Don't Scream

Chapter 4

✦ Chapter 4 ✦

Three weeks has passed and I haven't seen or heard from Andrew. The police were now investigating his disappearance but they had no current leads. They said they were trying their best but they had nothing to go on and it wasn't like I could tell them about the hospital and the stone. Not only would they probably laugh in my face but they'd probably put me in a mental institution.

They'd questioned everyone so much that I was almost convinced they thought we had something to do with it. They never voiced their accusations but it was there in the eyes each time they pulled us up for more questioning. They weren't working with us, they were working against us.

But whatever they were looking for they'd never find. Andrew didn't just get up and run off. He was taken. His parents had been devastated upon receiving the news. They cried and when the police told them that finding their son was probably a lost cause they completely broke. I'd never seen anyone so shattered.

Andrew's father was one of the most funniest, kind-hearted man I knew, and seeing him cry had made me and my friends cry. That is if I could still call them my friends.

None of them has spoken to me since the night of the party. Graduation went by and the event that was suppose to be a celebration was glum and weighed down heavily by Andrew's disappearance. He should have graduated with the rest of us.

I knew everyone was mad at me, especially the boys but I didn't expect to get the cold shoulder from Sharon. She wouldn't take any of my calls. She wouldn't even answer her door when I visited. Everyone knew that while I wasn't directly responsible, it was my fault Andrew was gone.

Now that my friends had distanced themselves from me, I had to deal with everything alone. The guilt was too much for me. It was a horrible feeling and it was slowly eating me alive. I couldn't sleep and I barely had an appetite. I couldn't even focus on my new job. Every time I closed my eyes my mind conjured up images of Andrew being pulled into the darkness. He looked so scared and helpless, and I couldn't do anything to help him.

"Cassie!"

My eyes snapped open and I sat up straight in my seat. Ms. Tallinn, my supervisor was standing before my desk with her hands on her hips. Her usually friendly eyes were staring down at me disapprovingly.

"May I have the documents I sent for an hour ago," she asked politely despite the clear irritation marring her features. I didn't blame her for being annoyed, mentally applauded her self control. If I were her, I would have fired me since the day I started. I wasn't exactly performing my duties to the best of my abilities.

Fumbling a bit, I pulled open my drawer and took out the files and handed them to her. She thanked me then started towards her office casually flipping through the papers. She abruptly spun on her heels and waved the documents in her hand. "Why aren't these signed?"

She wasn't even trying to conceal her irritation anymore. She looked really angry. I stared back at her and shook my head in confusion. "Sorry, what?"

She waved the documents again. "I told you yesterday to get these signed by Mr. Collin. I have to get these documents to the head office in Toronto in three days."

"I'm so sorry," I sputtered, standing to my feet. "I'll get it done now."

"Mr. Collins is the only board member authorized to sign these documents and he left the state early this morning. I cannot believe this. Just get back to work. We'll discuss your negligence later. I have a lot of phone calls to make."

I watched Ms. Tallinn stalk of angrily and sunk down in my seat ashamed and embarrassed. Unfortunately, the accounting firm I worked for was rather large and was an open office layout. Everyone had seen me get reprimanded and was watching me with pity and disapproving looks. I knew most of the workers here felt like I wasn't pulling my weight when it came to getting my tasks done and they were right. Of all the mishaps I'd had for the past week this was the worst.