_River,_

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_It’s been fifteen days since you vanished. _

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_Fifteen long days._

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_My mind is still swirling with questions…_

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_Why?_

_Who did it?_

_Will you be back?_

_When?_

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_I can’t stand it anymore._

_I don’t know if you’ll get this. I don’t know if whoever kidnapped you has your phone._

_But please, if you get this, please, please, let me know._

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_Your loving little sister,_

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_Maia_

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_…._

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_River,_

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_It’s been seventeen days, Riv. Seventeen._

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_Did you run away? Is that why you’re not responding? But i think it was a kidnap. You’d never leave me with… her._

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_Mom._

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_She’s getting worse every day. She realized you were gone yesterday and finally called the police. She’s been drinking ever since. How do i get her to stop? _

_Dad is picking me up on Monday but that’s in two days and I can’t wait that long I just can’t._

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_If you’re out there, River, please, let me know._

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_I can’t handle this alone._

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_Maia_

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_…._

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_River,_

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_Really, where are you?_

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_Dad picked me up last night. We spent time lying on the couch and watching youtube to drown our sorrows._

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_The police are still searching. They can’t find anything. _

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_And Mom’s in the hospital._

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_She puked seven times yesterday afternoon. She drank too much and’s on a IV._

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_Please River. I need you. Dad is alright but he can’t comfort me like you can._

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_And he makes awful sphagetti, but that’s all he knows how to make (yuck)._

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_Please, Riv. I’m begging you._

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_Maia_

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_…_

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_Maia,_

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_Stop sending me these notes._

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_I’m trying to keep you safe but you sending emails is not helping._

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_I’m sorry about Mom. You’re just 8. You shouldn’t have to deal with that._

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_But that’s better than this._

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_I can’t tell you much, she makes sure that I don’t contact anyone about my whereabouts._

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_I wish I could._

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_I can’t._

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_Be good, okay? I’m keeping you safe this way. But I can’t talk to you or be with you._

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_So I’m begging you: _**_don’t contact me again.

_**_I wish i could be there to comfort you._

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_If you really want to know more, go to my friend Oliver, and show him _**_this file.

_**_It’s all I can disclose._

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_But for heavens sake don’t message me again!_

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_River_

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_…._

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_What do I do?_

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Maia stared down at her sister’s latest -and only- note.

_Should I go to Oliver?_

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_It’s what she said I should do…_

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“You okay there, Maia?” Her dad called.

“Yeah… yeah, I’m fine,” she said. “Have the police found anything?”

_Oliver’s the older brother of my friend Evan…_

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“Nothing yet,” said Dad sadly, flipping a grilled cheese. Maia had showed him how to make it so she didn’t have to eat more kraft macaroni. “But I’m sure they’ll find her soon.”

Maia asked to call her friend Evan.

“Sure.” Dad handed her his phone.

“Evan?” Maia asked when he answered. “Can I talk to you?”

Ten minutes later, it was certain. She was sleeping over at Evan and Oliver’s house.

Her dad handed her a bag. “Are you sure about this?”

“Yes.”

Dad nodded. “Well, if it’ll get your mind off of River…” he looked down for a moment. “… I guess you can go.”

Maia swung her backpack on. She was going, but she had no intention of getting her mind off of her sister.

Quite the opposite.