Obsession

Chapter 8

Moments like these are meant to be remembered.

"What are you saying?" I was dumbfounded after Josh said he knew where Lara was.

"I said, I think I might know where she is," he repeated those words but it never really registered in my head, not until he held on my shoulders.

"Really? How? Where?"

"Come with me. I'll explain it to you," he tugged my hand but it's as if my feet wouldn't move.

"What? You don't trust me?" He looked puzzled.

I was in doubt if he really knew where my best friend was, however I was desperate. I needed to end the misery of finding her. So, I willingly followed him. He led me down the hall and into the old audio visual room. It's too dark to see. I could smell dust from the funky old cabinets and film rolls. My nose got itchy and I was fighting myself not to sneeze.  My throat also started to get dry, irritated and all I could do was stifle a cough. It was a good thing that I did not have asthma.

 Only a bit of light could be seen from a crack on the window at the far east side of the room. I wondered how on earth could this be any related to finding Lara. She could be anywhere and the least of all places I could think of was here. I continued to walk, with every step my feet became heavy. I was breathing from my mouth and suddenly I bumped into something hard and edgy.

"Ahh!" I realized it was just an old television standing in front of me.

"Ssshh!" Josh put his index finger on his mouth.

"Josh, why are we here and why do I need to be quiet?" I whispered with annoyance.

He shook his head and gently pulled my hand and guided me slowly to the door at the back. I was starting to think this whole thing was stupid. I hoped that he's serious. He opened the door and a faint green light seeped through it. Noise was coming from the small room that looked like a janitor's closet. It was from a television. Josh urged me to come closer but I was too reluctant to go inside.

"Hey Nate!" He was talking to someone behind the door. I could not see who it was because I was still far from them. I decided to get closer and see for myself who Nate was.

Josh fully opened the door and behind was a boy with curly brown hair dressed in a black hoodie paired with blue jeans. Headphones were strapped on his neck and he was crouched down on his laptop in front of a table with four television monitors. Cables were scattered on top of it and on the floor.

"Wait a sec," he said still focused on his laptop tapping loudly on the keyboard.

Josh looked at me intently and I shut him a look that said "what now?"

"Dude, can you just stop for a minute? It's urgent!" Josh tapped him on the shoulder and Nate shrugged him off.

What's up with this guy? He needs to be scolded.

"Hey! Tech guy! The hell's wrong with you? Can't you hear us?! Are you deaf?"

"Who you calling tech guy?" He finally turned his gaze on me and suddenly there was a hint of surprise visible in his eyes . He scrambled up on his feet and his laptop almost slipped. I could hear him swallowed hard.

"J-Je-Jess! You're here?" He knows me and that made me satisfied. "Sorry, didn't see you there."

He turned to Josh and gave him a puzzled look.

"Show her the footage from your vlog." Josh interrupted.

"I can't," he said.

"The fuck dude! C'mon!" Josh punched Nate's shoulder then he's finally grinning.