1. How It All Ends by Caroline SEVERAC, Hélène PEZOUS, Vanessa VILLENEUVE

1. How it all Ends by Caroline SEVERAC, Hélène PEZOUS, Vanessa VILLENEUVE After reading the short story by Eileen Amore "THE CLOCK STRIKES TWELVE" we thought we'd continue the story. The story so far: Julie Stuart, a little girl, has gone missing while she was being looked after by her baby- sitter 'Auntie Jean'. The baby-sitter suspects the mysterious kidnapper might be Mrs Stuart's former husband, a policeman who has just retired. She phones the police who tell her that he was planning to leave the country when he retired. "Yes, Miss. He has gone abroad to live. He’s been planning it for years. Said he was going to pick up his little girl first." "Please hurry up and come to Mr. and Mrs Stuart’s house!" She rang off. She was very tense because she didn’t know what she should do. A few minutes later, somebody knocked at the door. Auntie Jean was relieved. The policemen were here at last. While the others set about searching the whole house, Mr. John said: " May I ask you some questions about the kidnapping?" He came in. ********************** "Who are you?", Julie cried, frightened. "Don’t cry please...Shut ... Didn’t your mother tell you about me? I’m sorry to frighten you... Please listen to me carefully: I can’t tell you who I am for the moment. We are going to wait for Brad Stuart here in this dark wood. Climb up this tree and be quiet!" In the meantime, the sound of a car was heard in the grounds of the castle: there were Mr and Mrs Stuart. Alarmed by the police cars, they hastened into the house. Mr John was still questioning Auntie Jean when the parents ran quickly into the living room. "What’s happening? ... Where’s Julie?" asked Mrs Stuart who was almost speechless. "Please, keep cool! Your baby-sitter, Jean called us two hours ago in order to inform us about the kidnapping of Julie. We are sorry but don’t worry; we’re doing our best to find your daughter ..." explained Mr John the policeman. Suddenly a policeman hurtled down the staircase shouting: "I've found a clue in Julie’s bedroom! This is a card, look it’s written: I have never forgotten Julie..." Mrs Stuart fainted. When she came round, she admitted her knowing who the kidnapper was, but she wasn’t sure. Auntie Jean went out on to the terrace to calm herself down. All of a sudden, she heard a hum of conversation coming from the woods near the castle. She rushed into the house and screamed: "There are people in the woods! I can hear voices!" Then the police officers searched up and down the woods and when they came back to the house, they reassured the Stuarts and the baby-sitter: "It’s a false alarm: there were only two homeless people." Mrs Stuart had a lump in her throat. Nevertheless she mustered all her courage and repeated: "I think I know who the kidnapper is... I’m pretty sure he is my ex-husband, James from CID. Since our divorce, he wasn't allowed to visit Julie! So..." Meanwhile, James felt the tension boiling up inside him: he didn’t know what he should do. Everything was blurred in his mind. He wondered what he should do: if he kept Julie with him and the policemen found them, he would certainly go to jail and so never more would he be able to see her! However, if he managed to leave the country with Julie, he could see her all the time. But if he did that, perhaps Julie might have a wasted childhood. "We can't hunt for them now, it's too late. But first thing in the morning, we'll begin again." "We can't stop now ...my daughter needs help, she's so young..." The mother burst out sobbing. "I know it's very difficult for you but it's too hard. And my men need rest to recover. Do you understand that?" Mr John took aside the doctor, who had just arrived, and asked him, "Have you got a tranquilliser for Mrs Stuart? She must sleep, she's very tired by all these events." Twenty police officers were about to leave Mr and Mrs Stuart's castle when the doorbell rang. A sentiment of dread seized all the occupants of the house. "Oh my God!!" Mrs Stuart shouted. "What are you doing here James?" The policemen were ready to listen to James's explanation: "I'm the one who took Julie. I know where she is but you must promise to let me see my daughter when I like. I did not want to hurt her, but I love her and I don't understand why I can't see my little Julie. I am not the only one responsible for this kidnapping. Mr Stuart asked me to take Julie because he wants a child of his own and Mrs Stuart didn't want another child. He gave me some money to go far away from here but I hadn't enough courage. So I've come back hoping that you would understand me." "We agree to help you but you must tell us where Julie is. Mr Stuart, you're under arrest." Mr Stuart had disappeared. Everybody ran fast to the woods to fetch Julie, but no one was there .....