Finding Scarlet

Chapter Twenty-Five

Cameron puts his steaming plate on his desk as I take a seat on his bed. I take a bite out of the pancake and sigh with pleasure. "Man, you weren't kidding. These are amazing."

"You got to trust me on these sort of things Toby. You wont find anything like Mamma's pancakes anywhere else!" He grins at me, before he gets up quickly to shut the door.

When he returns, his smile is gone and in its place is a serious look on his face. "I got it." He says quietly, opening a drawer and pulling out a file.

I put my plate down on the floor and scoot closer to him. "Show me."

He hands me the file. "I went ahead and took a look at it last night. It's pretty rough."

I flip open the pages, my heart beating loudly in my chest.

August 16th, 2014

Local children's playground, Harvard Ave.

Suspect was found unconscious behind the wheel at 11:04 PM. Estimated time of incident: 10:48 PM. Severe damage to front of vehicle. Suspect suffered several minor cuts on body, severe open head wound. Suspect was taken to local hospital at 11:17 PM. No one else was hurt.

I flip to the next page, and I'm shocked to see that it is crime scene photos.

"Toby, you better skip this part..." Cameron suggests cautiously.

"No," I say, holding the file tighter in my trembling hands. "I need to know."

Cameron sighs. "If you say so."

I return my eyes to page, and let out a shattered breath. It is the red truck.

The truck is smashed against the fence, the glare of the of the camera's flash enhancing every inch, and giving it a ghostly vibe. Glass litters the ground, and caution tape surrounds the area. The next photo is of the interior; more glass litter the dashboard and seats, and CD cases spill out of the glove box. The next photo almost makes me gag.

It's a close up of the steering wheel, and dripping down it is a stream of blood.

I put the papers down, closing my eyes and taking a breather.

Did you do this, Scarlet?

When I finally recovered, I look back up at Cameron. "Is there any more?"

"That's all there is." He says, but he pulls something out of his pocket. "I did find this, though."

I take it from him and glance at it. It's a clipping from our local newspaper. TEEN GETS IN TRAGIC ACCIDENT, the title reads, and underneath displays a picture of the wrecked truck. It was written the day after the crash.

Seventeen-year-old Scarlet Fitz-Jacob—

"Oh my god." I gasp, pulling the paper closer. "It's her."

"Who?" Cameron asks, giving me a quizzical look.

It's her it's her it's her.

"The girl from my dreams."

I read on.

Scarlet Fitz-Jacob crashed her car last night, and was found unconscious at the wheel. Medics rushed to the scene and were able to transport her to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where she was deemed in critical condition. Police officers and family members still don't know what might have caused this event, but were able to release this statement, "all we can do at this point is pray, and hope for the best possible outcome for Scarlet." The Fitz-Jacob's made no further comment.

And at the very bottom of the paper, was a black and white photo of her. Her hair was pulled back in two low pigtails, thick eyeliner and mascara frame her eyes, and the smallest smirk covers her face, as she stared at the camera. She looks the same, but was still so different.

So what does this mean? Could she still be alive?

"Cameron, do you know if there are any updates on Scarlet's story?" I ask.

"Let me check the Internet." He swivels in his seat towards his desk, types away for a second before he spins back towards me. "No, nothing. But her parents had some complications with the media, saying to 'leave our family in peace'. So I don't know."

"It could mean anything." I mumble.

So Scarlet really is real. This confirms it. But it doesn't mean she's still breathing. Our only solid lead is the truck, the playground, and the Children's Hospital.

I got it.

"Cameron?" I ask.

"Yeah?"

"You have a job, right?"

He gives me an annoyed look. "Yeah..."

"Wanna help me with my résumé?"

"Why...?"

I glance down at the picture of Scarlet, before I fold the clipping in a way that her picture is untouched. "I need to get a job. Immediately."