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    prologue

    I remember it all very clearly. It was my first day of third-grade. Anew school, new house, new environment and new friends. I walked up to the parking lot exhausted. Walking a mile and a half can do that to you.I was told to go to the playground in the morning. as i looked up to examine the building, i thought to myself, Broad View Elementary home of the North west Explorers. I'm home. Being the oldest child in a navy family is extremely hard. especially when you want to be transferred to your home state. Right now I only have 3 real friends. Mya, Sarah and Cait. we kind of live in separate states so we keep in touch by e-mail, Phone calls, Letters and Video chat. Mya lives in Illinois and Sarah and Cait live in Maryland. I took a look at the directions on the piece of paper in my hand. Turn left at the basket ball court. I had no idea where that was. I had no idea where anything was. So i asked a teacher that was walking by.
    "Excuse me?"
    "Yes sweetie?" Her voice was sweet and soft. It was so reassuring and calm. It certainly matched her. She was a good 5 feet tall. She had short brown hair and glasses. Frail, bony and skinny. wearing a pair of Capri's and baby doll shirt.
    "Where is the basket ball court?" I asked.
    "Right over...there." She pointed to a small way between two buildings. Coming from the way was lots of noise. I can't believe I missed it. By forced habit I said out loud:
    "Oh! Der-der-der-duh-der!" and smacked myself on the forehead. The teacher gave me a laughing smile and shook her head as she walked off. When I was in the play ground i noticed white lines on the pavement that were numbered 1 to 20. In front of each line was a sign that read teachers names like Mrs. Bishop, Mr. Judd, Mrs. Ernest...Mrs. Hagel! That was my teacher. I stood in the line waiting and waiting. I was just about to reach around and grab the book i had in my back pocket of my back pack when a drawn out buzz sounded. At least 250 girls and boys came running. As we waited for the teachers to come and get our lines, all the loud chatter quieted to a low whisper. i felt a tap on my shoulder and turned.
    " Hi, I'm Justin!"
    " I'm Ellyona." I stuttered quietly. That was when I met him.


    Chapter 1

    Surprise

    Dear diary,
    Today will be different then this summer. I will act as if nothing has happened. I will not cry or show that I feel pain. Nobody will have a reason to hate me other than my secret. I know that he is alive. My best friend is not that stupid. He would never do something like that. And even if I'm the only one who doesn't believe what the only conclusion can be, I don't care. I know he wouldn't just leave me like that. He is here on this earth somewhere. He has to be. I will not give up until he is found and we are together again. I , Ellyona Witner, Will never rest until Justin Zultch is found.
    Sincerely,
    -Ellyona-

    I took a look at my diary page and read it silently to myself. I sounded so desperate and needy for him. He was my only friend though. He still is other than Mya, Sarah and Cait. I wish that they were here now. They know my secret and they've loved me my whole life no matter the consequences of losing their other so called friends. I've loved them back. Justin and them are the only ones who understand how hard it is to tolerate my environment. Justin... I remember the day that everyone found out my secret.

    "Ha Ha!" they shouted at me. "you're an orphan! ha ha!" I didn't understand why they made such a big deal out of it. Justin didn't. Mya didn't. Sarah and Cait didn't. Why did they? It's because i was new and they already hated me. They just needed to find a flaw big enough to hold against me for the rest of my life and now they have one. They all found out when Stacia Brooks was eaves dropping on me and Justin. We were just talking on the swings, out of the way of everyone else. Justin was different then me. He was daring and brave. I on the other hand was shy and quiet. I'd never had a friend like him before. I finally trusted him with my secret that day and he didn't care at all. Everyone else did, very much. It all led up to this. The whole school now knew and ran around in circles shouting the hurtful words.
    " You're such a loser!" or " You're so dumb!" or "You're not allowed to touch me!" I didn't understand.

    "Come on Elly! You'll miss the bus if you don't get your butt down here now!" My Aunts shouting brought me back to reality. It wasn't until I got up and grabbed my bag that I realized I had started crying. I quickly wiped away my tears. Nobody will have a reason to hate me today. I ran down the stairs almost tripping.
    "I'm here." I said.
    "Elly! Go! Go go go! Now!" she handed me a sack "There's you lunch." I stared at her weirdly. "GO!" she shouted. I ran out the door and once I got to the corner by the house, I let myself catch my breathe and walked. Picking up on where i left off on my thoughts. Everyone was surprised that I was still living, that I hadn't gone to jump off of deception pass yet. They probably wanted me too. I had a feeling that today was going to be different. That today I would be happy, that something good would happen to me. That made me happy. I had finally reached the bus stop and knew that didn't miss it. The other people that were always there were standing listening to their I-pods, reading books ectcertra. I knew better than to mingle, so I stood in my usual place. Against the pole. Since the bus was late as usual, which gave me time to think. That was not good. Every time that start to think, his disappearance comes to mind. I heard a screech and a foul smell filled the air. The bus was here. Following the same routine, I walked up the bus steps and sat in the back empty seat...again. Thankfully nobody decided to be the good Samaritan today. I was left alone. Mya, Sarah and Cait. If only they were here.

    After the bus was at the school and I got off, I went along to my locker to get out my books. While I did, people stared. I mean people always stare, but today, everyone stared. I could feel their eyes on my back and decided to ignore them. While heading to my Math class, somebody tripped me. I just sighed and picked up my papers and books in front of the door and afterward headed to my seat.
    "Good Morning class." Said Mr. Robertson. " Today we have a new student." Everyone got excited and remembered that the only available seats were three, in the back row, next to me. That's when they all turned and gave me disgusted looks and turned back to look at Mr. Robertson. He was putting on his reading glasses to look at a sheet of paper. A confused look was plastered to his face.
    " I'm sorry I must've made a mistake" Depressed sighs came from everyone. "No, no. we have three new students."I didn't even look up or hear him introduce the names. But when I did look up, I really wish i hadn't because my eyes bugged when they waved at me. All I could think was How?


    Chapter 2
    Secrets

    "Ladies, thank you for joining us. As you probably know, I am Mr. Robertson. This is the class." he put his hand out in a kindly gesture. "You may sit next to..." He paused and looked at me and the next three seats available. By me. Everyone followed with their eyes. "We will change seats in a week or two, by then we'll have you sitting next to Jocelyn, Taryn and Kalli. For now, you'll have to sit next to...Ellyona." again, they all looked. So, I ignored.
    "Oh, no thanks. We're fine sitting next to Ellyona." Mya stated with confidence, yet gentle and calm.
    "I shall have you know that I do not tollerate teasing in my classroom."
    " Why would we tease her?" Said Sarah.
    "We love her!" Stated Cait. Since they were twins, they had a "Similar Thinking Structure", at least that's what they called it. After that, Mr. Robertson looked like he was going to faint.
    "Really? Well, that's..." He definately would faint. " You all have some chat time, i've got to run down to the office for...Something." Then he left. I guess the fact that I actually have friends was just to much for Mr. Robertson to handle. I laughed to myself.
    " Hey, why don't you go around and introduce yourselves to us?" Said Kendra. She looked at me. "Trust me, It'll be worth it." then she put on some lip gloss and sat down. After that, I just heard whispers and murmers. That brought back horrible memories. I tried to focus on something else, but it was just to much. It all came up. The day everyone was whispering and staring more than usual. The day that my mother told me the horrible news. And I was only just beginning the fifth grade.

    " I'm sorry sweetie. It's all to true." My mothers words were not comforting. Especially since they were muffled and lost in my sea of sobs and tears. I was not going to accept it. Justin was not dead.
    "sweetie I know that it's very hard to realize the truth. But he is dead, and if you tell everybody that he's not, they're all gonna think that you're more of a freak than they already do. do you want that?"
    " I don't care what they think of me. it's not like they'll hate me less if I do believe them." my words were muffled, but I knew that my mother could understand them.
    "Honey. Justin is dead. he's dead, dead. If you can't except that than what can you except. This isn't any different than from when your parents died." Why'd she have to bring that up?
    "Yes it is! They left me! They didn't die, it was a suicide! My own parents didn't even want me! If they didn't want me than who did! That's what ran through my head every morning I woke up!" I sniffed and lowered my voice. " And, then... then I met Justin. he was just like me. Adopted. He wouldn't leave me like my parents did."
    " He didn't leave you like your parents did sweetie. He was murdered. Why can't you except that? I told you, the police searched the entire city and he's nowhere to be found. They had 10 police men cover the forest. 10! They had the rest of the police searching the city, along with the whole town! He's dead and gone. Nowhere to be found. Right now he's rotting away like a toadstool, you never to see him again, and because you can't accept that, you're crying!" She hollered.
    " I know where he went! He showed me! it's a secret path that you can't see! Me and him are the only ones who know that it exsists! It's not like some stupid murderer was walking by the forest and thought, oh! I bet that theirs some little fifth grade by that is drawing beautiful pictures and observing nature in and unknown area of the woods. It wouldn't be like he could hear my foot steps from the booby traps he set up or anything. I'll just follow this unnoticable trail between these two bushes and go kidnap him and hide him up in a tree. Oh yeah mom that's totally what happened!" I wailed at her. My mothers face was shocked and red with fury.
    " That's it young lady. you're grounded!" She went up the stairs to her room.
    " It's not like I have any friends to go do anything with, so what's the point!" I shouted back at her as she walked up the stairs.
    " The point is to punish you!" and with that, she slammed the door behind her.

    "Elly?" Mya waved her hand in front of my face bringing me back to reality. "Elly?" I blinked. it was then that I noticed that I was tearing and staring into space.
    " Here let me try." Said Sarah. Then i really wished she didn't. "Ready Cait?"
    " Ready."
    "ELLYONA WITNER! ELLYONA WITNER! COME BACK TO EARTH! COME BACK TO EARTH!"
    "Okay! Calm down, I'm back. geez." When I noticed that everyone was staring, I blushed. Then the bell rang and I couldn't help thinking, Saved by the bell. Yes! i thought, english. My favorite class. Only because i was so good at it.

    After Choir and P.E, was lunch! I knew better than to get paid lunch from the school, so I brought my own. I looked for the empety table that I usually sit at, but it had people sitting there. Three very kind people. Mya, Sarah and Cait, of course. So I walked there and sat. Finally, we were left alone.
    "Hey!" Said Mya.
    "Hi!" I said back not as enthusiastic.
    "So tell us." Sarah.
    "What's the 411?" Cait.
    " Nothing really, you guys?" I asked. As soon as I did, The smiles wiped off of their faces an they looked down at their food. " What?" Silence. " Come on guys, you can tell me anything." Nothing. So I went for the weakest of them.
    " Caitlyn."
    "Yes." Her voice was uneasy.
    "you want to tell me don't you, we all know that you can't keep a secret. So tell me, what's your guys 411?"
    "Cait, you better not." Said Mya.
    " Come on Cait, you know that you want to tell me. So why don't you?" We all stared at her. Me a sinister look, and My and Sarah, a pleading look. Cait looked at both of us.
    "Okay fine! I'll spill. Before we came here, we went to Forks to check out and see if they've found Justins body yet." Mya and Sarah looked at me with hopeful expressions.
    "You what?"

    Chapter 3
    Lies and pain


    "We're sorry for not coming to get you first." Mya said apollagetically.
    "Well, did you find anything out yet?" My face lit up.
    "No..." And back to it's original medium. The they looked at eachother.
    "What?" They shook their heads. "C'mon guys! Just tell me already! It's not like-"
    "Okay Elly, we get it. I'll tell you what happened." Thank you Mya, I thought to myself. "So we decided to go to forks on our way here. You see, we're just as curious as you are about how all this happened. I mean come on! Seriously! How in the world could that've happened? You know where he went, unless you're lying to us then, how could he've gotten murdered? So anyway,we went down to forks to check it out and see what was going on. According to what you've told us, we went searching...the woods." They all got their uneasy looks again. So I didn't ask."That's when we heard like, running foot steps, like not even running. Just really fast." She looked down and Sarah picked up.
    "Then we heard them slow down, almost like they were right behind us, and then a sniff and then..." Now Cait.
    "The foot steps walked and then ran the other direction. Afterwards, by like a couple of seconds, we heard an animal screach, It sounded like a mile away. We were pretty creeped, so, as you know we would-"
    "We left, and that's it." Mya finished. It sounded almost as if they had practiced, but obvious that they didn't. My face was still expressionless.
    "How long ago was this?"
    "About a week." Said Mya.
    "Why?"
    "Why what Elly?"
    "Why did you do that, I mean you guys could've gotten killed, murdered! A forest! What the heck is wrong with you people! You guys are insane!" Then we were all quiet. "But I can't blame you either. Because I would've done the same thing. So we're even...technically." RRRIIINNNGGG!!! Lunch was now over.
    "Well, I'll see you guys later in..."
    "P.E" Mya said.
    "Right, P.E"

    After P.E,My least favorite class, I got my things together and walked home. I liked taking the bus in the morning and and walking in the afternoon. It gave me time to think about my day. What did Mya mean. Was she trying to say something else, like make me read between the lines? They probably know something that I don't. Something important, very important. But, I'm just glad that now they're here, safe and not going to wander into any forests with out me. Wow, this was an amazing October 1st. That got me thinking about Halloween. What am I gonna be? maybe I'll just be like an anime doll or something. I don't know. Then I heard a footstep. I had been walking about 20 minutes. so like a mile or 2 from school. Another footstep. Probably some dumb teens trying to scare or trick or what ever!
    "Look, I've had an amazing happy day and I'm trying to keep it that way, so just leave me alone." Another footstep. Then silence. I kept walking and no more footsteps. Good. Then somebody was right behind me.
    "Look, Don't make this hard, Just do as I say and it'll be quick and easy, you won't even feel a thing. You'll just slip away from earth silently." It was a boy, he had a soft teasing voice.
    "What are you talking about?" I said.
    "I mean, you either let me kill you silently, or it'll be slow and painful."
    "Well, then. Let's just see you do it then!" Was this guy serious!
    "Oh well, you wouldn't have lived very happily anyway. I'm practically doing you a favor."
    "Just leave me alone. Geez, you people will stop at nothing to make me go suicidal!" He grabbed my arm as I tried to walk away.
    "Sorry, but I'm all to serious." He loosened his grip thinking that I would give in, but he was wrong. I shook my arm loose and ran. as I ran I could hear his footsteps behind me. I ran around the corner and stopped to take a breathe. But he didn't, he came running full speed into me and grabbed me. So I kicked him in the groin and ran like hell! Throwing my books at him when he got to close, stopping to take short breathes for a millisecond and starting again. He would think I was smart, wouldn't he? Hopefully he did, and a smart girl would stay on the sidewalk where at least somebody, anybody could hear her. Hopefully, he thinks I'm to smart to go into the forest. So I did, that just goes to show how smart I am in reality, which is pretty dumb. I ran through the forest as fast as I could, ducking under branches, jumping over bushes and leaping over small streams. I don't even know how long I had been running, probably an hour because It was darker than when I had started walking. Much darker, It was night. As I kept on running, the trees were closer together, the forest was getting thicker. and I was getting tired. Then I thought of the thickness of trees as a gain. I hid behind one hopeing to get more than a gasp in. Then, I really wish that I hadn't stopped, because all the pain came crashing down on me. My thighs ached from carrying me here, my lungs were going to burst. And my head was in a deep fog. I was on the verge of giving up, when I heard a pine cone crunch, that brought me back. He had followed me into the forest.
    "Marco." He said softly. "Marco?" He said again, but his time closer. I closed my eyes and held my breathe for I don't know how long.I opened my eyes and he wasn't there. I let out a sigh if relief. Then I freaked. That was to loud. I listened. No footsteps or breathing. Maybe he left. I didn't count on it, so I waited there, still. Nothing. I figured it was safe, so I turned and ran around the tree towards the general direction of the exit from the forest. But instead of doing what I'd hoped, I ran into him. His chest was hard, and it knocked me down. I was now laying on the ground. He knealed next to me.
    "You know, you're supposed to say polo. Oh well." He gave me a weird look and started touching me on my thighs and chest. I thought about how unhappy Justin would be if he was watching this scene. He wouldn't just be unhappy, he would be furious. One because I was letting this creep touch me like this and two, because this creep was touching me like this. That made me scream.
    "You know, you're not doing anything to help yourself. It's not like anybody can hear you, your only pissing me off."
    "Just kill me already, please." So he did, but he did it nice and slow. He was slitting my neck very slowly, leaving my in pain and agony. I gasped and sobbed in pain.
    "You know, This all could've been avoided. If you'd just done what I said. oh well." Then he stabbed my arm.
    "I'd rather die." I said quietly. Although, I don't think he can hear me. I was sinking. Drowning. I felt my neck with my hand. Red, warm blood was seeping out. The feel of it between my fingers was to much. The world was going black. I couldn't see, I could only hear a muffled scream. Was that me? I couldn't tell. I tried so hard to stay above the surface of the black, but I couldn't. The black was consuming me. The thought of death was too much. I wanted my last thought to be happy. So I thought of him. I could barely make out his features in my mind, But he felt so real like he was actually there. I tried to touch his face. He grabbed my hand and spoke to me.
    "Elly! Come on Elly! Elly talk to me! You can't leave me! Not now! Come on Elly! Come on, you can make it! Just hold on Elly! Hold on!" His words were muffled, but I could still make them out. I gasped very loudly and deeply. "Yes! That's it! Elly come on! Come on! You can make it!" Then I closed my eyes and right before the black completely consumed me, I heard his words. They were words of agony and pain, they sliced right through me and it was even worse then when the creep was slicing and stabbing me. " Elly! No! Nooo!" That's when it was to much for me and I gave up.


    Thanks for reading! Bye!