Ash Ketchum: The Prisoner Of Cell 25

Ch. 20 A Surpise Visit

I was released from the hospital around six o'clock. A social worker from the state had come to my room to talk with me, and it was agreed that for the time being I would stay with the Citrons. We stopped at McDonald's for dinner, then drove to Clemont's house.

Mrs. Citron had always been nice but tonight she was especially kind. As we walked into the apartment, Mrs. Citron said, "Ash, honey, you can get your things and bring them over. You and Clemont can share a room for the time being."

"I'd like to stay in my own room for now, if that's okay."

She thought about it. "It is just down the hall. I guess that'll be all right. Take this with you." She took a bag of red licorice from her pantry and handed to me. "It will help."

"Thanks."

"Want me to come over with you?" Clemont asked.

"Thanks, but not now."

He patted me on the back. "I understand." He's probably the only fifteen-year-old in the world who would.

I walked down the hall. I unlocked the door, walked into the dark apartment, and flipped on the lights. Since we moved to Idaho I had spent a lot of time alone, but the apartment had never seemed so quiet and empty. I looked down at my birthday watch, then I twisted it around on my wrist.

My eyes teared up. Where was she? I went into my mother's bedroom. There was a picture of her on her nightstand of the two of us at Zion National Park in southern Utah. It had been a beautiful day, and Kolob Arch could be seen in the distance behind us. As I picked up the photograph I wondered if I would ever see her again. My heart ached. I lay on her bed and cried.

Sometime in the next hour there was a knock on the door. I wiped my eyes and walked out. I had assumed it was Clemont, but to my surprise Serena's dad and a woman I guessed was her mother stood in the hallway. They looked very upset.

   Officer Yvonne spoke first. "Hi, Ash, we're Serena's parents. Could we speak with you?"

   I looked at them nervously, reacting with my usual tics. "Sure," I said, stepping back from the door. "Come in."

   Mrs. Yvonne's eyes were puffy. Serena's father put his arm around her, and they walked inside, shutting the door behind them.

  "Is Serena okay?" I asked.

   Mrs. Yvonne began to cry. Mr. Yvonne said, "When was the last time you heard from Serena?"

  "Yesterday afternoon. She was going to go with us to the aquarium. But when we got to the school, she was gone."

   Mrs. Yvonne began to cry harder.

  "What happened?" I asked.

  "You haven't heard from her?" Mr. Yvonne asked.

  "No, sir."

   He looked at me suspiciously. "Then you didn't know that Serena ran away?"

   My heart froze. "No. Why would she do that?"

   He shook his head. "You know, I'm tough on her sometimes. I just . . ." He paused, overcome by emotion. "I told her that if she didn't start spending more time at home she would have to give up cheerleading." He rubbed his palm over his eyes. "She texted her good-bye."

  "We just didn't see it coming," Mrs. Yvonne sobbed.

  "She won't return our texts," Mr. Yvonne said. He took his wife's hand. "We wanted to ask you a favor. We just want her home and safe. Will you please tell her that we love her, and we would really like to talk with her?"

  "If I hear from her," I said. I felt sick but knew I couldn't show it. "But I'm sure she has a lot of other friends she'd contact first."

  "Then you have no plans to see her?" Mr. Yvonne asked. There was a strong inflection in his voice.

"No. I haven't heard from her since yesterday."

They were both looking at me with a peculiar gaze. Finally Mrs. Yvonne said, "An hour ago she sent another text that said 'Tell Ash I'll see him soon.' "

Chills went up my spine. When I could speak I said, "I don't know what she meant by that, but if I hear from her I'll call you. I promise."

They both sat looking at me, and I guessed they were trying to decide whether I was telling the truth or not. Finally Mr. Yvonne said, "Thank you, Ash." They stood and walked to the door.

Mrs. Yvonne stopped in front of my door, blotting her eyes with a Kleenex. "I don't know if you know this, but Serena was adopted."

"She told me."

"The counselors told us that sometimes adopted children can carry a sense of abandonment. We tried to fill that, but I guess we failed."

"I don't think you failed," I said. "There must be some kind of misunderstanding."

"That's kind of you to say, Ash. Serena thinks a lot of you. I think if you told her that we love her, she'll believe you. I think she might come back."

"I don't know what's going on, but I do know that Serena loves you both. I'll let you know if I hear from her."

"Thank you," Mrs. Yvonne said. Mr. Yvonne put his arm around her and led her out of my apartment.

As soon as they were gone, I ran down the hall and knocked on Clemont's door. Clemont answered the door holding a half-eaten toaster strudel. He read the panic on my face.

"What's wrong?"

"They've got Serena."

932 words

Another short chapter but Ja. Hope you're enjoying the chapters. Please vote and comment to let me know you're enjoying it. I'm still debating if I should continue with the following books. You're responses help.

As the journey continues