Silent Nights

1.

The Night She Disappeared.

~~~

Police cars surround her driveway. The cold wind numb my lips and the tip of my nose. How could she have gone into the woods? I bet it was because of her idiot boyfriend trying to be spontaneous for their anniversary. They've only been together for two months.

"Have you found anything?" My father was the leading officer for this case. My best friend, Mandy Avana, disappeared two days ago and no one has found any tracks or clues for where she could be right now.

"No, sir. Not yet." A police officer shouts from the tall trees behind Mandy's home. The forest behind this neighborhood would probably take weeks to be search thoroughly. 

"Well keep looking!" My dad yelled back. Ever since I told him that Mandy was gone, he hasn't slept since. I can't blame him. Mandy was family to us. 

It's an early morning today, but the sky's cloudy. It was going to rain again. 

"Dad, I have to get to work right now. I'll see you tonight for dinner?" I turn away from the woods and face my father. His eyes looked worried, but he nodded. I knew he wasn't going to be home tonight. He wasn't going to rest until he had found Mandy. If they found her.

I leave for work. I was almost late for my rounds when I finally found a parking spot. I head inside to change into my scrubs. My co-worker, Nicholas Shields, appears and smiles.

"Hey, Amelia. How's your morning?" Nicholas was already changed into his scrubs. He leans against the locker next to mine.

"Cold." I murmur, while I tied my shoes.

"It's always cold in Seattle." He said, tapping his foot against the floor. I rolled my eyes in annoyance.

"I'm late." I say, before I leave the locker room and head to the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit).

I was afraid he was going to follow me up the elevators, but I realize he works in the first floor. I avoid glares from my supervisor and sanitize in order to start working. 

During my whole shift, I couldn't stop thinking about Mandy. I had just seen her Saturday morning, then poof, she was gone. She was so excited for her date that night, but why did she have to go to the woods? She hates the woods. 

Her boyfriend, Daniel Evans, took her there for their date. He has been questioned since she disappeared, but he is as dumb as my doorknob. He took her camping and he states that she was gone when he woke up in the middle of the night. Her belongings were still in the site, everything was. The cops have found nothing on his clothes, his fingernails, or on the camping site. Nothing.

My lunch break was creeping up, but I had no intention of eating right now. Work was insane today, but I had to eat sometime. My supervisor approves my lunch and I head to the cafeteria in the second floor. I quickly grab a lunch meal and find an empty table away from the crowd. I didn't want Nicholas or anyone interrupting me today.

Before I could throw away my empty plate and head back up, my cellphone vibrates in my pocket. A chilling feeling crawls up my spine when I see that it's my dad calling.

"Hey." I try to say. 

"Amelia. I'm sorry, but we haven't found anything about Mandy." I didn't say anything. I couldn't. "But, Amelia. We found a body."

~~~

I drive home right after the second my shift ends. The rain was pouring down hard. The roads were congested and accidents were spotted everywhere. My father didn't specify who the body was. He said that it was found near the woods but that's all he said before hanging up the phone. Honestly, I was relieved that the body wasn't Mandy. It means she must still be out there. Could the body be connected to Mandy's disappearance? 

Before I knew it, I arrive at my dark driveway. The porch lights were out and the neighborhood was strangely quiet. Since the body was found, it has been reported all over the news, but they wouldn't reveal anything else about who that person was.

I head inside and turn on the television. I go into the kitchen and begin on preparing dinner. The news  about the body were on in every channel. I raise the volume.

There has been some recent evidence on the missing persons case on Mandy Avana.

I drop the knife in the sink, thankfully it didn't fall straight to the floor.

A bronze necklace was found near miles away from the Avana home. The necklace has Ms. Avana's full name engraved, but no prints were found. 

My hands felt cold. The necklace they showed on the screen was the one I gave Mandy for her fifteenth birthday. She never took it off since then.

The news anchor didn't move on with the body that was found this afternoon. I was hoping they had found evidence or a connection with Mandy.

Before I could surf through other channels, a crashing sound came from upstairs. I froze. I grabbed the knife from the sink.

I try to keep quiet while slowly walking up the stairs. I heard another slight noise by the master bedroom and a piercing feeling crawls up my spine.

Shuffling was heard down the hall and my neck went cold. Before I could regret it, I turn to catch a glance. 

I caught my breath before I cried out. A tall figure in the shadows stood at the end of the hallway. I grip the knife in my hand, hoping the sweat in my palm doesn't drop it. 

Okay, do something Amelia. 

I freeze when the sound of footsteps move closer. I blink hard, hoping the intruder doesn't spot me.

Breathe.

Adrenaline rushes through me and when the figure got too close, I jam my elbow into their face.

"Ugh, fuck!" 

The person falls onto the floor and I quickly straddle him and point the knife into his neck.

"Who the fuck are you?" I ask, grabbing his gun and push it away from his reach.

"You already fucking know." He chuckles. The sweat on the back of my neck stung. 

"What?" I ask, my voice cracks.

Before I knew it, I was knocked out cold.