Sorry this one is late. I've been busy and forgetful.

CHAPTER 3

No. That note HAD to be a joke. It can't be real, right? It just can't. I took the note out of my pocket and read it over. Well, one excuse down the drain. I know where to go if I were to ever help. But there's still the other excuses. Why would I ever be someone's last hope, how would they know where to find me? It just doesn't add up. Ok, think Emily, think. Maybe there are no other adventurers? That can't be true, can it? What else? Well, there's still how they knew I want to go on adventures. But... I haven't told anyone that. I don't have any friends or family. The only people I talk to are my babysitting clients, and why would I tell them something crazy? To lose my job? Yeah. Have I EVER written it down somewhere? Only other form of communication...

THAT'S IT! My diary. MY DIARY!?? SOMEONE'S BEEN THROUGH MY DIARY! Some complete stranger just walks into my house and looks at my diary? No possibility whatsoever. But just to make sure...

It's gone. My diary is gone. Not in the same place I left it this morning. I have no pets, and it's been sunny all day. No monsters could have spawned. Some complete stranger DID take my diary. But why me? How would they possibly know that somewhere in my diary, there was stuff talking about wanting to go on an adventure. That's when I heard a scream.

"MOMMY! MOMMY! SOMEONE MESSED WITH MY DIARY! A PAGE IS RIPPED OUT!" a little girl was yelling at the top of her lungs.

"Maybe the dog got into it honey-"

"NO! SOMEONE MESSED WITH IT!"

"Ok, sweet-"

"WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

There's my answer. This stranger must have went through EVERYONE's diary or journals in the whole town. Stalkerish, yet smart. Huh. Am I the only adventurer in town? That can't be true. Maybe I showed the most enthusiasm. Probably not true, but a lot more likely.

So, now I know something. I know I have been chosen to help this town of whatever plague has ripped through them. But that doesn't make any sense. How does adventuring have to do with medical science? NOTHING is adding up. But, I just can't let this town die... on my hands. I have to at least go there. See what's up. Not like I could help at all. I suck. But like I said before, I have to try.

Now what? I'd have to leave town ASAP, but I have babysitting tomorrow. Wouldn't it be weird to just vanish? The sun was starting to set; I have to make my mind up quick. I could call in sick, and pretend I'm at home all day. No one would come over. No friends, no family. And if the mom thinks I'm sick, why would she come over? But what if I'm gone for more than one day? I have to cancel my next appointments. Luckily, I only have one appointment besides tomorrow's that I've scheduled. So, say I have to do something that day, call in sick for tomorrow, and I can go. I'll have to leave before anyone else is up (not like they would care anyway) which means I have to stay up all night. Crap. I'll try.

I call tomorrow's mom and say I feel sick and don't think I'll feel any better tomorrow. (I ate some raw chicken) I also tell her that if I feel better, I would be sure to come over, but you should probably get someone else. Then I call next week's mom I scheduled.

"Hi, Mrs. Smith?"

"Yes?"

"Hey, it's Emily. I just wanted to let you know I won't be able to babysit next week. I have... something to do."

"Oh, OK then."

"I'm very sorry. I hope you can find someone else."

"Oh, it's OK Emily, we all have things to do sometimes. Thanks for calling."

"Bye."

"Bye." I hang up. That's down. It just became night. I'll pack my things.
***
At the crack of dawn, I head out the door. No one looks up, or they're in a mine. I'm good. I head in the direction the news said the town was and start my "maybe grand adventure." Maybe this is what I was looking for.