True Friends: Kidnapped - Lulu Nighthaven & Breeana Willow Vala (ebooks online reader .TXT) 📗

with you?"
Yasmin shrugged.
"Nothing really, you?"
As Tracy ranted on about some boy who she swore had 'looked at her', Yasmin couldn't help but worry about some things that had been happening to her.
For the past two weeks, a strange man had started following her home from school. He would wait outside the school gates and then follow her all the way home back to her building. Then he would watch through the window as she went in the elevator then went up to floor number nine. Yesterday, he had actually been waiting outside the elevator doors on floor nine and watched her go into her flat. She had no idea how he had gotten into the building. You needed to punch in a pass code to get in the front door, unless someone else had buzzed him in. Maybe he had just waited for someone else to go in and came in after them, or maybe someone who lived in the building had given him the pass code.
Yasmin was starting to get really scared. The man could be a pedophile or a stalker. She couldn't tell her mum; she would freak out, and, although Tracy was a really good friend, she was a huge gossip. She would probably tell the rest of the school that she had a stalker. So she had confided in a very unlikely person: Raven.
During the past two weeks, Yasmin had written many letters to Raven, explaining her worries about who the man might be, and the fears about what he might want. Raven had replied to every letter, worrying about Yasmin and trying to cheer her up. Raven had been adopted by a family, the Strife's. Her friend Mike had been adopted by the same family, and he, Raven, and Mrs. Strife's son, Joey, were getting along great. Yasmin was happy for Raven, and grateful that she had written to her with her new address. The only problem was the fact that she couldn't post her letters through the school anymore, and it was really expensive to send this many letters abroad, but she didn't mind.
"So? What do you think I should do?"
"Huh?" Yasmin asked. She hadn't been listening.
"Do you think I should tell Brad I have a crush on him? Or is that too desperate?"
"Oh. Right. Um... I don't know Trace", she said, looking at the clock. "Hey, isn't your mum gonna be back soon?"
Tracy looked at the clock too.
"Oh yeah. Sorry Yas, I'm gonna have to kick you out. I was ment to be babysitting Tommy; mum doesn't know that you're here."
"What? You didn't tell me that you were supposed to be babysitting your little brother!"
"Oh, stop sounding like my mother and get out", Tracy moaned.
Yasmin grinned and opened the front door.
"See you on Monday then."
"Yeah, see you", Tracy said, shutting the door when Yasmin was at the bottom of the drive.


Yasmin turned the corner onto her street. Her building was the first one on her left. The man wasn't there, but he might be inside. She punched in the pass code and went in. Before going into the elevator, she went to the building post box and put a letter to Raven in. It explained what had happened yesterday, when the man had been waiting for her. She then called the elevator and went up to floor nine. When she got out, she looked about nervously. Then she breathed a sigh of relief. The man was nowhere to be seen. She got out her keys and let herself into her home. At least the man hadn't followed her today. Maybe he would stop now.
What Yasmin didn't know was that things were about to get much, much worse.


CHAPTER NINE


"Raven, Sweetie, are you ready for bed?"
Raven looked up from Twin Targets by Marta Perry, lately she had been borrowing lots of books from the school library and she loved it. Becky Strife, her new mom, stood in the door to Raven's new room.
"Can please finish this last page real quick?" She begged hopefully. She had never liked reading before, thought it was boring, now she knew better. She could read real good now, and she loved books, never put one down anymore.
"Ok, hurry, I've already put Mikey to bed, and Joey is just finishing up his shower. I'll be back in a minute to tuck you in."
"Ok,...Mom." Raven said, surprising them both by calling Becky mom for the first time. Becky smiled, knowing it was a special thing, it meant Raven trusted her, and Raven trusted no one.
Becky walked out the door but paused, turning. "I almost forgot. This came for you today, Sweetie. It's from Yasmin Brooke. I meant to give it to you at breakfast but you had to rush off to school after sleeping in." Becky handed the letter to Raven and left the room.
Raven hesitated half a second, then put down her book and ripped open the envelope. She took out the letter and read it slowly.

Dear Raven,
You know that weirdo guy that has been following me around? Yesterday he was waiting by the elevator when I went into my building! I know he could have been waiting for someone, but it's still really creepy. What do you think Rave? This guy is super creepy, and it seems to only be getting worse. I cannot tell the cops 'cause they'll tell my mom, and you and me both know she would freak! I don't know, Rave, he could be harmless. But I just have a feeling about this. Anyway, write me soon, I need your advice! Oh, how’s your new family? And Mikey? Write soon!

Sincerely,
Yas


“Mom!” Raven yelled, running out of her room and into the hall, nearly bowling Joey over, towel and all. Raven blushed, something the old Raven never did, and apologized.
“What’s wrong Ravy?” Joey asked, staring at her. He had come up with the nickname after the first day of being a big bro, and it was all he ever called her anymore, she defiantly liked the nickname.
“I need Mom’s permission to stay up a little later. I need to write back to Yas. Its big Joey, the creepy guy I told you ‘bout, he’s still followin’ her.”
“Ok, Mom’s in the kitchen. I’ll see you in an hour.”
“Ok, I promise I’ll be there this time. No falling asleep tonight.” She vowed.
“Ok, good, ‘cause Mom already knows, and she’ll just let us out this once. She’s fakin’ for Mikey’s sake. We can’t have him follow us.” With that Joey walked to his room, closing the door behind him.
Raven took the stairs two at a time, ran into the kitchen, and requested her extra time.
“Ok, but hurry. You need to get to bed.” Becky said with a knowing smile.
For the second time that day Raven blushed. She ran up the stairs, into her room, and sat down at the desk with her school books and laptop on it. She grabbed a pen and her cool new feather pen. She had an ink holder and everything for it. The paper she used was extra thick. She wrote quickly but with an air of concern.
Dear Yas,
This guy sounds like trouble. Avoid any type of situation that might put you into the unnecessary risk of being near this guy and alone. Make sure you walk with a friend or teacher from school or a visit, back to your place. It’s not major yet, but this guy sounds like an honest –to –goodness stalker. Real bad dung, if you catch my drift. So keep away from anywhere you’ve already seen him if you’re alone. Ok? Yeah, I love it here. It’s awesome! Joey is really kinda sweet, for a boy and all, you know? Mikey loves it here, he wants to live here forever, and I don’t blame him. Our new mom is really nice, and she’s pretty too. We both love our new home. My favorite part is actually having a place to call home, and it feels right when you say it. Not just a house. A home, a place where people care about you and each other more than anything else. Be sure you use my advice Yas. Bye.

Sincerely,
Raven Black-Strife