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“Allie, you okay?” Kay Carter knocked with urgency.
Allie stirred beneath her bed covers. She turned to see the sun shining through her curtains. She yawned and stretched.
“Allie?”
“I’m okay, mom. Come in.”
Kay came in the room with a tray. She set it on a small table near the window then moved both to the side of the bed. She kissed her daughter on her forehead and pinched her cheek. “Eat up. You have a surprise today.”
“What?”
“I’m not telling,” Kay teased.
“Mom.”
“Okay, sleepyhead. You have visitors.”
Allie leaped out of bed. Could Saturday get any better than visitors? Allie loved visitors. She ran down the stairs and there, sitting on her couch were two girls. They stood and faced her, all smiles. The first Allie recognized, her new friend from school, Amy. She looked into the smiling face of the older teen with confusion. Who was she and what did she want with someone as young as her?
“Hey, Amy.”
“Hey, Allie. This is my big sister. She gave me a ride over here. You want to go to the mall and play?”
Allie looked to her mom, pleading.
“Two hours at the most, young lady. We have unpacking to do.”
“Don’t worry, Mrs. Carter. I am an excellent driver and I will have her back in two hours. If you need to get a hold of me, call me.”
The teen smiled politely and handed the woman a piece of paper with her phone number on it.
“Oh, I will,” said Kay.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got my eye on her.”
The teen winked at Allie. For some reason Allie liked her. She trusted her. She looked to her mother for approval and Kay nodded. Allie turned back to the teen and noticed her necklace. The teen were a thin silver chain with a silver cross. Allie looked to her hair and then to her face. The teen had beautiful green eyes. Her hair was blond and pulled back into a ponytail except for a small sliver on her left side that was dyed purple and braided with purple beads. She had a pleasing face that put Allie at ease.
“Ready for an adventure?” asked the teen, teasing.
“Ready,” said Allie.
They left the house to begin a great adventure together.
Chapter Two: The Hunt