Darkness falls - English version

Gone forever

>>Calm Down by All Time Low + Give me a sign by Breaking Benjamin + Take a bow by Mammoth WVH<<

Pontypandy - 28 hours later     (Sam's POV)

The alarm went on and a moment later Steele's announcement came: "Charly Jones has seen a body floating off the coast of Pontypandy. He's sending up flares so you can locate him."

"Elvis, you come with me in Neptune! Ellie, you support us on Juno!"

"Roger that, Sam!" They both shouted at the same time and while I jump onto Mercury, the two jumped into Venus and we drove down to the harbor with flashing lights and sirens.

I had so internalized the work steps that I unwound them automatically while my thoughts wandered once again to yesterday morning.

A first sunbeam had strayed through my window and into my face and roused me from sleep. The memory of the previous night had made me smile, until it faded because I had reached at the empty bed next to me.

"Penny?" I asked into the room, but I was alone. Still ignoring the queasy feeling in my stomach, I got up and got a new pair of pants and a fresh shirt from the closet to change into on the way to the kitchen. I noticed that the bathroom was open and also empty. 

"Penny?!" I called her again, but received no answer. The queasy feeling in my stomach increased to nausea when I found the kitchen empty as well. I glanced into the living room before dashing back into the bathroom only to see her laundry had disappeared from my drying rack. A quick check revealed that the shirt she wore yesterday was missing, as was my sweatpants from the day before.

"Radar. where is Penny? Find her! Search!" I ordered almost in a panic and ran after the Dalmatian, who immediately ran to the door and scratched it wildly. I threw open the door and ran after him. I got the impression several times that he was about to lose track, but he kept finding it until we got to Malcolm's door. There he actually lost her at the spot where Malcolm always parked his police car, which of course wasn't there.

I tried to call him on his cell phone, but he wouldn't answer. I tried again and again until I couldn't get him anymore because he had obviously turned off his cell phone.

So I called the station, only to find out from Rose that she hadn't heard from Officer Williams since yesterday.

I paced up and down the main street for four hours, not wanting to miss him, whether he was going home or heading straight to the police station, until he finally came driving down the street. 

"Sam. Do you need a taxi home?" he asked me grinning through the open window when he had stopped next to me and I had to restrain myself not to grab him by the collar and pull him through the window out to me on the street. Instead, I leaned into the open window frame.

"I need answers! Where's Penny?"

"Sam, we already had that talk. I..." he sighed, shaking his head, but stopped when I banged my fist on the roof of the car. I didn't have nerves for these games anymore. Penny was gone. Yet again. But this time she hadn't just rejected me. She left me literally. My wounded pride that she didn't trust me was fighting enough with my fear for her. She was out there alone. Ridley had found her before. Why shouldn't he be able to do it again?

"Exactly, Mal. We already had that. Penny stayed with me for a week. She snuck away sometime last night and Radar followed her trail to you. Don't tell me it's a coincidence!"

"Sam, I can't tell you anything. I..."

"Holy sparks, Malcolm! Don't you understand that I love her? I can't live without her. I can't bear to think that she's out there somewhere on her own, at the mercy of a killer. I want to protect her just like you do. Please tell me where she is. Please!" I begged and only now I realized that my eyes were burning with unshed tears and desperation. I must have offered a picture of misery, for I saw Malcolm at odds with himself.