Sara Palmer

Chapter One

Banging my fist against my bedroom door wasn't one of my most pleasant dreams. Honestly it hurt. The pain tore through my sleepy haze and I felt myself gathering the will to wake up. I wasn't waking though, the fear ripping through me, somethings not right. I was willing myself to wake up demanding it from my body but I didn't, I knew where this was heading and I was desperately trying to force myself awake the dream continued the way it had for the past two years the same way every single night.

The phone rings and I reach for it in a sleepy haze barely getting it to my ear before a panicked voice starts asking me questions. I barely register the conversation but the crying I hear the crying I jolt awake a pulse of adrenaline rushes through me. "Mrs. Vandermeer?" I question

"Ivy, she's gone, Sara please do you know where she is?" I look at the time it's 2am. Ivy had left my house around 8. I assumed she'd gone home. "No, I'm sorry, maybe she's with her boyfriend?" I was trying not to overreact. Ivy was rebellious. It's why I loved and envied her; she was so brave, so unafraid. "No, her car Sara it was found by the bridge. The doors were left open and the car was left on." More crying than "Did she say anything to you? About running away? Please tell me if you know where my daughter is. I was stunned, Ivy was a rebel but she wouldn't just take off, she wouldn't leave without telling me or her mom there was just no way I refused to believe it. "I'm so sorry."

The dream slips away as the fragments of the light peering through my blinds trickle in and slowly I'm pulled into consciousness, my body soaked in sweat, the blankets thrown and strewn across my bed. My parents used to come and wake me but as the years roll on and the dreams continue they just don't anymore. I know they feel it's time to move on but I can't not until I know until I have answers where did Ivy go, what happened to her that night. It's been two years since she vanished and nothing has been found since that night. I relieve it every single night. I live it every single day, nothings been the same, nothing will ever be the same again, not until there's answers, any answer at this point. I hold on to hope she'll be found alive, nobody has ever been found.

A knock on my doors causes me to jump and my mom opens the door. "It's time to go sweetie, are you all packed?" I nod my head in reply. "Ya mom just let me get dressed okay."

I'm moving into my dorm room today. I was supposed to last semester but I just wasn't ready. I'm not ready now but maybe my mom is right. I need to start moving forward with my life if Ivys out there somewhere she'll find me even if I leave this house.

I rose from my bed and pulled out my clothes, my mother hated the way I dressed but I just don't care I'm not her peppy little girl anymore, no bright bubbly cheerleader type anymore. I slipped my jeans on and pulled my black tank on, pulling my red hair into a long braid. I grabbed my suitcases and started out of my room. I paused before exiting, turning to look at my room once more, everywhere I looked I could see Ivy, her lounging on my bed talking about boys. Holding up my clothes to her body, her sneaking into my bedroom window. Everything in it holds a memory of her. I quickly exited as I felt the tears welling in my eyes. It's time Sara, it's time to move forward not on but forward.

"Are you hungry?" My mother asked as I reached the bottom of the stairs.
"No, not really." I replied as I set my suitcases down.

"You really should eat something sweetie." she gave me a look of concern but I shrugged it off.

"I'll grab something on the way." I faked a smile as I pulled on my leather boots. She came over and brushed a loose strand of my hair behind my ear. "Please drive safely and call me when you've arrived." Her concern was amusing. I've been making this drive every day. It's just this time I wouldn't be making the drive back at the end of the day.

With that we said our goodbyes as I loaded the car up and pulled out onto the street, with a final wave goodbye I was on my way. I had always thought Ivy would be with me when I did this. We'd be moving into a room together and onto college adventures. Or at least I'd live vicariously through her college adventures but here I was on my own.

About halfway I pulled over to a gas station my stomach had begun to rumble and it was definitely time for a snack. I walked the isle looking for something suitable to call breakfast and finally saw a pastry label strawberry danish. It didn't look the most appetising but oh well. I paid and made my way back to my car, I was pulling the plastic open on the danish when I saw it my car door was wide open but I'd locked it hadn't I. I slowly walked closer. Maybe in my rush I'd forgotten to close it. As I got closer I saw a piece of paper on the driver's seat. I scanned the area but the only people around were ones pumping gas. I picked up the paper and unfolded it, the danish fell from my hand and hit the ground as I read the words. She's still here, my body froze. Ivy, I spun searching my heart my mind my eyes pleading for her to be there but she wasn't there was no sign of who ever had done this. I flung my body into the driver's seat and slammed the door slamming my fists against the steering wheel I wanted to scream. This wasn't the first random note I'd found with no logical explanation. I use to think maybe Ivy was leaving them but she wouldn't torture me this way if she was here she would tell me she wouldn't hide she wouldn't torment me no this was someones idea of a cruel joke and part of the reason I had decided it was time to get out of town. Ivy's disappearance had become someone sick twisted way of hurting me why? I just didn't know.

After several minutes of deep breathing I started the car and went to pull out when I notice the song playing it was Ivy's favourite song cool girl by Tove Lo I checked the radio it was on cd, who ever had left the note had popped this cd into my system and now I was violently angry my hands were shaking uncontrollably who was doing this and why. I clicked the stereo off and continued to drive through my tears. I pulled over at a lookout deciding it wasn't safe for me to keep going like this.

This was worse than any other time this person had done this. It was some sick prank in some sick person's head, they'd gotten into my car but how, and how had they known I'd be there. I sat on the hood of my car as I thought about everything. Ivy had left my house at 8pm and by 2am her car had been found abandoned, her debit card had been left untouched. Her boyfriend swore he hadn't heard from her so where had she gone when she left my place and why hadn't she gone home? I know I'm obsessing but wouldn't anyone in this situation?

I sat for a long time pondering all the possibilities as I've done many times over the last two years, had she run away and simply left me behind? Had someone taken her? Hurt her? Or the saddest of all my thoughts had her happy attitude been a facade and had she hurt herself? That's the one the police believe that she'd pulled over that night and jumped from the bridge. I just refuse to believe that's what happened to her. She wouldn't do something like that, she just wouldn't. I slid off the hood of my car and made my way to the driver's seat when my cell rang. It displayed an unknown number. Usually I'd ignore them but for some reason this one I answered as I put it to me I ear "Sara? Sara? Help Me!" before I could register what was happening before I could respond the line went dead and I dropped to my knees. Ivy?