Ready Or Not

Chapter 1

XOXOXOXOXO

Author's Note: Okay, getting back into the swing of writing. Still busy with my studies, because I'm planning to take my test sometime this February. But, I am nearly done with two stories, so that's a plus! Decided to write a short, scary story for good practice.

This story is widely based and inspired on the short animated film, Kakurenbo. Great, chilling anime, I recommend it to anyone who likes something different.

This story is based around their cartoon versions, since it doesn't quite work with their CGI versions.

XOXOXOXOXO

Theodore closed his tired eyes. He hadn't slept in days. He couldn't sleep. He didn't want to sleep. The nightmares and guilt ate at him too much for rest.

He opened his eyes again with some effort. He peered out of the foggy glass of his large bedroom window. The weather seemed to match how he felt inside: foggy, uncertain, drizzling. So many question swam through his head each day, ever since she went missing. Spirited away, some might call it.

Eleanor, his beautiful gumdrop, was missing. For four whole days, including today, she had seemingly disappeared without a trace. Where had she gone? Was she safe? Had she gotten lost? Did someone... take her?

Theodore bit back tears. His normally bright, happy eyes were already bloodshot from hours of crying. It seemed that was all he could do ever since the police announced Eleanor missing. He couldn't even eat. No matter how much Dave pressed him to keep his energy up, no matter how tempting the food may be, he would not eat. Eleanor might be starving somewhere. Cold, alone, hungry, maybe even hurt. And he was supposed to stuff his face?

All he knew was that he was slowly dying from all the worry. His heart couldn't handle all of the unanswered questions concerning his female counterpart. It was simply killing him.

He wasn't the only one suffering, of course. Miss Miller, Brittany and Jeanette were in hysterics ever since. Miss Miller had screamed for the police to do something, to give her some answers. They couldn't yet. Brittany broke down when she heard the news. No matter what tiny fights her and her sisters might have gone through, Brittany adored her baby sisters. To have a sister who she practically raised for a good portion of their lives suddenly go missing was too much for the normally strong girl to handle. Jeanette fared no better. She and Eleanor had always been close, being close in age. He hadn't seen any of them in days.

His brothers and Dave were affected as well. While Simon and Alvin weren't nearly as close as he was with Eleanor, they still valued the petite girl as a childhood friend. Simon, in his own way, thought it would help if they assumed that she had just ran away. Maybe she was safe somewhere, but she just wanted to go away for a bit?

Theodore didn't believe that theory for a second. Eleanor was no coward, and she had a thick skin. Nothing could make her just run away without a word to anyone. Especially him. They told each other everything. That wouldn't change now.

Something happened, he was sure of it.

A knock on the door startled the small boy. He looks around and was relieved to see that it was only his older brother, Alvin. Alvin smiled at him, but Theodore couldn't bring himself to return the favor. He knew he was only trying to cheer him up, but it just didn't have an effect.

"Hey, Theo. How are you feeling? I noticed you didn't come down for breakfast," Alvin said softly, taking a seat next to his green-clad brother. "It's not good to skip meals, you know."

"I feel like I'm going crazy, Alvin," Theodore said numbly, his voice cracking. "Did the police come up with anything new? Anything at all?"

Alvin sighed, hugging his baby brother. "No, Theo. Not yet."

Theodore, despite trying his hardest not to, started to tear up again. "They need to hurry, Alvin! Eleanor needs help!"

"M-Maybe Eleanor just got lost somewhere," Alvin offered quickly. He knew it wasn't much comfort, but he reasoned that it was better than the dreadful alternatives. Anything to cheer up his brother. He hated seeing him like this. "She'll turn up, Theo. We've gotten lost plenty of times, but we always found our way back, right? Have faith."

Theodore sniffed and swiped at his eyes. He just didn't know what to think...

"I just can't take it anymore. Waiting on the police to find her, and just sitting here at home twiddling my thumbs is killing me! I want Ellie found, Alvin. Even if I have to do it myself," Theodore said desperately. "I'd do anything to have her back. Anything."

Alvin pulled back and looked down at Theodore in surprise. He had never seen Theodore so adamant, so unafraid. But he understood why. If the tables were turned and he lost Brittany, he'd throw caution to the wind immediately and take matters into his own hands. Besides, he missed Eleanor too. While they weren't the best of friends, she was still his friend. All of them were. But for Theodore, it was totally different.

"Do you really mean that, Theo?" Alvin asked slowly.

"Yes," Theodore said, nodding firmly.

"You really want to search for her yourself?" Alvin asked again. He looked him dead in the eyes, letting him know that he was serious. "Form a search party and everything?"

"Let's do it," Theodore said without hesitation. He was more than ready.

Alvin grinned. "Let's go."

XOXOXOXOXO

Author's Note: Poor Ellie! Wonder what's happened to her? Theodore, of course, wants to find her at any cost.

The next chapter will be up soon, I've already got it all planned out. Please review, I'm always happy to hear what you all think!

By the way, I hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year, since I was too busy to really come online around that time! :D