Chapter 19
Don't forget your promise, Madison. That was the last note Mr. Mysterious had written for me, before the murder and the shooting.
What had my promise been about? What had my mother made me pinky promise, all those years ago, the last time I'd seen her? Promise me no matter what happens, you'll look after both your sisters...
And now: Mackenzie's alive. It was as if Mr. Mysterious was reminding me I had failed to keep my promise and he was trying to make up for having ruined it for me. Was he mocking me? Or, dare I say it, was he telling the truth?
"That bastard," I muttered.
"Okay, can you explain to me one more time how the shooter managed to put a note addressed to you in my mailbox?" Andrew demanded to know.
I started pacing furiously and almost walked into a shopping cart. "He hasn't written to me in over a year," I thought aloud, "so if he's serious, why hasn't he told me sooner about Mackenzie?"
"Wait a second." Andrew stepped in front of me, frowning. "He's written to you before? What has he said? Have you told anyone? Your mom?"
I rolled my eyes, but I was actually mentally face-palming myself. Great. Now Andrew knew. "That's not important now."
"So it's a 'No'."
I didn't answer.
Andrew looked up at the ceiling, like he couldn't quite believe what I was saying. Or not saying. "I can't believe this... A crazy killer has been sending you creepy messages for over a year? And no one knows? Not even the police?"
"Someone does know, for your information," I said, crossing my arms. "And he wasn't always a crazy killer. He gave my sister candy, once." I felt like kicking myself. How had I gone from hating Mr. Mysterious to defending him?
Andrew let out an exasperated sigh. "Oh yeah, that makes everything okay now!"
I glared daggers at him. "Fine. Be that way if you want! I'll just figure this out myself." I turned on my heels and marched toward the exit, pretending I didn't know he would follow me anyway.
Three, two, one... Sure enough, I was barely out the door when he had caught up to me. "Okay, okay! I'm sorry! I'm just worried for you, that's all," he said. I hoped he didn't notice my face reddening.
I ignored him and power-walked until I found a bench. I heard him mutter something about best friends and girls.
We sat side by side in silence for a while. And then, when I broke the silence, I didn't stop speaking for a while. Because I told him everything, starting from my first encounter with Mr. Mysterious. He was a good listener. He didn't interrupt me or anything, and he seemed to hang on to every word I said.
Andrew whistled when I finished. "That's some story."
"Yeah." I had expected him to actually freak out, but he was taking this rather calmly.
Good thing I know it now," he added.
I started to panic. "Why?"
He smiled reassuringly. " 'Cause now I can help you."
"Oh," I said, relieved. "Good."
"What, you thought I was going to tell?"
I stared at the ground. "Kinda."
He ran a hand through his hair. "Look, you trusted me with this stuff, so of course I wouldn't betray you. But there's just some stuff that doesn't make sense. Like, if he's your supposed 'guardian', how come he pretended to kill your sister? Or, how could your parents trust this man to protect you, when he is a criminal who could very well be a psychopath?"
"You're right, and - " I started to say, but he was on a roll now and didn't hesitate to interrupt me.
"Why did he abandon you for all those years, then suddenly appear in your life again and try to befriend you and Melanie? And as far as we know, he wasn't in any contact with Mackenzie, until the shooting... But why? Did he do it deliberately? And how did he get that note in my mailbox, knowing you would be there?"
"Yeah, I know... And why now? Today? Why not another day?" I wondered.
He studied me for a long moment, but his eyes were unreadable. "I thought you knew," he finally said.
"Knew what?" I asked.
"That... That it's been exactly one year since the school shooting. It happened today, one year ago."
One year... One year since I'd last seen Mackenzie and Mr. Mysterious. My mind became a jumble of thoughts. This guy... He was all into details and symbolism, so if he left me a trace of him today, would I also get the chance to see Mackenzie? I was too scared to even dare to hope.
* * * * *
Mom and Dad are arguing super loudly tonight. Well, not technically; where I am in my room, it's just a bunch of whispering and hissing. But it's enough to keep me awake. I decide to go eavesdrop on their conversation, even though I'm usually a good, obedient daughter and even this is stretching my limits.
I creep slowly to their bedroom, and thankfully the door is closed. I press my ear against the door and listen.
I hear my mom's voice first. " - even though you can't expect that to happen, John. We have to plan for the worst and - "
"Plan for the worst?" Dad interrupts. "Come on, Dorothy. What are the chances?"
"See? It's THIS kind of attitude that got us in this hole in the first place! You said the exact same thing a few months ago, and now look where we are," Mom replies angrily.
I hear Dad sigh. "I won't take extreme measures until we get an answer from Dr. Collins. Only then we'll know for sure if - "
"I'm not waiting for his answer," says Mom. "If your condition doesn't improve... No. I'll call Fabian up tomorrow. Think about our children, John. This could be their only chance."
Silence ensues. I can't take it anymore. I feel guilty not only for having sneaked up on their argument, but because it appears to me that Dad is upset because of me and my sisters, so I burst open their door and rush to my father to give him a hug.
"I'm sorry, Daddy! I didn't mean to overhear, but you and Mom were talking so loud! Is it my fault you're mad?" I say.
He stares down at me, paralyzed. Even my mother is frozen.
"What?" I demand.
Then, is a whirl of motion, he pries my arms off is waist, making me stumble back. "GO!" he yells/whispers. "OUT!"
I don't know what to do; I'm so confused. One second he's all quiet and now he's screaming at me? So he IS mad at me!
"Why?" I ask with a trembling voice. "What did I do wrong?"
"OUT!" he shouts/hisses.
I scramble out of their room, wiping my eyes so he doesn't see my tears. A few minutes later, when I'm still lying awake in bed, silently crying, Mom comes to visit me.
