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I felt nauseous from the tasteless lump in my mouth, which I swallowed reluctantly.
“Put on some sturdy shoes though, sis, because we’re going to explore The Ramble,” Rick informed me smackingly.
In the earlier days, we had often roamed through the wild forest landscape in the park, climbed on the rocks, and played tag around the trees. Now, I was confused, thinking I would be brought up to date on current events again at the fountain.
This planned trip went very differently than expected, and that made me nervous. Very nervous.
I couldn't stand the secrecy any longer, so I energetically pushed the chair back because I had to find out what was going on here as quickly as possible.
"I'll put on some other shoes so we can get going immediately."
Within two minutes, I was back down in the entrance hall. I didn't own any hiking boots, but my autumn boots had firm soles and, at the same time, were not too warmly lined. That had to be enough.
Jordy was already waiting for me. Only Rick came grumbling out of the dining room with another piece of toast in his hand. He was anything but thrilled about being dragged away from his breakfast. Nevertheless, he threw on a light jacket, opened the front door, and stepped onto the sidewalk first.
Jordy offered me his arm while he gave me a loving smile. I gratefully accepted and even giggled a little at the two of us as we strolled through the streets of New York while Rick walked in front like a sniffer dog.
It's funny how things like that never change. Jordy and I used to cook up a lot of stuff together. We were playing pranks andbrainstorming ideas on how to trick our brothers. Rick, on the other hand, was a born watchdog and the one who had always picked fights with everyone when it came to our honor.
Even now, he looked like he wanted to pounce on anyone who got too close.
We quickly crossed 5thAvenue and entered the park. Every little nook and cranny, every corner, all the bridges and tunnels we knew, even all the sneak paths, no matter how well they were hidden.
It wasn't long before we entered the wilder area, and it was almost like another world. Everything seemed rougher. The trees didn't form formations like in the rest of the park, and there were small trails off the main path. The gray rocks stood out in this landscape, unyielding and unafraid.
Immediately, it realized which way Rick was going. As children, we found a cave in the undergrowth of The Ramble's wildest part. I wonder if it still existed. Determined, we made our way between bushes, roots, and lots of boulders until the forest landscape swallowed us up.
Soon, we arrived at our former secret hiding place. Rick lifted the natural ivy curtain, and I was surprised that the cave was still uninhabited. We had discovered it by accident several years ago because Jordy's ball, which he had stuck to his foot even while climbing here, had rolled into it.
Although it was smaller than I remembered, the boxes we had dragged here back then were in their old places. With a pounding heart, I entered this place of memories, and Jordy followed me. Only Rick remained standing outside the ivy curtain. When he closed it behind us, I finally realized they had chosen that place so my brother could talk to me in peace while the other one outside ensured that no one discovered us.
"Sit down, Myrina," Jordy said, pointing to one of the makeshift seats. His voice sounded heavy and tortured. I wouldhave liked to run out of the cave so I wouldn't have to hear what he would tell me. His facial expressions frightened me.
Nevertheless, I plopped down on a box that was impossible to get off the ground because of the entangled branches.
“Remember all the crap we used to talk about and plan here? It’s a good thing Mom and Dad never knew what we were doing here in Central Park,” I recalled.
We had been the only students at our private school for privileged New York children of High Society who were allowed to grow up so freely—no wonder we had always been attracted to Harlem.
Jordy just nodded but looked so severe that the smile froze on my face. Nervously, I slid back and forth on the seat.
“Myrina. It’s …” He cleared his throat and fixed his gaze on the floor. “Something terrible has happened, and Dad thinks you should know.”
Something terribleechoed his words in my head, and fear threatened to tear me apart.
"It's about Charly," he said, and finally, he looked me in the eyes. His were a lake of sadness.
"Is she sick? She already didn't look good at the gala." Feverishly, I tried to remember our last encounter, thinking back to the silent, pale Charly, whom I almost didn't recognize—a shadow of her former self.
“No, Myrina. Charly was kidnapped,” my brother whispered, his voice breaking on the last words.
“Kidnapped?” I breathed in disbelief. That couldn’t possibly be what they were trying to tell me. It couldn’t be!A misunderstanding, I thought.
“Are you sure your information is correct? You can’t put much stock in street gossip.” Hopefully, I clung to the thought that it must have been a dubious informant.
"No, we know from Charly's father, Myrina. He's already put together a search party. She disappeared in the crowd during a church visit. Her family is completely distraught." Jordy put his hand on my arm. "I'm sorry." There was so much love in that gesture, and yet I couldn't bear it at that moment.
Vehemently, I shook off his hand. I wanted to scream, to rage, to cry. But it was only a silent tear that rolled down my cheek, blurring my vision and eating me up inside. Paralyzed, I sat on that box in a cave that reminded me of better days when Charly had been here, too.
