Game Over

Chapter 15

Fae - 14/Oct/2354–14:41:25st

"Fae, there's a call for you." David, the receptionist, said over her intercom. "It's on line 4a."

"Thank you," Fae said. She picked up the earpiece and stuck it in before taping the screen to accept the call.

"Ms. Thorne?" a woman asked.

"This is she."

"Do you know where your son Nathan is?"

A pit settled in the bottom of her stomach. "He's at school." I saw him to his classroom this morning and he went right in. Right?

"He never came back from lunch," the woman replied.

Fae glanced at the clock. It's three o'clock. "But doesn't lunch end at one?"

"Yes, Ms. Thorne."

"Why didn't you call sooner?" She clutched the edge of her desk, her voice rising with each ticking second. Janice looked around the edge of the wall, eyebrows nearly hidden in her hair.

"We thought you took him for lunch," the woman said calmly.

How can she stay calm? My child is missing and has been for two hours. "I never take my children to lunch."

There was no reply.

Tell me you're wrong. Tell me you have people working on it. Say something.  Fae slammed her hand down on her desk and tried to ignore Hilary's face at the door.

"What have you done to locate him?" Fae asked.

"We called the marshals. We'll let you know if we learn anything else."

"Wait," Fae said but the phone line was already dead.

"What's wrong?" Hilary asked, stepping into the office.

I can't just sit here. Not with Nathan missing.

Fae locked her computer down and grabbed her coat. "Nathan's missing."

Janice pulled Hilary out of the way as Fae ran out of her office.

"What do you need us to do?" Janice called after her.

"Let me know if anyone calls about it."

As Fae jogged through the foyer, David half stood at his desk.

"Fae, what's wrong?"

"I'm taking the rest of the afternoon off," Fae called as she ran through the glass doors.

It was still raining outside.

Of course, my umbrella is still in my office. It will take too long to go back and get it. I have to find Nathan.

She ran down the sidewalks towards the school. From there she would try and determine where Nathan had wandered off. A marshal stood at the school gates. His black and blue uniform repelled the water and he held an umbrella in one hand. The gates were closed. She tried to walk up to the gates but he held out a hand to stop her.

"Sorry, the school is under lockdown."

"What do you mean?" Fae snapped pushing her wet hair out of her face. "My son is missing. I have to find him." Lockdown? What is going on? Where is my son.

The phone in her pocket vibrated. She pulled it out.

"Yes?"

"Fae, this is Janice. The school called. They said that Caitlin is missing. She excused herself to go to the bathroom and never came back to class."