Chapter Four

Missing

Today was Sunday and Rue was finally meeting up with her best friend, Uname, who lived more than fifty miles away. She always looked forward to these days. It made her think of home and at least she wasn’t alone. With a smile on her face, Rue brushed her hair into a loose ponytail and tugged down her sweater. Two more minutes and she’d hear those squeaking sounds only known to Uname’s trusty but old truck.

With that on her mind, Rue quickly smoothened down her bedcovers and kicked her sneakers underneath the bed with her bare feet. She’d have to clean her room later tonight since Uname was sleeping over for a few days and knowing her OCD friend would probably have something to say about her personal hygiene, she’d need to do so quickly. Just not now considering there was only one minute before she had to walk downstairs to meet her halfway. Another thing about Uname, she was very stingy about time and schedules.

At a quarter to two on the dot, Rue could hear the stilted sounds of a car’s engine crying anguishly from trudging those miles with a hard driver like Uname. Snatching her leather satchel with her wallet and cell phone, Rue headed down the stairs just as her phone vibrated against her hips. Spotting the rusty midnight-blue truck sitting in the parking lot, Rue picked up her phone. “Yeah, I’m coming…” she drawled, jogging down the stairs, a smile adoring her features.

Uname was a petite, dark-skinned girl with cropped black curls that framed her round face, plastic yellow hoop earrings dangling from her ears. She popped her gum and smirked over at Rue who slid into the seat beside her. “I’m impressed. Just two seconds late today.”

Rolling her eyes, Rue pulled the seatbelt over her waist and buckled herself. “Do I get a cookie?”

Uname snorted, already putting the truck in reverse. “With a trillion fat calories? I don’t think so.”

“Yeah, dumb question.” Rue leaned back against the seat and grinned regardless of her rumbling stomach. She hadn’t gotten a chance to grab breakfast.

Uname noticed and raised a brow at her. “I have some grainies at the back. And OJ.”

“Orange juice,” Rue corrected with a saucy grin even as she reached behind for the bag of nasty–err, healthy granola bars that Uname practically lived on, hence her slim frame. Picking out the peanut butter flavored bar, Rue settled back in her seat and glanced over at her friend. “So how was the trip?”

Uname wrinkled her nose. “With Yussef acting up the entire way, I had to make a few pit stops… I swear, I can’t wait to trade it in for a new car.” The car groaned in protest or was it joy at the prospect of being liberated from its owner’s tyranny?

Rue merely smiled as Uname hissed in response. She opened the bar quickly and took a bite, refraining from grimacing at the well–grainy taste. “So where are we going?” she said between bites. Usually when Uname was in the driver’s seat, which was always, it meant Rue had little say where they went and what they did. She never complained though, as long as Uname was here.

The two girls met back in their hometown in Sierra Leone and both attended the same boarding school. Uname was just four years older and graduating the same year Rue entered. Both assigned to the same dormitory, Uname took a liking to the shy but intelligent girl and became a surrogate mother to her while she was still in the school. For that reason, no one dared harass Rue considering Uname was quite brusque and forceful when it came to bullies or anyone who wanted to take advantage of her little friend. All through school, Rue adored her friend and tagged after her like a dog after its owner. Uname never complained, always smiling at her and being the kind person she always was. Then she left and things changed.

Rue shuddered inwardly, not wanting to think about her days post-Uname. All she knew was that once she left the school and found Uname on the plane to the United States, things got a little better. She glanced over at Uname again and smiled fondly. It felt better seeing her today. The problems from the week dissipated once she thought over the fun day Uname had planned for them and it uplifted her spirits instantly.

“Are you even listening to me, little goat?” Uname’s voice interrupted her thoughts and Rue shifted her gaze, catching her friend’s raised brow. “Where is your mind today?”

Obviously not here. “What did you say?”

“I said did you hear about the boy who went missing here?” Uname glanced over her shoulder and quickly swung to the right just before a wave of cars swooshed by. She clucked her tongue in irritation but silently waited for Rue’s response.

“Missing? Who?” Rue’s eyes widened, her hands clutching the seat when Uname made a swift turn again.

“Some fellow in your town was reported missing from his room. Funny thing was that he’s a hospital patient down at ICU–a quadriplegic.” She tapped the steering wheel. “Apparently his family hasn’t been around to see him and suddenly he disappears once his father comes to visit.”

Brows furrowed instantly. “No word on him yet?”

“Don’t you read the news, girl?” Uname threw her a strange look and glanced back quickly just as a car stepped in front. She muttered a curse word in her native tongue and trafficated once again.

“No time,” Rue said distractedly, still waiting for more news. “What else did it say?”

Uname shrugged her slight shoulders. “Not much. They just say it might be linked with the girl’s death a day before… Seriously, who would’ve thought this town would prove to be the next real CSI?“ From the corner of her eyes, Uname caught the faraway look in Rue’s eyes and her parted lips. “You okay?”

Rue nodded slowly, quickly escaping the trance. “Yeah, I’m fine.” Swallowing hard, she shifted in her seat, not noticing the perturbed look on Uname’s face. What on earth is going on?

Rue blinked at the flashing lights, her mouth hanging open. What kind of sick humor was this? A horror flick. Was Uname insane or just plain sadistic? People rushed past them, all bustling and chatting about the newest addition to Stephen King’s many terror-filled films.

“What are you waiting for?” Uname snapped, closing her fingers around Rue’s arm and tugged her towards the growing line. “We’re gonna miss the film at this rate.”

I wish we would. Rue wrinkled her nose, her body already itching to leave. They’d finished traipsing about the city mall downtown, Rue merely following Uname as she added ten more clothing items to her already gigantic closet back at home. Then after that, they spent another hour standing in line while Uname picked up some needed items from the local post office, as though she didn’t have one in her own town. Even though her feet were crying for relief and her sleep-deprived body wanted to retreat back to the comfort of her home, Rue bit back her complaints until now.

“Do we really have to watch this?” Rue muttered, just barely loud enough for Uname to hear.

“Yes of course we do. Stupid question.” Uname pulled out a twenty dollar bill and waved it up. “I’ll pay for your ticket, if you’re worried about the price.”

Rue stifled a moan and chose to keep quiet. If Uname offered to pay for anything, which was hardly ever, it was best to count her losses and admit defeat. “Hmm,” she nodded mutely as Uname handed her the ticket with a smile. Restraining a sigh, she followed after Uname who was already skipping to the entrance of the building, earrings dangling.

Was it just her affected by the murder or the disappearance? Why was everyone looking so excited about gore and victimization on a screen more than 20 feet wide? The sound effects were enough to make Rue wretch right on the woman sitting below her.

Uname crunched noisily on her unsalted popcorn, eyes riveted on the screen like the other viewers sitting around them. Rue squirmed uncomfortably, gaze cemented to the floor and wishing for something phenomenal to happen–either the lights to go out or she could fake passing out and be ushered to a safer place.

Silence among the crowd was soon drowned out by the loud dripping of a faucet from the movie, the sound echoing against her beating heart. Rue clenched her jaw as loud, incessant panting joined the noise and she heard Uname take in a breath, waiting for the victim to be found. Just then a shrilling cry pierced the silence, sounding so much like the one she heard a few nights ago along the fence of trees just outside her apartment and Rue shot to her feet, startling Uname.

Her friend scowled up at her. “Sit down, you’re blocking people behind us,” she whispered fiercely, throwing popcorn in her mouth. Realizing she was missing the next scenes, she tore her eyes away.

Rue swallowed hard, her heart picking up speed. “I-I have to use the bathroom.” She didn’t wait for Uname’s protest and shuffled down the lit stairs and to the exit, jumping when the scream continued on. Panting for air, she pushed past a few bystanders who cursed at her as she blindly tried to find the nearest restroom.

Splashing water onto her clammy face, Rue struggled to regain her breath, hands pressed against her eyes. She could still hear the cry in her head, echoing incessantly and haunting her all over again. Cursing both herself and Uname for coming here tonight, Rue finally opened her eyes and realized where she was. The urinals hanging a few feet away told her she was in the men’s restroom.

Rubbing his eyes behind his glasses, Gray cursed his debilitating eyesight and pushed open the door to the bathroom. What he saw was the biggest surprise of his life and it almost knocked him to the floor. Literarily. “Whoa… Slow down,” he muttered, lifting both hands to steady himself and Rue. What was she doing in the men’s restroom.

“I-I’m sorr—” she paused and gaped up at Gray. Groaning inwardly, she wriggled in his arms. How many times would she bump into this man? Lowering her head, she looked everywhere else but his face lest he see the embarrassment and fear in her eyes.

Gray stared at the top of her head, brows furrowed. “What is the matter? Are you lost?”

She sighed heavily. “I’m okay. Just missed my way but I’m okay now.” She pushed past him and as he turned around to call for her before she ran off again, a shrilling cry echoed along the walls.

Rue jerked to a stop, her blood chilling instantly at the scream. There it was again and it was coming from outside. She spun around to face Gray and noticed his steady gaze on her. “D-did you hear that?” she swallowed hard against the forming lump lodged in her throat.

He nodded wordlessly and without a word, reached for her hand. “Come on,” he said, leading her farther away from the entrance way.

At first, she let him drag her down the lobby but when she heard a few more screams from behind her, she wrenched her hand back and began to run towards the noise. This time she had to find out what it was. Who was it this time?

Ignoring Gray’s calls for her, Rue stumbled forward and was almost knocked down by a stampede of people running out of a theater. She skittered to a stop and whipped her head around to where they were flooding out from, heart racing. The looks of terror and on their faces were enough to let her know this was where the noises came from. She dodged a few more hits as the people kept running out, tripping over their feet as they ran.

“It’s in there! It’s in there!” one of the men cried out, hands flailing wildly once he pushed through a few people struggling to rise from being trampled. Just then, Rue noticed Gray had joined her and was now clutching her arm protectively. She merely glanced his way, ignoring the scolding look on his face and peered inside the dark chamber the people had emptied. Something was in there. The screams still echoed resonantly in her body.

“Rue…” Gray started to say when she stepped forward. His grip tightened about her arm and she tugged against him. “It’s dangerous.”

“I have to see,” she said obstinately and inched forward, despite her aching heart begging along with Gray to stay back. Close your eyes and run, it cried agonizingly.

The movie was still playing–the same one she’d run out from, leaving Uname behind. A sense of foreboding suffocated her lungs, tightened the passageway and constricted the air from coming out. Uname! Her body stiffened and she wriggled her arm away, now sprinting up the stairs. Her heart echoed loudly as she searched each pew, praying her friend was safely outside and not still in here. “Please… Please,” she begged no one in particular, panting for air.

As she counted the hundredth aisle and stumbled up the stairs to where she and Uname found their seats earlier, a telltale sign of a fallen box with popcorn spilling out confirmed Rue’s fears and her knees quaked. “No!” a cry from deep within escaped her throat as she fell to the floor.

Just a few feet away lay a broken body, her yellow top completely drenched with blood, her arms splayed around her. “Uname!!!” she wailed, her cries echoing along the walls as Gray scrambled forward and wrapped his arms around her.

end of chapter four.

Copyright. DeeKay 2008

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