A Little Piece of Happiness

Old Habits Die Hard

After a long day of decrypting, I managed to get a few files sent to the hacker. I'd forgotten how much how I enjoyed doing this--tech stuff. The last file I had sent him, though; he acted weird about it: it was a photo of a cat. I checked the time and so many hours had already passed--it was late evening. I haven't checked my phone all day. 

Of course my notifications were in the double digits; I didn't really want to talk to these people, I just wanted to do my part and be done with it. I had a message from '???', Jessy, and Thomas. I clicked on the hacker's text first. He wanted to me add a contact. I groaned on the inside--more socialization. 

I told him I would. I couldn't help but find this guy interesting. He did witness it, so he knows Hannah, too. What if he was in love with her? The thought slipped through the cracks. No, no, no; I've barely spoken a paragraph to this person. 

I added the contact number he gave me, and it turned out to be Dan. Dan? I huffed and put my phone on the charger. My stomach growled. Then I remembered that I haven't eaten all day. 

I scrummaged through my fridge and found leftovers--shrimp scampi. "Ugh." That would not go well on a completely empty stomach. I slammed the door shut--suddenly frustrated. I hadn't been to the market in days, due to my appetite forever changing. I decided on a pack of saltine crackers and chocolate milk. 

I sat down, and turned on the television to fill the quiet. I stopped on an old movie that I used to watch all the time with my old friend: Se7en. I let out a sigh of annoyance. Everything that has happened in the last twenty-fours hours, is making me feel super nostalgic. I had to shake it off. 

I decided to try and read, that usually helps. I went to my small bookshelf and picked up: Sharp Objects, by Gillian Flynn. I had yet to read it, and maybe it'd get me out of the hometown blues that's suddenly arisen. I read a couple of chapters, but the thoughts of Duskwood kept sliding in. I ended up tossing the book on coffee table. 

My hands tingled; I felt so frustrated that I actually needed to hit something, anything. I promised that I wouldn't go back. As I paced--yet again--I saw a picture on my refrigerator that burned into my mind. It was me, Phil, and Amy. We were the best of friends back then. 

Phil had always had a crush on me, but I never thought anything of it. But we did everything together; trick or treating, birthdays, school projects, we were inseparable; all three of us. I thought and thought; Duskwood wasn't really that far from where I live now, about an hour and a half. What could one night in Duskwood hurt?

I could check on Phil and Amy, we could catch up. Have a couple of drinks. I decided to give in and got myself together to go. I washed my face and pulled my hair back in a loose ponytail, pulled on my black boots with my favorite dark blue sweater and jeans. I brushed my teeth super quick and headed out the door. 

My first stop would be Aurora; I had a feeling Phil would be there. When I pulled into the parking lot, there was rarely anyone there. I decided to go in anyway. Duskwood was super quiet tonight, eerie. I walked in with light jazz music playing the background. 

There were only two tables occupied and three people sitting at the bar. This place should be busier on a Friday. The bartender was filling cups for the customers and I went to sat down at the very end of the bar. 

"What can I get you?" He asked. He was very attractive, long, dark hair, with a neck tattoo. "Rum and coke, please." He gave me a flirtatious nod and I almost came undone...it was him. "Phil?"

"At your service." He replied.

"You don't remember me, do you?" I questioned. He handed me my drink order, analyzing my face. It took him three heartbeats before he remembered. "Emerald!?" he exclaimed with excitement, filling the silence of the bar. I couldn't help but laugh a little. 

"I thought you left this place for good?" 

I shrugged. "I was feeling...nostalgic." It was somewhat true. "And I wanted to check on you and Amy. Have you seen her lately?" 

Phil shook his head. "I haven't seen her in a month." 

This surprised me. "A month?" I repeated. He nodded. "That's not like her." I said, suddenly worried. "You know this town." Phil sighed. I gulped down my drink and asked for another. 

"So you run Aurora now? When did this happen?" I was genuinely curious. He shrugged, leaning over the bar with his arms crossed; the smell of him wafted up my nose and it was like woods and bourbon. "Michael lets me handle Aurora now. He's still my boss, but he left Duskwood." 

That was expected. I wanted to change the subject, though; I had questions concerning this Hannah that was missing. "Um, Phil? Who is this Hannah girl that's missing?" I swallowed the lump in my throat that was beginning to form. "I mean, I don't remember her when we were kids."

"Hannah Donfort, Lilly's sister." He explained. Lilly? The name was familiar. "She's been missing for about seventy-five hours now? All of Duskwood has been buzzing about it, but the police want to keep it hush-hush."

I nodded, understanding. "Why?" he asked. "You've been gone for ten years." He seemed on edge a little, then. "If I told you, you probably wouldn't believe me." I said. I drank my other glass, feeling defeated all of a sudden. 

Phil looked worried for me. "Emera, you know you can tell me anything." He reminded me. I nodded a little. "Yeah, it's just been ten years; I'm almost a completely different person than I was back then."

"Still," he started, lifting the mood. "I know you can't deny me my good looks." He waggled his eyebrows and I couldn't help but let out a snort. He smiled crookedly and it was like seeing him for the very first time, in a long time. 

"I guess old habits die hard." I said, and motioned for another drink. I had a feeling I was going to need one. Phil winked at me and poured me a mug. 

                      *******************************************************************

I ended up staying, talking to Phil for over an hour. Around nine, the bar was almost completely full. And he had his hands tied. I told him that I wouldn't drive home, after drinking, and that I would walk to the motel. Duskwood was pretty small and you can get almost anywhere with walking. 

It was chilly, but I could still feel the warmth in my cheeks from the alcohol. I decided to check my phone as I was walking. I had a few messages from Dan. Basically telling me to leave him alone--which was fine by me. I had several other messages that I hadn't opened yet.

Jessy. She was trying to get to know me. Bless her heart. I sent her a reply that I was in Duskwood for the night and I had just left Aurora, catching up with Phil. I was almost to the motel, when my phone started buzzing.

It was an unknown caller. I denied it. Even tipsy me isn't going to answer those calls. A few more steps, it started buzzing again. 

Unknown caller. 

Damn. 

I answered. "If this is a pran--" 

There was heavy breathing, he sounded like a maniac. "I can see you.." he said in an almost sing-song way. My heart began to hammer. "Look--" I began, but he cut me off. "Stop getting into other people's affairs!" 

I felt as if I was about to pass out. The voice distortion the caller used was terrifying. It took me a moment to catch my breath and I hurried to the motel. Ms. Walters still ran it and she offered me just this one night free. 

I got into my room and locked it straight away. I looked at my phone and seen that the hacker guy was online. "Why the hell not?" I asked myself, giving into the mystery. 

"Hey, you there?!" I messaged. 

"Emerald?"

"What happened?"

"I got a threatening call."

I explained the situation and he told me it was a good sign; it meant that the kidnapper was moving from his safehouse. I could still feel the adrenaline inside coursing through me. I needed some ice water to cool off. I knew exactly where the ice machine was, however, I didn't want to leave this room tonight. 

I sufficed with tap water and curled up in the bed. I turned my phone on silent.