The Right Side of the Wrong Bed || Bruno Mars

Chapter 30

Bruno

"She's only five years old. Wears a white top and blue skirt. Brown curly hair done in a bun. She has this pink bag pack that says 'once upon a dream,'" I said so swiftly I didn't know if I still was breathing, with nerves awake and unable to settle down, and a heartbeat like the chugging of a train.

"We've already sent securities to check every level of the mall for any sign of your daughter, sir. Unfortunately, we've found not a trace of her," the security guard declared and I was on the brink of falling to my knees. The building had only two levels and compared to other malls, it was a lot smaller so it wasn't easy to get lost. But my Phoebe still did.

Curious eyes were directed to us while Gabrielle and I stood near the entrance of the mall conversing with the authorities there. "Well, have you viewed your CCTV monitors?"

"We've done that too, sir, and the only clip seen of your daughter is when you were with her, including the moment you came in with her at a toy store. Apparently, the store has only one CCTV functioning which is located near its entrance." the guard said. "Strangely, your daughter wasn't seen exiting the store. There were no records of it. That's why we're wondering how she got out of there without passing the doors. I've checked the place myself and asked the staffs there but got nothing. I'm very sorry, sir."

"Are you sure you checked everywhere?" I demanded, a bubble of anger now bracing to burst out of my throat.

"Bruno, I think it's best if we just call the police," Gabrielle suggested, putting a hand on my arm.

"Don't touch me!" I shot, moving away from her touch. "This is all your fault! If you hadn't showed up, this wouldn't have happened!" I shouted, at last allowing my fury to take over me. My anxiety and frustration made no room for other feelings to bloom in me, causing me to be negligent with my words and actions.

I saw pain as it gradually spread all over the bronze earth that was Gabrielle's eyes, dimming them. She bowed her head and chose to shut her mouth instead. At least, she's here trying to help, no one murmured in my head. Guilt pinched my heart but that feeling was quickly waved away by the thought of Faye discovering our only daughter was missing.

Then dread. Dread clawed its way a feet deeper down my spine. My skin was moistening but I felt cold and light-headed that I was losing the ability to think straight. The draftiness was especially lingering on the back of my neck.

I sensed Gabby take out her phone after a moment, and dialed. "Hello? Yes, we have an emergency here..." I felt useless and pathetic and horrible. I knew Gabby felt a little hatred towards my family and she hated being there to help me. But she nobly stayed, anyway, and I was a big, big jerk for screaming at her. All I did was to shout at people, pouring them my frustration, and not really doing anything to find my five year old.

"Bruno," a voice made me screw my head up.

A perplexed Faye welcomed my sight. Behind her was the sky at its eight p.m. state visible through the glass walls of the place.

The moment took time to dawn at me. There we were. Gabrielle, Faye and I. Faye, I and Gabrielle. I, Gabrielle and Faye

in one building, only one to two footsteps parting us from each other.

I glanced at Gabby and saw her traveling her eyes from Faye's plain white tee and over it, my red checkered flannel, down her ripped jeans. Faye's gaze moved from me to Gabby to me to the surrounding to Gabby to me. "What's going on?"

I gazed at Gabby to see her clasping her left hand around her right arm awkwardly and staring at the floor, occupying her self. I anxiously rubbed my face which I was pretty sure was as pale as ashes, and heaved a weighty sigh, heart dribbling double time.