Missing

Chapter 5

I am released from the police station but all I know is that Riley is missing. Daniel is in custody. Poor guy. I don't believe he did what he's being held responsible for but I can't say I like him any better. It's merely just pity.

I pick up my phone and see that I have a missed call. It's from Chloe.

I punch in her number and see if she still needs me.

"Hello?" She answers after three rings.

"Chloe." It's more of a statement than a question.

"Omigosh Emily. Are you okay? What did they do to you?" She seems as scared as I am.

"Nothing. Just harrasing me with questions. Why did you call me? I wasn't allowed to have my phone in the room." The thought of the grey room depresses me and it will probably have a spot in my nightmares from now on.

"Oh, I was wondering if you were okay. I heard you had some sort of melt down back there. Were you really in handcuffs?" My - sort of - friend gasps. She's much more enthusiastic than I am.

"Yeah," I answer both questions, "Hey, um, who was that guy you got in the car with?" I ask cautiously. This wouldn't be the first time Chloe got mad at me for saying something wrong to her.

"Oh, that guy. Eldon."

Eldon. The name rings a bell but I can't remember him.

"Who?" I ask.

"You know, the creepy guy that used to be in a mental hospital?" She says as if it were a phrase you say everyday.

"Oh, that Eldon." I put the face to the name now. He's the kid that walks through the hall with a clear path in front of him because no one wants to be anywhere close to him. He has rumors spread about him. That he is mental. That he broke out of jail. All obsurded but if you've seen him, you can't deny that you've felt that way too. He's intimidating.

"Yeah."

"Wait, why were you in the car with him?" I ask.

"He offered to drive, my original ride ditched me and there was no way was I walking." Chloe answers.

"Okay."

There is an awkward pause then someone shouts something in the background from Chloe's end.

"Sorry, it's my dad. I have to go." My friend says in a hurry.

"See you too." I answer a second too late because by the time I finished, the line was already broken.

I limply toss my phone onto my bed as I fling myself onto the floor. Where is Riley? Daniel locked her in a room but she's not there anymore. Where is the key? Someone has to have it, or at least had it. The police never mentioned any picked locks or broken handles. I'm scared. Where is she?

The clock on my night stand says it's 9:57. I have a 10:30 curfew. I should have enough time to drive down to the police station and get more information.

I rush downstairs and hop into my car. My parents are too focused on Riley and if they see me going out, the will tie me to a chair till they can exit the house with me.

I start the engine and drive down the driveway and onto the road.