The Forst Remembers -C2

 The Forest Remembers

Chapter 2

“MissingPeople.info.com”

Dear diary,

 I cannot stop thinking about that ‘Natalie’ girl. My chest hurt hearing that. It brought me back everything I’ve been trying to bury, my little sister, the posters with her face, the way my mo fell after. I thought I was starting fresh today, but suddenly it all came back. I didn’t even realize I was messing with my bracelet again until I caught myself doing it.

I didn’t even know the retirement home has a library until today. This place is so big it feels like a mall rather than a home. When I finally found it, I could not believe my eyes, rows and rows of shelves soft couches and even a few computers lined up against the wall.

I sat down at one of the computers, my heart went racing. I kept hearing the old man’s voice in my head, telling me about his daughter. Natalie. I couldn’t let it go.

Though I do nor know any more any information about his daughter other than her name, and her age when she went missing. I found this verified Webster called:   

‘Missing people.info.com’

This website contains information about reported cases of missing people.

I typed in the word slowly:  Natalie, 4years old

At first nothing came up, then a whole page of missing people with the name ‘Natalie’ popped up. I searched the one that matches her description. I was about to lose hope, but at the very bottom of the page I saw,

Name: Natalie Crooks

Missing Since: 24 January 2004

Age: 4 years old

Last Seen: Willwood Forest, Colorado

This has to be her. Her face filled the screen. She was so small, with curly hair and a smile that almost lit up the photo. She looked so alive, so happy. And yet the words underneath said Missing. Last seen at Willwood Forest in Colorado. But, why a forest?

For a moment I couldn’t breathe. She looked so much like my sister shen she was little that I had to look away. It felt wrong like the computer screen was staring back at me, daring me to remember all the things I’ve been trying to push down.

I wanted to print the page or save it somehow, but I was too nervous.

What if someone saw me?

What if I got in trouble for using the computer like this?

Instead I opened my notebook and scribbled:

Natalie Crooks—Willwood Forest, Colorado—24/01/04

My hand writing was very messy. But it really didn’t matter, I just needed to remember.

When I closed the tab, the library felt…different. The quiet wasn’t peaceful anymore, it felt heavy. I kept glancing over my shoulders half expecting someone to be there, watching me. But no one was there. At least I think no one was.

And now, Diary. I can’t stop asking myself one question,

If Natalie really did disappear from a forest all

 those years ago…then why does it feel like 

the answer might be hiding here, in this very place?

(End of Diary Entry)

Annie always had a passion for solving cases, mysteries and many more. Her little sister went missing during her tenant years. After all that happened, everything had changed. Annies’ mother’s mental state was unwell after, Annie has been feeling a sense of guilt, and she became overly-emotional than before. Nothing has been the same.

Annie’s thoughts went by for das. She thinks if she could solve this missing daughter case her sense of guilt would be gone. She knew it made their whole family changed. The empathy she felt for Natalie’s family was right there. She cannot let this case be unsolved. And that, is how she started her journey on solving Natalie’s case.