Hayley's Beginning

Chapter 4

The rest of the week, Gabriel was nowhere to be found, and it's worrying me. Was I wrong to accuse him? Did he leave for good? Was there something he was hiding or was I looking too much into it? These questions sent me into a spiral of doubt. I've tried everything I could to help try to find Katherine, but nothing worked. On the weekends I usually devoted my time to my aunt and uncle, but I continued to try and find Katherine. Charlie and I were driving around town, to places we thought she would be, over and over.

"What do we do now? We can't find her, and the police can't either"

"I don't know Charlie." I said glumly. My friend missing and is nowhere to be found.

My phone started ringing and it was someone unknown.

"Hello?"

"Hayley?" The voice was near a whisper with hints of pain and loneliness

"Katherine? Is that you?" I looked to Charlie and put her on speaker so we both can hear her.

"I need your help. I'm in the woods... somewhere, and I... I can't find home" She sounded scared which broke my heart.

"Where in the woods? I need a location"

"I... I think an hour... or two away from the town cemetery? There were... headstones... and graves and I found a phone along the... the way"

"We're going to find you. I promise"

"I think the phone is going-" 

The line went dead, and there was eerie and dark silence on the other end. We called her parents, which called the police, and the majority of the town formed a search party to find her. Charlie and Amelia were following me and everyone else was split into groups to search for more ground. I saw something move in the dark and held both my arms in front of Amelia and Charlie to stop them.

"Wait" I shined my flashlight ahead of us and saw her lying on the floor.

"Katherine!" Amelia shouted. We all rushed to her and bent down.

"Charlie go get her parents and the cops." He ran and we stayed with Katherine

"Hayley?"

"We're here, K. It's okay" I tried to comfort her and so did Amelia

"Va-" She began to say but chatter and lights were coming our way. Everyone was shouting and trying to hurry her to the car and bring her to the hospital. I noticed something on the ground and waited until everyone was walking away. I bent down to the marks on the ground and saw a second pair of footprints. Was someone following her?

We spent the rest of the weekend assisting Katherine and her parents with getting better. Mrs. James was overwhelmed with relief that she was finally home and couldn't stop thanking Charlie, Amelia and me, no matter how many times we say It's not a big deal, it's not a problem, we're just glad she is safe again. I told Katherine that I would bring her the homework she was going to miss (based on her order for me to do so) and help her with it. When we returned to school, Gabriel wasn't at chemistry so when I went to art, I didn't expect him there. But to my surprise, he was. I went to the table that I was sharing with a student named Chad, and was beside Gabriel and his tablemate's desk. Ms. Swan started her lecture about negative spaces of art. We were assigned to replicate a statue, filling the negative spaces only (which would be the space in the statue and around the statue. Once art class was over, we had to head to lunch and I met up with my friends at our normal seats with my food.

"Hayley! Finally, where have you been?" Amelia shouted

"Ms. Swan kept us a bit late, why?" 

"Hey Hayley" Katherine was on the phone

"Hey, How are you feeling?" 

"Better. Were you able to get my homework from my classes?"

"I'm going to get the first batch of work right after I finish eating, and the rest after school. I'm also going to come to your house after school to help, right?"

"Yeah, you are. Okay, thanks, you're a lifesaver. Literally"

"No problem. See you after" I said and Amelia hung up.

I finished eating, with enough time to spare to get Katherine's things from her first set of homework. I threw out my garbage and headed to her first couple of classes. Once I finished, the bell rang and I went to P.E. I changed into my gym wear in the locker room and went to the gym. 

"Hayley," someone said, I turned around and it was Gabriel

"Oh, hey. What's going on?"

"How have you been?" He asked, which made me curious. 

"Um, good I guess. Where have you been for the week?"

"Family issues"

"Alright class, pay attention" Ms. Finn called, and our conversation ended.

The class passed by quicker than I wanted it to. When it was over, I changed and left the gym, but to my surprise, Gabriel was waiting. 

"Hey, do you mind if I walk you to your next class?"

"Um, no. That's fine"

We both walked together and once we arrived he left without saying anything. I went inside, hoping the day would come to an end. 

When the final school bell rang, I began to go to Katherine's classes to get her homework. Charlie met up with me in the hallway that was on my way to the final class I had to go to and followed me.

"Do you mind driving me home? My parents are using the car and it's too far to walk"

"Um, sure. Or do you want to have a study night with Katherine and me tonight?" I asked

"No, that's okay. Plus, I have this big test and presentation to prepare for. I plan to go nuts before I come to school tomorrow."

I laughed and said, "Sounds like a great plan. Wait here."

I went inside the classroom and Mr. Gonzoles was waiting for me.

"Ah, Hayley. You're here for Katherine's homework, right?"

"Right"

He handed me a few folders with assignments in them.

"Give Katherine my best wishes"

"Thanks, I will. Have a great night"

"You too"

I walked to Charlie and put the folders in my bag. 

"Let's go," I said and he followed