Demons Grasp

Chapter 5

I spend most of the day staring at the laptop screen, hoping for someone to respond. A few people reply, asking follow up questions which I barely have an answer to. A few suggest other chat rooms or forums. So I am now switching back and forth between a number of tabs, hoping for a reaction.

I notice a growl and it takes me a minute to realize that it is my stomach requesting sustenance. When was the last time I ate? I walk towards the kitchen. The dimness in the little hallway leading to it tells me that I must have been sitting at the computer for hours. I flick the light switch and find myself face to face with a mirror. The sight is unsettling. I am a mess! My eyes are swollen and red, my face is puffy, my hair is in utter disarray. And the left side of my face is scratched and bruised from when I was pushed against the rough bricks of the fireplace.

Food first. I continue my excursion to the fridge and grab a bowl of leftovers, grateful for not having to cook. I put it in the small microwave, set the timer and then go to the ensuite bathroom for a quick shower and various other maintenance activities.

Minutes later I am back on my post, blowing steam off my food and cautiously trying a fork full. Of course I just burnt my mouth. I put the bowl aside to let it cool off some more and return to my checking the chats. One of the tabs is blinking. I click on it and see that it is that of one of the last chats I joined. I was pulled from the main chat into a separate chatroom. A message is waiting for me.

C0de-X: Who are you? Why are you looking for her?

Her? I never mentioned the gender of the person I am looking for. I consider my options. Not knowing who I am talking to right now makes me nervous. I should be careful. But on the other side, time might be running out.

redSCARE: I am an old friend that needs to get back in touch with her.

C0de-X: Prove it.

How am I supposed to prove this?

redSCARE: Look at my username. It is the title of the game she hacked when we were thirteen. Most of that happened on my computer, because her crappy foster family would not let her use theirs. She got into trouble over this and disappeared. That was the last I heard of my friend.

There is no reaction for what feels like an eternity. I try to eat again, but my appetite has vanished.

C0de-X: MC?!?

Could I really be this lucky?

redSCARE: Celeste, is that you?

C0de-X: Haven't used that name in a very long time. Why are you contacting me now?

I briefly bury my face in my hands. I am crying again. But this time they are tears of relief.

redSCARE: C, I need your help.

C0de-X: What did you get yourself into?

redSCARE: In short: I was with someone. He has been hiding from the government for the last few years. You might have noticed a movement on social media a couple of months ago... #iamjake? That was his sister and I trying to help him. Last night we got attacked. I was knocked out. And when I woke up, he was gone.

C0de-X: Heavens, you used to be the good girl of the two of us.

A laugh escapes me. She is not wrong there.

redSCARE: Can we meet?

C0de-X: I'll text you the location.

There is no holding me back now. As soon as I have an address, I shut down the laptop and start packing our stuff. Before I leave the house, I email the owner and come up with an excuse for the damage and the car that I will have to leave behind. I will be dealing with all of that later.

Within the hour, I am on the road.