Spotted (Part 2)

Warning: the following content contains mention of death, missing people, ghosts and the supernatural.

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By: Michelle Chan

Noah was paralyzed with fear. A whole minute passed before he could get on his feet and scurry home. He ran back home with every bit of energy he had left.

“Dad! Dad!”Noah said, gasping for air as he burst through the door.

Noah’s dad turned around because of his frantic footsteps but tipped over a glass cup.

“Look what you did!” His dad yelled.

“I-I was in the forest, looking for flowers and rocks for my biology project. I got lost and-”

“I thought I told you specifically not to go in too deep within the forest!” His Dad yelled.

“No, but you must come with me!” Noah pleaded.

Noah started to tell his dad what happened, about Bella Remington, her sister, and how he saw her falling at the edge of a cliff.

“You must be seeing things, son,” said Noah’s father.

“I-, I know that it was real, Dad. I touched her!” Noah argued back.

“It’s probably just some kids playing jokes, trying to scare you. Don’t worry, son.” His Dad tried to assure him, but his voice fluctuated as he spoke.

“Wait.” His dad paused and looked disturbed. “Are you sure her name was Bella Remington?”

“Yes, I am sure. That’s what she told me at least.” Noah said in an impatient tone.

His face suddenly dropped, as if he’d seen a ghost. His dad’s voice started to tremble.

“Son,” He said in a very serious, slow tone. “The Remington Twins, Bella and Ivy disappeared in the forest over 20 years ago. No one was known to see them ever again.”

Noah stared into a bleak wall, repeating what his father just said over and over in his mind. “No, this, I-. This is not possible. Perhaps it was just a coincidence. I must be dreaming.” Noah thought to himself.

“How did it happen, dad?” Noah asked, curious to know more.

“Well, it was said that one day, the twins went to play in the forest. Their parents were expecting them to be back for dinner, as usual. But they never returned.” Noah’s dad answered.

Noah was quiet, trying to process the information he just heard.

“I might have an old newspaper about this if you want to see it.” Noah’s dad suggested.

“Ok,” Noah said as he slowly nodded his head.

They went to the attic to find that newspaper. Going through old boxes and articles.

“Here son, this is the article.” Noah’s dad said as he picked it up. “There’s a photo as well, are you sure that these were the girls you saw?”

“The Remington twins lost. Last seen in Cottonwood forest. Reward: $1000.”Noah trembled as he read aloud the title.

There was a photo of the twins, they were both wearing a light pink dress and their hair was braided with matching ribbons.

“Yes, dad, Bella was wearing a soiled pink dress. And she looks exactly like that.” Noah said as he tried to put the pieces together. “We have to go back to the forest. Where it all happened. Please, dad-”

“Ok, we’ll go.” Agreed Noah’s Dad.

Noah was surprised that his dad agreed to go with him.

“Hurry up son, grab your coat.” Noah’s Dad said as he was walking down the stairs.

Noah ran to his room to get his coat.

“Ok dad, let’s go,” Noah said as he ran down the stairs.

They left the house and headed towards the sinister cliff in the forest. Noah tried his best not to tremble as they walked into the clearing.

The clearing was as Noah remembered it as. They both scanned the area looking for evidence of Bella and Ivy.

Noah walked cautiously towards the edge of the cliff to see if he could see any signs of them.

“Nothing here, son. See, I told you. Come on, let’s head home.” Pleaded Noah’s Dad. But their eyes scanned the fresh footprints that were dispersed over the area.

Suddenly, Noah remembered about the flower Bella gave him.

“But dad, She gave me this…” Noah said slowly in a weak tone.

He took out the wrinkled flower in his pocket. Gazed at the flower and caressed a petal with his thumb. It felt dry, soft, and bumpy. He could see that the flower seemed to lose its life, he remembered it being full of life, bright in colors. Then, he remembered why he took it out and handed it to his dad.

After a long, premeditated pause, Noah’s dad stammered in a hesitant voice, “T-that flower,” he inspected it closer, “it was on the girl’s hair the day they went missing...”.

Image: Green leaf trees beside cliff [Photograph]. (n.d.). PickPik. https://www.pickpik.com/foggy-trees-mountain-fog-fir-tree-93333