VANISHED

Chapter One

Who are you?

     I remember it. I remember it so well. It was as if the thin sheet of ice had finally cracked, and I fell through and drowned. I admit it, I was scared, but that was a feeling that I had always felt.
I had always lived with my father and I hated it. He was an alcoholic. He was abusive. He'd always hit me, or yell at me. He always had a new woman over, and every night I would hear the wretched scream of disappointment, echoing down the hallway with my father's voicing shouting not far behind. The one night stands didn't last long because of his terrifying personality and drunk manner. My mother wasn't around because she had committed suicide when I was only five years old.  It was most likely on account of my father.
I was sixteen years old when they kicked me out and I had been making friends on the streets. I'd go to art museums, libraries, shopping outlets, record stores, anywhere convenient for me to find someone. I did manage to make two friends. One day I was at the library, on the computer using an online dating website for friendly matters. That's when I met Toryn. He was probably one of the greatest friends I ever had.
Toryn was six feet tall and totally ripped. I mean, he is literally the strongest person I know. Not emotionally, of course. He has a soft spot for animals. Anyways, we would hang out from time to time. He knew everything about me. Toryn let me live with him for a while because I had nowhere to go but then he got a girlfriend and she hated me, so he kicked me out. Luckily, I managed to get a job at the record store during the time I had stayed with him. That's where I met my other friend, Raynee. She is my boss but she's the closest thing to a friend that I'll ever have. After Toryn kicked me out, I gathered up all my money that I had saved from working and I bought a little apartment. It's not the worst place to be, but it's lonely.
Today, I don't feel like doing anything. I want to sit here and soak in my sorrow, but I need to go shopping. I get up from my sofa and go to find my slip-on shoes. I realize that I'm not in my best state today and actually – I'm never in my best state. As I walk over to my bed, I notice that I have three missed calls from Raynee. It's really unusual because she never calls me unless it's serious. I want to call her back but I'm already going out into the city, so I decide to just pay a visit to the record store instead.
     I head out the door and walk down stairs. I never lock my apartment, even though I really should. I have such a fear of a serial killer following me home and chasing me up to the apartment. Anyways, as I'm walking down these stairs, I notice that my neighbor is sitting at the bottom sobbing.
"What's wrong Jake?" I ask, realizing that his head is in his palms and his palms are bleeding.
"She did it again.. She just doesn't understand that I wanted to help.." he sobbed.
"I'm sorry." I said. I couldn't think of anything better to say. His girlfriend is always screaming, yelling or complaining about something. She kicks him out at least once a week. Jake is a great guy. He's  generally nice and I can't think of any reason for her to act so harsh towards him.
"I need to leave honestly, because there's no point in staying with her. It breaks my heart that after six entire years, it's coming to an end. I was so happy.. Anyways, what are you up to, Violet?" he asked, almost hesitant.
"I'm just going shopping, I'm low on food again. I also have to go to the record store."
"Why, it's Saturday? You don't work on Saturdays" he said quizzically.
"I know but Raynee called me three times and I didn't even notice. So I'm just gonna go down and see what's going on."
"Oh, I see. Would you mind if I came over tonight? I know that we aren't close friends and that we don't talk often but I just need to go somewhere. I can't stay with Cara, she is too abusive."
"Sure, I don't care." I said, looking at my phone to see what time it was. "I should be home around 5:30 so anytime after that you can come over."
"Okay, sounds good. Have fun."
"Thanks." I said as I walked away. I suddenly remembered how bad the weather was. It's supposed to storm tonight. I walk out the door and I find that it's not raining but the sky is dark and the air is crisp.
    
     I'm two minutes from the record store. As I'm walking, I feel someone following me. I look behind me and notice that there is indeed someone following me. It looked like someone that I've seen before but it was hard to tell because he was looking down. When I arrive at the record store, Raynee looks upset. There are boxes piled on all of the counters.
"What's with the boxes?" I ask, eyeing at all the labels.
"Well, we're shutting down. I am so sorry. I will do anything and everything I can to help you stay on your feet" she said. I regret to remind myself that I'm not exactly "on my feet" to begin with. Raynee, on the other hand, has nothing to worry about. She is rich because of her husband.
"I understand.. Do you need help with anything?" I choked on my words. I am failing at life once again. I thought, What on earth am I going to do? I'm losing again.
"No, just take this time for yourself. I can handle everything." Raynee looked so devastated. Not for herself, of course, but for me. She knew that I would sink back down to my lowest point because I have never been one to understand how to lift myself out of depressions or hardships. I decide to just leave. I turn around and open the door and walk out. Of course, my life has to sink down to a low point again.
     The sky is darker now, which is funny to me. It matches my mood. I can't really describe my mood in one word though, it's really just a feeling. I'm on my way to the grocery store now. As I'm walking, I notice that there's a group of people gathered outside of a church. They look like protesters. It's somewhat odd that people are so angry over religion to me. I have never been religious because I have suffered for so long, I lost faith. I do, however, believe that people should be free to have their own faith or disbelief.
      I walk into the store and notice that I must be aware of how much I spend. I'm out of a job, and soon I'll be out of money. There appears to be someone standing behind me, but I'm too afraid to look. It's like that feeling you get when someone writes you a note and you are completely clueless as to what it could be about. I'm so anxious. I feel a tap on my shoulder and I immediately get chills down my spine.
"Excuse me" he said, with a deep voice. I turned around and the first thing I noticed was how tall he was. He had to have been at least 6 foot 5. I felt so small, but Im only 5 foot 6. He was gorgeous.
"Yes?" I replied hazily.
"Did you drop this?" he asked. My jaw dropped. He was holding out an entire roll of one hundred dollar bills. I wanted to say yes so badly, but I need to do the right thing.
"No, I didn't" I said, as I noticed his shoes. Those are the same shoes I saw when I was walking to the record store and I felt that there was a presence behind me. Is he following me?
"Well, do you want it? I have no use for it. I just found it on the ground behind you and I thought maybe you dropped it. Here just take it."
He placed the wad of money in my hand and I froze. I could really use this money right now, but this is not mine. I don't even believe that he found it on the ground. He looks so rich. He wore a gold watch, a real leather jacked and real faded denim jeans. He smelled so nice.
"I can't" I said quickly.
"Just take it." He left it in my hand and walked away.
"Who are you?" I called after him.
"My name is William. Have a nice day mam."
He continued walking a way.

What just happened? Who was he?
I have so many questions. I watched as he left and I knew that I wouldn't be able to sleep tonight. Thank you William.