A Break Apart

CHAPTER 29. Undoing Mistakes

William's POV

I parked my car, climbed down and rushed to the front door. Getting closer, my pace slacked, and then I paused, my heart skipping many beats and a hard lump forming in my throat. Her door was open.

"No, no, no. God, please!" I muttered in a panic state as I gathered my strength and ran inside.

I halted in the living room. The entire house was empty and disturbingly quiet, and I hoped that she would be in her room. But sooner after that thought, my heart dropped, and time stopped for a moment when I caught sight of her purse and phone on the couch. I took deep breaths, forcing myself to remain calm and, with a gulp, I slowly moved closer, picked up the phone and shoved it in the front pocket of my jeans while pushing every negative thought out of my head.

I then looked around. "Nadine," I called, my voice a battle of hope and doubt, and no response came. "Nadine!" I started running insanely, bursting through doors and screaming her name before finally proceeding upstairs. I needed to be sure of her safety—even though the front door that I had met open, and her displaced items that I had found on the couch had proven otherwise—before jumping into the conclusion that... Don took her. My system shutdown for a second at the thought, and I almost stumbled on my face.

"Nadine!" The silence was maddening as I barged into her room, meeting Morphy who stood on his restless paws in front of me. He let out a sharp bark, and his wide glassy eyes were filled with fright, as if he was reacting to the lingering scent of a bad energy. His demeanor confirmed my fear, especially when Nadine wasn't in the room.

"Nadine..." My voice broke, thick clouds fumed my vision, and I began staggering backwards, feeling stupefied, with silence being the only sound that I could hear in my head and around me. My back hit the wall, and I slowly went down until I was squatted on the floor, helplessly palming my mouth with a shaky hand that I could barely control, my eyes a pool of tears, my chest tightening and labouring my breaths. My head was blank I didn't know what to do. I had hit rock bottom, and there was no way up. I realised then the reason why Don had locked me in, and that smirk on his face. He wasn't just getting away, he had a mission. More tears poured out of my eyes.

Morphy's barks pierced through the silence, woke me out of my emotions and reminded me that I needed to act fast. I sniffed, wiped my eyes with the back of my hand and sprang to my feet.

"It's okay, buddy," I said, comforting his now closed-mouth cry that was so heartbreaking as I made for the door. "I'll be right back. Just wait here," I added, closing him in, and then I hurried out of the house to my car, with hopes that the policemen on duty would be of good use.

"Why didn't you lock your door...? I should have told you to lock your door," I muttered to myself while I drove the distance that seemed like forever, doing my best to stay sane about the whole situation. And I wouldn't blame any criminal who tries to rob you because you're obviously inviting one. My words came back to haunt me, leaving a crucial pain of guilt in my chest. I regretted ever letting them out, because the only person to blame now was me.

I finally reached the station that had a couple of police vehicles parked in the yard, and many streetlights. I burst out of my car with a race, ignoring the buildings on either of my side and heading for the one in front of me that had an illuminating sign above the entrance that read: Aisle Street Security.

I was thankful to find two policemen at the counter. "I'm here to report a Kidnap." I started talking before I reached them, not believing the crime word I just said and the fact that I was in a police station. I could feel my body trembling as I leaned on the counter, and I didn't understand how they could be so calm about a news like this. But I supposed that being calm was a part of their job since they lived on bad news.