promised she and Kate would meet the group at Mr. Dinello’s house. When Lucy went upstairs to get her cousin, she found Kate—who had been acting strangely all day—was missing. What did Lucy do? Here’s what you decided.

Chapter 9: Basement Case
By Joseph Crisalli

Lucy hung up the phone and raced up the stairs to Kate’s room. She knocked on the door. “Kate, Chief Colbert wants us to go to Mr. Dinello’s house. It has something to do with those roses. Come on.”

There was no answer.

Lucy knocked again. “Kate?”

She opened the door.

Kate was gone!

Lucy rushed around the room, searching for some evidence of where Kate might have gone. Kate’s light-blue jacket was hanging on the hook on the back of the door. But, the day was unusually warm and Kate wouldn’t have needed a jacket.

Lucy noticed that Kate had changed her shoes. Kate’s usual beat-up pair of black shoes had been tossed into the closet. She had been wearing those shoes when they got home. Lucy noticed that a shoebox had been left on the bed. Lucy knew that the box had contained the new tennis shoes that Kate had bought for school.

“Why’d she change her shoes?” Lucy wondered to herself, before angrily adding, “And, why did she leave when I asked her to stay with me?”

Lucy wondered how Kate could have gotten out of the house without her knowing. With her heart pounding, Lucy rushed out of Kate’s room and hurried down the upstairs hallway, concluding that Kate must have gone down the back staircase into the kitchen. Once downstairs in the kitchen, Lucy found the back door wide open. Quickly, Lucy shut the door.

“She snuck out.” Lucy sighed. “Now what do I do?”

Without wasting any time, Lucy called her sister’s cell phone.

“Vera!” Lucy said quickly. “I went to get Kate so we could meet you, but she’s gone.”

“Gone?” Vera answered into the phone. “Gone where?”

“If I knew that, would I be panicking like this?” Lucy responded. “After we found those roses, I told her I wanted her to stay here with me. I didn’t want her to be alone.”

“But, she wanted to be alone?” Vera asked.

“Yes.” Lucy sighed.

“I’m sure she’s fine.” Vera said. “You know Kate. She’s been a little spooky lately. She probably just went for a walk somewhere.”

“I noticed she put on her tennis shoes.” Lucy answered. “So, maybe she did go for a walk.”

“Why don’t you come on over to Mr. Dinello’s? We’re on our way there right now.” Vera said.

“What if Kate comes back and finds me gone?” Lucy asked.

“Leave her a note.” Vera sighed.

“Hold on,” Chief Colbert said to Vera. He couldn’t help but overhear Vera’s side of the conversation. “Is something wrong?”

“Lucy can’t find Kate.” Vera explained.

“It’s not like Kate to just sneak away without telling anyone where she’s going.” Chief Colbert squinted.

“Who knows what’s like Kate and what isn’t?” Vera said. “She hasn’t been acting at all like herself the last few weeks.”

“I’ve noticed that, too.” Officer Littlepoole nodded.

“Vera,” Chief Colbert continued. “Tell Lucy to wait there. We’ll go to your house first just to make sure everything’s okay.”

“But…” Vera began. Quickly, however, she realized Chief Colbert was right. She spoke over the cell phone to her twin. “Lucy, listen, stay right there. Chief Colbert says we’re going to our house first.”

“I heard.” Lucy said. She added, “Vera, this is all weird. Those flowers and Kate sneaking out…”

“Don’t worry, sis.” Vera said. “We’ll be right there.”

“Thanks.” Lucy said, feeling a little better. “I’ll see you all in a minute. Thank Chief Colbert and Officer Littlepoole for coming, too.”

Little did Lucy know, someone was listening to her talking on the phone. Kate was lurking behind the door to the basement.

She scowled when she heard that everyone was on their way.

“I thought for sure the open kitchen door would have gotten Lucy out of the house.” Kate thought to herself. “If they all come over here, they’re sure to search for me in the basement.”

As softly as she could, Kate hurried down the basement stairs—careful not to make the old wooden treads creak.

“We’re going to have to stay in here.” She said to someone standing in the shadows by the washer and dryer.

“What do you mean?” A young man’s voice answered.

“I mean just what I said.” Kate whispered back angrily.

“We have to get to the theater.” The young man snapped.

“Shhh…” Kate hushed her companion. “Do you want Lucy to hear you?”

“No.” The young man grumbled.

“Listen, Vera and the others are on their way over here. And, they’re bringing Chief Colbert and Officer Littlepoole with them.”

“Oh, well, that’s just great.” The young man groaned sarcastically. “Is there another way out of here?”

“No, Blaine.” Kate answered testily, calling the young man by his name. “There isn’t.”

“Then why did you hide me down here?” Blaine growled.

“You’re the one that needed hiding in a hurry.” Kate sniffed. “This was the best I could do.”

“It’s not good enough.” Blain complained. “But, that shouldn’t surprise me.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Kate said angrily, this time her voice growing loud.

On the floor above, Lucy heard talking from the basement. She thought it was Kate’s voice, but she wasn’t sure.

Lucy really began to panic, then. With her mind racing with thoughts of mysterious flower-senders and missing cousins, Lucy convinced herself that someone was in the basement—someone bad.

Standing as still as a statue, Lucy wondered what she should do.

What should Lucy do?

Voting results for how the story continues:

Vote!

Vista Falls Ch. 9: What should Lucy do? Get her softball bat from the porch and rush down the basement stairs to attack? 65.4% Run out of the house and wait for her friends outside? 19.2% Open the basement door and shout, “Who’s down there?” 15.4%   Version 2.03

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