The Lore within Reality

Chapter 2

I feel like I've been hit by a bus when I finally drag myself out of bed the next day. I called into work that morning, letting my boss know I wouldn't be coming in. I start the coffee pot and call Leylah's phone at least fifteen times but it always goes straight to voicemail. I call the police and a missing person's report is filed later that day, but that doesn't stop me from looking.

I go to the house to start. Yellow tape is everywhere and trash still litters the yard. I glance around but decide it'd be better if I came back at night to look around the house. I'm less likely to be seen by prying eyes if covered in shadows. I go in search of the owner but absolutely no one can be found. I go to the hospital, looking for Josh but the nurse gives me an odd look, saying that there was no one here with that name. I leave the hospital beyond confused and frustrated. I don't know who all was at that party and there's no way of telling if I can't find Josh or Leylah.

I stand under the awning, staring out at the parking lot. For a moment I allow myself to feel defeated and panicked. My best friend is missing and no one can be found and the last time I heard from her she was terrified. I close my eyes, take a deep breath. God, help me. Please. A calm floods through me as I take another deep breath and then begin marching forward.

I go through my house, trying to keep myself busy before I go insane. I've exhausted my list of places Leylah would have gone, knowing that even she wouldn't pull this kind of prank. After hours of mindless movement, I slump on the couch, looking around my now spotless apartment. There's still at least an hour of daylight left, bringing my investigation to a halt for the time being.

I fall onto the couch, pulling my knees to my chest. I allow the tears to fall and the sob to build in my chest. I just sit, staring at the wall. I sit long after I've calmed down, long after my tears have dried, long after the sun sets. It's as if I'm stuck, glued to the couch,numb. A far off part of my mind screams at me to move, to get up, refusing to shut down with the rest of my body, but the other part of my mind screams back for it to quiet. I'm at war with myself and there's nothing I can do to end it.

But then it does stop and I'm standing, looking around the room for any form of nonexistent danger. A new resolve builds a home in me and I move to my room to change clothes.

I stand on the sidewalk, staring up at the beautiful two story house Josh shared with several roommates. Yellow caution tape wraps around the property and a gaping hole stands where a red door once stood. I take a deep breath and duck under the tape before crossing the lawn. Staring into the dark of the house, fear begins to creep it's way through me, sneaking its way up my spine and over my skin, spreading chills to every place it touches. My hands shake and breath catches. It isn't just fear I'm feeling, but pure terror.

Ignoring the terror as best as I can, I take a step forward. My eyes slowly adjust to the darkness. Shapes and shadows slowly morph into furniture and walls. I use the flashlight on my phone to maneuver my way through the house.

Starting on the bottom floor, I begin looking at anything and everything, hoping that it'll point me as to where Leylah might've gone. I search through each room, careful not to touch a thing. At first glance the place just looks trashed, like it would after a party, but it you pay close attention you see the horrific end of that party.

Multiple blood stains coat the floor, some leading from the carpet onto the wood floors as if someone was dragged across the floor. I cover my mouth, choking down a sob. The T.V. on the far wall is shattered, pieces of the screen glittering on the floor. I start up the stairs and ignore the dried blood on the banister and steps as best I can. When I reach the landing, I see deep divots and scratches in the wood that lead into one of the rooms. Did someone claw at the floor that hard, desperate to escape? Was something, or someone, dragged?