Phoenix's Lies

Tag, You're It!

River

The days after we split go quickly. Nix and I keep to ourselves but spend time with Libby and Logan when he's here, though that's not often since he was needed away on several business trips. Books signings and all the events that came with the running of a publishing house. A job he said he'd talk to me about if I ever wanted to know more.

It was four days before Nix and I split. And it was only then as he said he had some errands to run and I needed to study and promised to spend time with Lib. but we'd agreed it was a day and we'd be back together for dinner. Dinner and a movie with Lib to keep her company without Logan being there since she'd missed us both when we'd had to go hide. And I knew she stayed with me to remember El. Both of us were happy to sit in silence and remember.

But the day travelled slowly since I was worried about Nix from the moment we'd woken and parted ways. We'd texted throughout the day on and off but I was still worried. Especially when I found he had to go to Mountain View for some of it. I knew the others there would look out for him and help if he needed to but I still struggled to focus for the rest of the day. My bad feeling never shifts.

But it's not until evening that I notice something is wrong. Partly because I fell asleep and partly because when I did shift that anxiety, even just a little, I tried not to dwell on it. But between studying, spending time with Lib and doing everything else I needed to I fell asleep mid-afternoon and am only woken by Lib shaking me gently awake. "Rivvy?"

"Hey Lib, what time is it?" I roll over to study my phone, the screen blinking to life to show me notifications that I ignore momentarily in the quest to find out how long I've been asleep. "Shit, that late," Throwing the phone across the bed it lands with a muffled thump and the screen down. "Why didn't you wake me Lib? I could have spent time with you?"

She peers across the room to me with wide semi-fear-filled eyes and shrugs, "I tried to but you didn't wake up." She looks worried and I sit up to beckon her over for a hug. "I tried to but you didn't wake up and I was so scared, Rivvy. So scared."

I hug her tighter, "It's ok Lib, I'm here now." I look around, stilling when I hear the silence of the house. "Where's your brother? Wasn't he here to talk to?" Again my panic starts to rise but I push it down. Until she replies.

Libby shakes her head, eyes going wider than before so they look like giant saucers. "No. I haven't seen him since he left." I keep a hold of her until she squirms a little and I let go. "Your phone."

"Huh?" I don't get Libby's words for a second until I hear it, the muffled sound of my phone ringing. "Ok, where is it?" I hunt for it until Libby hands it over, sitting next to me so I can put an arm around her, answering immediately. "Hey Ari, everything ok?"

"Not sure Riv," She sounded worried and I can't place why. "Have you heard from Nix recently?" The silence stretches and I consider how to answer her. "Riv?"

I shake my head foolishly forgetting she can't see. "Yeah and no. We've texted on and off during the day but it's like I said. I fell asleep around two-ish I think. Why did something happen?"

Ari exhales over the phone with a worried sound. "What time exactly and what did it say Riv?" I frown, forgetting again she can't see me and she asks again. "Riv please, what time and what did he say?"

"Hold on a minute I have to find it." Looking back I scroll through our texts but see nothing out of the ordinary. "It's just him saying he's being careful and then just the usual. Love you and see you soon. At about half one. Just before I fell asleep." I hear silence from the other end of the line. Thick, deafening silence that seems to eat away at me, "Ari what happened?"