Compassion and Oblivion

Chapter Twenty-Five: Exodus

Author's Note:

Hello!

I wanted to thank everyone so much for being patient with me during my recovery. I am SO sorry for leaving you hanging when I did. We are back, and I hope you enjoy this emotional chapter!

TW-Alcohol Use, Major Depressive Episode (Shane's 6 Heart Event)

     The soft sounds of the rain pouring against the windows and roof tiles made for a peaceful night's sleep, despite the aching pain in your chest.

     Shane finally seemed like he had been warming up to you. He seemed so happy, compared to the way he had been when you first met him. The way he had been laughing last night when he agreed to try out your skateboard made it seem like he was ready to start living his life again. Then, how his voice changed when he turned away from you, telling you to believe whatever you wanted...it worried you.

     I need to apologize. I need to hear him out.

     Shortly after your alarms wake you for the day, and you start getting ready for the day's work, you receive a phone call from Marnie. Your heart immediately skips a beat - the last time this had happened, you found Shane practically half-glued to his bedroom floor by stale beer and his own sweat. After your altercation last night, you figure a phone call this early in the morning can only be bad news.

     "Hello?" you answer, trying to contain your anxiety.

     "Good morning, (Y/N)," Marnie starts, not sounding nearly as worried as last time, which eases your mind a bit. "I hope I didn't wake you."

     "Not at all!" you assure her. "I was just getting ready for the day. What can I do for you?"

     "Well," she begins hesitantly, almost sounding embarrassed. "Shane didn't come home last night."

     "What do you mean?" you reply, your heart beginning to sink. "I walked with him back to your ranch last night, a bit before eleven o'clock. He didn't come in?"

     She curses quietly before releasing a deep sigh. "He did not. I was calling because I figured he, erm, spent the night with you, since you've been spending more and more time together."

     "No, no!" you protest. "Nothing like that. Have you tried calling him? Where else would he be?"

     "His phone must be shut off," she answers, worry beginning to infiltrate her voice. "He could be anywhere, I'll need help looking for him."

     "I'm on my way out the door right now."

     When you met up with Marnie outside of her ranch, she decided she was going to check around town to see if he had spent the night anywhere else - maybe he'd asked to crash on Sam or Emily's couch, or maybe he had gone to work early. Sometimes, Joja-Mart does need him to do early morning shifts if they get a large shipment that needs stocked, or when inventory needs to be updated.

     Meanwhile, you jogged around the forest - where you had last seen him. You checked the pier around the lake first. You had found him there in the past, sitting alone, save for a couple cans of beer and his thoughts. When he wasn't there, you made your way past the wizard's tower and to the south, and passed by the large clearing where the Flower Dance is held each year. After mentally checking that spot off of your list, you glanced around the abandoned house on the southside of the lake. You didn't see any points of forced entry, and decided to continue looking. He was also nowhere to be found on Arrowhead Island, or any of the smaller islands connecting Arrowhead to the mainland.