Finding My Harmony

The Search (Chapter 2)

The scene played over and over on repeat in my mind. The kicking, fighting, attempts to scream out for help and the worst of it all the terror on Jess' face as she was dragged away. I tried humming my tune to calm myself down but I couldn't. I was going to flip out. For the rest of the night I stayed up staring at the spot where the door was and hoping that it wouldn't reappear to make me it's next victim. Sun rays lightened the dark, big beige room. Tears ran down my face as I contemplated what and how I was going to tell IT about Jessica's capture. I crept out the bedroom slowly and quietly shutting the door behind me with my back turned to the hall. I took a few steps back and turned around, almost having a heart attack. It was Miss Willis staring down at me. She was irregularly tall for a woman her age but we were already used to the height. Smiling, she tucked her hair back under her hat. It was in a bun as usual, her white nurses scrubs had a few wrinkles in her left pant leg. Miss Willis fidgeted about and stood on her tiptoes and did a little spin making sure her black and white striped crocs squeaked on the outdated brown tiles. I wasn't sure if this was a mechanism to kill nerves or what but she often did this when conversing with any of the girls.

"Adagio, you're up early. That's a first actually" said Miss Willis.

"Wait, you're up early. Are you okay dear?" she asked worriedly while checking my head for a fever.

"No, I mean yes I'm alright" I blurted out in a bit of a panic.

"Are you sure? Have you eaten yet? Wait no of course not you couldn't have eaten" she muttered to herself.

She continued the conversation with herself as I snuck away into the bathroom while she was distracted. I sniffled as I lifted my head revealing my neck and turning side to side checking out the bruises. I removed my bonnet and out flew my afro.

"Oh my God, this is going to take a while" I muttered to myself while letting out a long sigh after.

I took out hair supplies and stood there for what felt like hours sectioning my hair into four parts. Then I took some water and sprayed it all over my hair, moisturized and oiled my scalp then I put each section into a bantu knot. Next I cleaned down the area and secured my hair with a shower cap before hopping in a hot shower trying to wash away the pain and bruises. I stood in the shower and cried for about 10 minutes before I got out. Jess was the one who always helped me with everything, I felt so lost without her. We ended things on such horrible terms I know she didn't mean what she said to me. Jess isn't the type of person to say such cruel things. I gently slipped on my uniform which was a dainty checkered, linen and cotton gingham dress. I removed my shower cap and sprayed hair spray all over my head making sure to lock in my hairstyle. I stared in the mirror once more as the sun started to peek into the bathroom kissing my gentle ebony complexion. The door flew open and Katie ran in.

"I have to pee!" she shouted.

I swiftly walked out and shut the door behind me and went straight to IT's office. I let out a brief sigh before knocking. I was so anxious about the meeting that I couldn't wait for a reply to come in. I pushed open the door and walked straight into the room sitting in the seat in front of her desk.

"Good morning, IT I mean Miss Hanson." I said in a shaky voice.

"What is it Adagio? I'm very busy today and I don't have time for anything that's not important to me right now." she said angrily.

"Well uhm this is important, Jess was kidnapped last night while we were in bed." I said in a weary voice.

"Who?" Miss Hanson asked.

"Oh sorry I mean Jessica, Jessica Crone she was taken last night." I replied nervously.

"I told you I don't have time for games this morning, Adagio." she said in a gruff voice.