Taken

Chapter 12

            In a rush, I hop to my feet and whip around to race out of my room when I see my mother standing in the doorway. I stumble back a step from the shock of my mother standing there, but this time I trip and fall backwards, landing painfully on my rear end. I wince even though my heart is beating a mile a minute and my eyes are as big as saucers.

            My hand clutches my chest from having just been scared half to death. She just watches me with a neutral expression.

            "Mother, you scared me. I didn't know you were home." I say, managing a small smile, but it probably looks more like a grimace.

            She isn't amused.

            Her hands are behind her back, her hair in a tight bun and her violet-blue suit on. She wears her black pantyhose under her knee length pencil skirt. Her eyes are still missing their usual light.

            With my cheeks flushing from embarrassment, I manage to scurry to my feet and tuck a stray hair behind my ear. I resist the urge to stare down at my feet and play with my hands.

            "So, um, did you need something?" I ask, trying my best to sound casual and not glance over at the piece of wood as I make my way towards my bed. I sit on the edge, my hands positioned on either side of me and gripping my mattress.

            Mother just watches me for a moment before stepping into my room and turning to face me. She retracts her hands from behind her back and my eyes widen as she holds up the red journal.

            I try to keep my face impassive, but I know that she got it from my room so there is no way for me to deny that I did have it in my possession.

            I am seriously screwed.

            "How did you figure out where this journal was hidden? Did someone give this to you? Did Nina tell you where it was hidden?" She asks, her tone hardening along with the look in her eyes.

            My mouth opens and closes repeatedly due to me not knowing what to say.

            Nina? What does she mean by that? How would she know that Nina has spoken to me, and if so, then does she know where Nina is? Are my suspicions about my parents correct?

            Mother's cold, rage filled eyes knock me out of my thoughts as I close my mouth abruptly and begin biting my lip. She gives me another long, rage filled look before she turns and makes her way to the door.

            "Never mind, it doesn't matter. The journal is safe," she says as she grabs onto the doorknob. She glances at me. "You will stay in your room until your father and I find it fit to release you. This should keep you from visiting the other world. You have to listen," she growls as she slams my door closed. I hear a click as she locks me in my room.

            It takes me a few moments to process what she said before I finally come to my senses and spring to my feet. I sprint to the door and jiggle the handle, finding that it is, in fact, locked.