by Lauren Eason
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Jess, it’s okay. I’m here for you,” I assured, taking her hand in mine as tears streamed down her face. The panic attack was subsiding as I stroked her hair and breathed with her. She took deep breaths and blew them out, trying to regain control of her emotions as I gave her the physical contact she so desperately needed.
“How did you know?” she whispered.
“I’ve had my fair share of anxiety attacks,” I relayed with a small smile. “It’s a lot easier to get through them when you’re with a friend.”
“I’m going to have to tell my story to the police, aren’t I?” she asked, gazing into my eyes.
“Yes, but I’ll be there with you, if you want,” I assured.
She nodded, her eyes wide with fear. As she relaxed a little more, I cranked up the car, and we drove down the dark streets in silence. I kept my hand over hers all the way home, trying to hold on to what little innocence she had left.
Chapter Eleven
I saw her again. Through my own investigation, I discovered her name was Emily Douglas, a student from a rival high school with a penchant for art. Her family was well off, and she seemed to be a rather popular girl both on campus and off. She was an average sixteen-year-old merely trying to make it through this crazy world—and then, she vanished.
We were roaming around a secluded forest as she shivered from the invisible cold. Her teeth chattered as snow fell from the sky around us, blanketing the trees and ground in white crystals. Our feet crunched in the powder of ice with each step as she called out into the darkness, screaming for help. It had been this way for what felt like hours.
Wolves howled in the distance, figments of her imagination trying to scare her. With each passing moment, I saw the panic in her eyes grow. If she didn’t calm down soon, she would wake up, and the dream and she would be lost once again.
I stood in front of her as she searched with pleading eyes through the thick darkness of the forest undergrowth. Holding out my hand, I tried to offer her some comfort. I gently rested it on her shoulder, a touch she couldn’t feel. She stepped forward, passing through me as I felt her emotions one by one: pain, fear, sadness. I held my hands to my chest as my breath returned, having been taken away by the sudden rush.
As she continued her search for whatever she was trying to find, I walked beside her trying to gain her attention. Her dream wasn’t giving me any clues, so I was finally at my wit's end.
“Where are you?” I asked. “Can you tell me who took you? Are you alone?”
The howling grew closer in the distance as she spun around, trying to discern where the sound was coming from. I knew I was about to lose her to this nightmare. Frustrated with my ineffectiveness, I grabbed both her arms and spun her towards me. It was the first time I was able to hold a person in their own dream before.
Her eyes grew wide with fear as I startled her. She toppled over onto the ground and flailed, pushing herself away from me through the snow.
“No, no, it’s alright,” I cooed as I held my hands up in front of me. “Emily, please, tell me where you are.”
She tried to speak as a wolf jumped in between us, growling low. Its red eyes watched her as if she were a lamb. Black fur bristled along its spine as it slowly approached her, a snarl curling its lips. Emily tried to appear as small as possible in the snow as a sob shook through her trembling body.
“Emily, listen to me! That wolf isn’t real. You’re lucid now, and you can change this dream. Please! I need to know where you are!”
It was too late. The wolf lunged at Emily as she threw her hands over her face, and the image disintegrated. Opening my eyes, I rolled over onto my back away from the sunlight, gently caressing my skin through the window. Tears stung my eyes as I pressed my fingers against them, trying to stay in control of each lingering emotion—hers and mine.
It was so hard being so close. If she had only uttered a few words to point me in a direction, I felt like I could’ve made a difference in this case. Throwing the covers off me, I went over to my computer at my desk and looked up the news, trying to see if any new leads had sprung up. Most of it talked about Gabrielle, the latest missing girl. It was as if they had already given up hope for the three others.
Clicking off the internet, I opened up my file for my book report due at the end of the week. I had to keep my grades up if I didn’t want to be in trouble with my parents later on. While things had calmed down, I could feel how disconnected my family was from each other. My father was still living with us but took on every contracting project he could find to be away. I knew he and my mother needed that time away from each other, but it also felt like he had abandoned Jess and me.
“Aislin? Are you up, sweetie?” my mother asked from the other side of the door. Shutting my laptop, I crossed the room and unlocked the door for her. She came in and took a seat on my bed.
“Is something wrong?”
“I just got off the phone with Detective Highwater. From what Jess told me last night, she knew Gabrielle pretty well since she was her student. He’s coming over to visit this morning and speak to her.” She wrung her hands in her lap. I knew there had to be more to what she was saying.
“Okay...does this have something to do with me?” I inquired, my arms crossed over my chest.
“When I told him about my two daughters, he said he had already met you at the center. Is there something you’re not telling me?” she asked, pained.
“No. I didn’t do anything. At group therapy, this girl made an accusation and said I had witnessed it, but she was mistaken. Officer—I mean, Detective Highwater asked me a few questions with Dr. Clayborn present to see if I knew anything. That’s all,” I explained.
“I see. Aislin, you would tell me if something was going on with you, right?” my mother asked, standing from the bed and placing her hands on my shoulders.
I nodded. “Why? Are you worried about me?”
“I’m always worried about you, honey. That will never stop,” my mother assured. She stepped around me towards the door. “After the interview with the detective, I have to go to work for a few hours. We’re working on a large case. Would you mind looking after your sister while I’m gone?”
“Of course, Mom,” I said. With a smile, she went downstairs.
Walking across the hallway, I knocked on Jess’s door and waited for an answer. Minutes went by without a word as I turned the knob and peeked through the crack. I saw her lying in her bed with her back facing me, staring out her window. Wandering inside the room, I gently closed the door behind me.
“Jess?” I asked. “How are you feeling?”
“Please, leave me alone,” she mumbled as she pulled the covers closer to her chest.
“Mom says Detective Highwater is coming to see you soon. Don’t you want to get dressed before he’s here?” I sat down on the bed next to her and rubbed her shoulder. She pulled away from me and folded into herself.
“Go away,” she commanded as she threw the covers over her head. I stood up from the bed and walked toward the door. Upon hearing the doorbell, I went to peer over the stairs' banister as my mother greeted the detective.
I went back to Jess’s door. “Jess, he’s here. You have to come downstairs. I know it’s not going to be easy, but I’ll be with you the entire time.”
With a groan, I heard Jess pull back her blankets and get up from the bed. Seeing that she was on her way, I dashed downstairs to follow my mother and Highwater into the living room. Seeing him again made me apprehensive, but I managed to keep my anxiety at bay with a deep breath.
“Would you like a cup of coffee, Detective?” my mother asked as he took a seat on the couch. He glanced around the room before his eyes settled on me.
“Sure. I’ll take a cup. Just sugar, please,” he said, holding his gaze with mine. I knew he recognized me as he took out a pen and pad to jot down some notes. I took a seat on a barstool facing the living room as Jess dragged her
self into the room.
“There you are!” my mother exclaimed, setting a mug in front of Highwater on the coffee table. “I was wondering when you’d come down to join us.”
She gave Jess a small hug and guided her towards the other end of the couch. My mother sat beside her, rubbing her back as my sister released a sigh. From her posture, Jess appeared defeated before the questioning even began. I had the same feeling when I thought I had to reveal my secret to a complete stranger. Luckily, I had someone there who had my back.
“Hello, Jess,” he began. “I’m Detective Highwater with the Bay County Police Department. I’m investigating the disappearance of Gabrielle Nguyen. From the conversation I had with your mother, it's my understanding that you mentored Ms. Nguyen in piano instructions. Is that correct?"
“Yes,” Jess muttered. “She was one of my students under Steven.”
“You’re referring to your neighbor? Steven Thompson?” He clicked his pen to take a new note.
“Yes, that’s correct,” Jess replied.
“How well do you know him?” he asked.
“Um, not that well, I suppose. We’re working on my recital together, and I do a little work for him—”
“What kind of work?”
“I train some of his newer students on the basics of the piano. He gives me a little money here and there for it, and I receive my lessons from him for free,” she answered. I could tell she was starting to get nervous from her breathing. If I could tell, then so could Highwater.
The detective leaned back on the cushions of the couch. “Has he ever asked you to do anything else for him?”
“I...help him find new students since I’m involved with the music department at school. It helps both of us,” she explained.
“Do you believe he asked you to recruit these new students solely to learn the piano?” Highwater asked. I sat forward on my stool as I realized where he was going with this line of questioning.
“What are you insinuating?” my mother inquired, her arm around Jess gripping harder.
“I’m not insinuating anything, ma’am. I’m simply asking questions to find the truth,” he explained. “So, is that your belief?”
“I—I guess so. What else would he want to recruit new students for?” she asked, shifting uncomfortably in her seat.
“Has Mr. Thompson and your relationship been strictly professional?”
I hopped down from my stool and stood behind my sister.
“Detective Highwater, my daughter would never do anything outside of a professional relationship with a man of Steven’s age—”
“I need to hear it from her, Mrs. Smith,” he said, holding up his hand.
“Jess?” my mother asked, holding her breath.
“No—of course not,” Jess replied. “Steven’s not like that. He’s never done anything to any of his students, and if someone said otherwise, then they’re lying!”
“You have your answer,” my mother said. “How about you go question him instead of badgering my daughter?”
Highwater clicked his pen once again. “I intend to, Mrs. Smith. I apologize for upsetting any of you. We’ve had a rash of disappearances, all involving young, impressionable girls. We have to ask these tough questions, especially in a case like this.”
“Mom, it’s okay,” Jess said, placing her hand on her lap. “I understand, Detective. I’m usually always present for his lessons because he’s training me to teach as well. I’ve never seen him do anything inappropriate with a student. The most I’ve ever seen is him placing his hand on their back to help them with posture, but that’s it.”
Detective Highwater wrote down some more notes as I watched him intensely. “Did Gabrielle tell you anything in confidence? This doesn’t have to be anything concerning Mr. Thompson. It could be about school. Her home life. Anything out of the ordinary?”
Jess thought for a moment, bowing her head. “She told me her parents were fighting a lot at home and that she would stay late at piano practice so she wouldn’t have to leave. I’m not sure where she would go when she did have to go.”
“Interesting,” he said. “Did she walk to Mr. Thompson’s house? Take a bus?”
“She usually took a bus to the stop at the end of the street and then walked from there to his home. That was generally the way she left as well,” Jess admitted.
“Do you know if that’s the route she took on Friday night?”
“I think so. I didn’t see a car or anything,” Jess answered.
“Did you speak to her on Friday night?”
“Briefly. I told her she had done a good job with her scales and that I’d see her on Tuesday for the next practice meeting. Was I the last person to talk to her?” Jess asked, horrified.
He sighed, placing his pen and notepad back into his jacket pocket. “It’s a possibility. We’ll be checking into the bus line to see if the driver saw her board. That’s all the questions I have for you at the moment. I’ll be in touch if I have anymore.”
Detective Highwater stood from his seat and shook my mother’s hand before taking his leave. I walked with him, opening the front door. As he stepped out, I followed, closing the door behind me. He turned to face me on the stoop.
“I’ve been following the missing person cases down here,” I began, not sure how to start a conversation about it.
“So, this is where you ended up after your stint at the center. You have a nice place with your folks,” he commented.
“Have you checked the motel across the street from the bus station? It’s called the Sundown Motel,” I stated.
“What bus station are you referring to? You’ll have to be a little more specific,” he replied.
“Emily Douglas. She was the third missing person. She went to a bus station on the Bay County line, and it was right across the street from the Sundown Motel. I don’t think she went there to get on a bus. I think she was going to that motel to meet someone,” I answered.
“And how would you know that?” he questioned, his eyes narrowing.
“I’m...sort of psychic? Look, I know it’s not an answer, but I have a feeling about this. Will you please look into it?” I asked.
“Did you know her?” he asked, relaxing. I was surprised he didn’t think I was insane.
“No. I didn’t.”
“She was a sweet kid. Her parents never missed a softball game, and then one day, she disappears. There one minute and gone the next. It’s been two weeks since her disappearance deeming her a lost cause to most people on the force,” he stated.
“I get it. I just wanted to help—”
“I’ll look into it. They may have given up on the other girls, but I haven’t,” he said, descending the stairs and then turning around once more. “And Aislin, your friend Maria, she’s going to be okay.”
“Thanks, Detective Highwater.” I watched him walk out of our driveway and next door to Steven’s home.
I heard the garage door open as my mother pulled the car out into the driveway. She rolled the window down as I bounded after. As I approached her window, she rummaged through her purse and pulled out some cash, shoving it into my hand.
“Take your sister out for a while. I’m sorry I have to leave so soon, but the office called, and they’re having a meltdown over there. I’ll be back as soon as I can,” she rushed to say before pulling out into the road, leaving me staring after her.
Before I could head back inside, Susan rounded the corner of our fence. She was on a mission as our resident nosy neighbor. It was irritating, but she was kind, so it was hard to stay annoyed with her for long.
“I saw that detective’s cruiser on the street. He’s blocking my mailbox. Is he here with you now?” Susan asked as she stepped onto my driveway.
“He was here earlier,” I replied. “He’s at Steven’s house now.”
“What on Earth...why?” she inquired, stunned.
“The newest missing girl was one of Steven’s students,” I answered. “Weren’t
you looking for Steven Saturday evening?”
“I was. He was supposed to help me at my store, but he’s gotten so unreliable lately,” she stated.
I could see where this was going as she lingered. As I thought about helping Susan at her shop, I wondered if it would interfere with my schooling. I was sure my parents would be thrilled with me obtaining a part-time job. They were both always talking about me taking on more responsibility—not to mention I had yet to look into the youth program they were so adamant about me attending. Honestly, I felt they wanted to be assured that I wouldn’t get myself into any trouble.
“Susan, I don’t have much to do after school. Would you like me to—”
“That would be wonderful! Could you start on Monday?” she asked.
“Labor Day? Yeah, I guess so...”
“You, my dear, are a lifesaver! I have so many arrangements during the holidays, and I was starting to worry about how I would get them all out,” Susan admitted, giving me a small hug. “I have to get back to the shop, but do tell that detective he needs to move before the mail arrives. They won’t drop it off unless he’s out of the way.”
Susan left and headed back to her house as I ran inside my own. It was enough interaction for one day. Leaning against the front door with a sigh as I stood in the foyer, Jess was seated on the first couple of steps of the stairway. By her expression, she was deep in thought. I could tell how heavily the guilt weighed on her mind. It was something I knew all too well.
“Jess?” I asked. “Do you want to get out of here?”
Chapter Twelve
“How’s your sister doing?” Raven asked as we took our lunch outside. The weather had cooled off, making it a perfect temperature. We weren’t the only students with the bright idea to hang out in the warmth of the sun while enjoying the cool breeze. Goosebumps rose along my forearms as the wind blew across my skin.