[Eerie music]

Jordan: Welcome to "Where is Araminta Green?" where I, Jordan Thompson, investigate the disappearance of my classmate and neighbor. Two years ago, I was the last person to see Araminta, and the mystery of her whereabouts just won't leave my mind. In this episode, the second installment of the series, I will retell the events of how it was discovered that Araminta was missing and what happened after that was established.

[Gravel crunching under boots]

Jordan: And for that, I need to go back to school. Mistwood High School to be specific, where Araminta and I both were students.

***

[Teens chattering]

Female voice: We don't automatically call the police when someone doesn't show up, since students can be absent for many reasons, valid and no valid. But this case felt different from the start. Araminta always had good attendance and had been seen walking toward the school. As soon as concerns were raised, I pulled all strings to try to find out where she was.

Jordan (narrating): That's Miss Taylor, the school counselor. She was the one who finally reported Araminta missing and we'll talk more to her soon. But we're not quite there yet in the story. First, I want to tell you about what happened on the evening after I last saw Araminta.

[Cat meows]

Jordan (narrating): No, I didn't bring Kiki with me to school. She is much happier at home, lounging in a window while watching birds, perhaps getting a belly scratch once my sister arrives home. But she is important for this part of the story because it's her story as well.

On account of being neighbors, I sometimes saw Araminta from my bedroom window, walking into her backyard to tend to a black cat. Kiki always came running from the woods behind our houses, eagerly diving into bowls of food and receiving oodles of pets.

[Cat purrs]

Jordan (narrating): That night, I didn't see Araminta, which I found strange since I had observed her that morning. But I figured maybe she was staying the night somewhere and had forgotten her parents were out of town, leaving their cat without anyone to feed her. Because poor Kiki was yowling like crazy out there. After a while, I couldn't stand hearing her desperate meows any longer. So I went to the kitchen, grabbed a can of tuna, and walked into our backyard. Tilting a loose board in the fence to the side, I lured Kiki over. I knew her name because it was written on a name tag on her collar. Once the cat had accepted my offering of fish, she followed me inside where she proceeded to charm the rest of my family. She's lived with us ever since.

I meant to tell Araminta's parents about Kiki but the time never seemed right. And they never asked either. Which is kind of strange, but I suppose the shock of their daughter's disappearance may have caused them not to notice the cat was also missing. Since Kiki did mostly live outside in the woods back then, maybe they figured she could fend for herself.

[Cat purrs]

Jordan (narrating): Kiki's idea of fending for herself just seems to be to befriend an unsuspecting family who will spoil her rotten.

[Cat meows]

Jordan (narrating): But back to the school, and Miss Taylor—or Andrea as she told me to call her since I'm no longer a student. I asked her to detail what happened the next morning that led to Araminta finally being reported missing.

Miss Taylor: After concern was raised about Miss Green's whereabouts, I took it upon myself to investigate. This being a Friday, I wanted to assure myself she was safe before the weekend, since if I waited until Monday any dangerous situation she may have gotten herself into could have gotten worse. So I started to check records and ask around among students and teachers.

Jordan: So what did you find out?

Miss Taylor: The attendance records showed Araminta being present for all her classes on Wednesday and the teachers of all those classes confirmed that as well. The English teacher remembered her handing in a creative writing essay that was very impressive, apparently, it was built upon local folklore connected to the woods behind town. Something about a witch if I remember correctly.

[Witchy laughter)

Jordan (narrating): I so wish I could get my hands on that essay. Unfortunately, the English teacher, Mr Douglas, has since retired and I've been unable to get a hold of him via email or phone. I suspect he wouldn't be allowed to give out the essay even if it's archived somewhere though.

[Sad trombone]

Miss Taylor: But no one could recall seeing Araminta on Thursday or Friday. Well, except for you, Jordan, who saw her early Thursday morning. So once that was established, I decided to call her parents. I'd heard that they were out of town, which raised even more concerns since then no one may notice her absence until they returned. Although Araminta was eighteen at the time, so it would be within her rights to leave without telling her parents, it's still our duty here at the school to see to all students' safety.

Jordan: Were you able to get a hold of them?

Miss Taylor: Yes, her mom, Joan, picked up right away and displayed great concern when I told her about what was going on. She had last talked to Araminta on Wednesday night when Joan called to check on her daughter and instruct her on where to find the chicken pot pie she'd prepared before their trip. They had talked for maybe ten minutes as I understand. Araminta seemed to be quite independent and introspective, which meant she rarely called people, so her parents assumed she was fine despite not having checked in with her for a few days and that they would see her when they returned home that weekend.

Jordan: Did her mom try to call Araminta once you'd contacted her?

Miss Taylor: Yes, Joan told me to wait on the line while she tried to call the house to see if Araminta was there. But no one picked up.

Jordan: She didn't try to call Araminta on her cell phone?

Miss Taylor: From what I understand, she didn't have one.

[Shocked gasp]

Jordan (narrating): Honestly, that does sound just like Araminta. Going against the grain, she refused to play the same games as the rest of us. Perhaps she communicated with spirits through her tarot reading but she didn't communicate with anyone else. It seems she preferred it that way.

Miss Taylor: After talking to Joan, she and her husband headed straight home to look for Araminta while I called the police. We figured it was most efficient if I started communicating with them since her parents wouldn't be home for another few hours. So the police arrived at the school shortly thereafter—that's when they talked to you, right?—and I believe a patrol also went to her house.

Jordan: Yeah, I told them about how I'd seen Araminta that morning and about Kiki, I guess. They also talked to me a few days later, when Araminta still hadn't appeared, to get more details.

***

[Cat meows]

Jordan: That actually is Kiki live, as she's standing right next to me while I'm recording this. She has so far managed to change the order of segments and insert sound effects by stepping on the keyboard.

[Crow caws]

Jordan: That sound effect was her choice, and who am I to disagree?

[Cat meows again, more demandingly this time]

Jordan: I guess I should wrap this up to feed Kiki...

[Cat purrs]

Jordan: Anyway, that's what happened between when I saw Araminta the last time and when she was reported missing. Her parents arrived home that night and I saw cop cars outside their house. They appeared to search the whole house and the yard. I don't know if they found any clues. Hopefully, that will be detailed in the police report, which I have sent for and hope will arrive next week.

But before then, it's time to go to the woods.

[Rustling leaves]

Jordan: In the next episode, I will find that hidden cemetery exit and I will follow the road from there. Who knows what I will find? A secret witches' circle? Or just leaves and silence? Regardless, I hope whatever I find will lead me closer to Araminta.

[Wind howling]

Jordan: Because if there is any place that echoes of her, it's the mysterious dwellings past the last row of civilization. That's where I think I can hint her sometimes.

[Ghost howl]

Jordan: So stay tuned for episode three, which will drop shortly!

[Eerie music starts]

Jordan: Subscribe to follow along as new episodes drop.

[Crow caws]