Tears Of Insanity

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

     It's warmer here then it is back home. I haven't been anywhere so far away and even if it was autumn it was like winter back in Chicago. I was already settled in the house that we had rented and sat on a bench that was almost on the edge of the cliff. It had rough edges that I could feel, so I can infer that this bench has been here a long time. The wood was old and withered by now which gave it a dilapidated look. The warm breeze was in the air, but I wanted to feel a cold, ocean breeze. I looked towards the home where Veronica and Thomas currently were. I had to get back inside, so making as little noise as possible I walked inside. I picked out my camera then quickly left before Veronica and Tom could question me. I knew they would, but I wanted to be alone for a while. As I walked along the bridge and I tried to call a taxi which was much easier as it was back home as I got one within seconds. The metal cables passed by quickly and seemed to blend into the blue sky before I arrived at the city where everyone seemed to be in shorts and boys on their skateboards. I had never seen anything like it, so I continued walking until I reached the bay. Soon I felt the cold, ocean breeze smack my face as I stuck my feet into the water as well.

     "You're not from around here are you?" I heard a male voice causing me to open my eyes that I hadn't realized I closed. The weather was so different, so soothing. Digging my feet into the water gave the same sensation as when I would dig my feet into the dirt back home. Everything was different, but the feelings were the same. 

     "No," I say then look back at the horizon. I felt his hands on my shoulder, so I stood up to shake them off. I have in no way invited him to be so friendly. No words were exchanged as we stood there in silence. He laughed at the awkwardness that I knew he felt then nodded his head off into a certain direction. I couldn't lie that he was an attractive man with very attractive features, but that was not what I was here to seek. He started to walk, but I was uneasy. A complete stranger being so nice... as long as I stay where there are a lot of people then nothing should happen. I start to follow behind him and when he finally stopped, he helped me sit down on the side of a fountain.

     "I'm just going inside to see if my skateboard is fixed. I could show you around if you want," he whispered, yet spoke in a normal tone. My head tilted in the most unnatural natural form of composure. I assume he took that as a yes because he turned into the shop for his, I assume, skateboard. 

     "Wait!" He turns back around, so I pull out the picture of Jessica. "Do you think you could make copies of this?" He observed the picture and nodded then walked inside the little shop. I faced the water as it rippled from people throwing coins inside or people losing their items inside and pulling them out. Suddenly, there was a blue lotus floating by and I reached over to grab it. I smiled as I remembered the first time Jess saw one. She fell in love with it from the moment she saw it. When I looked at the flower in my hand I saw a little edge of a paper inside the flower. I felt my eyes widen as I pulled the petals off the lotus. Soon the paper was revealed. I'm okay. It's okay. I knew it was Jessica's handwriting, but it seemed that she was in a hurry. Her writing was all over the place and I was barely able to make out what it said. Frantic, I looked everywhere for the blonde little sister I knew. I ran around the fountain and turned in every direction, but I didn't see her. I began to look around for the boy that had found me at the bay, but he was nowhere to be seen. I mentally apologize for leaving as I dash away. I call a taxi then head back to the house before it gets dark. Veronica and Tom had to see such a sign. I didn't see my sister, but this note, it was all that I needed. 

     "Where have you been?" Veronica asks me right when I walked inside. Her body races towards mine and does a police pat down. She pulls me into a tight hug. They know I tend to leave without warning, but the new environment does result in more tension. I threw the paper on the counter then checked outside. There's still enough sunlight to go back and get the pictures to put them all over the city. I felt almost as if I had to perform everything in a hurry. She was there, she was so close. 

     "In the city," I state and grab some water from the refrigerator. I heard shuffling around the area, but I haven't seen Tom. "Where is T-"

     "He went to look for you," she says while walking around, cleaning everything I had dropped. I went to hang up my sweater because if I didn't I knew that Veronica would pick it up anyway. I knew Tom would be concerned for me as well, but to go look for me in a new city that we didn't know was foolish. Can police commit such foolish acts? 

     "Come on we have to put the posters of Jessica in the city. We'll find Thomas there," she nodded at me and we walk out of the house as we head into the city. Once we got there I went straight to the fountain where the boy left me, dragging Veronica behind me. I noticed a familiar figure and smiled as I ran over to him. 

     "Were you able to copy them?" I ask him once I am right in front of him. He nods and explains how he left them in the shop. He seemed annoyed and I knew that I had to apologize for dashing away from the way that I did. I also halfway didn't expect him to still be here. How strange. I go inside the shop and pick up the pictures that were made into posters. When I returned back, I noticed Veronica staring at the young lad and I chuckled to myself. I knew that he was attractive, but I didn't think he was attractive enough to make my friend drool. 

     "You okay there Veronica?" I joke. She takes her stare away from him to be able to glare at me. I knew that I had to apologize while I had the chance, so I raced forward slightly. I reached back for Veronica's hand and pulled her with me. 

     "Hey, I wanted to apologize for my behavior earlier. It was rude of me to simply leave with regard. If you haven't noticed, I'm looking for someone who is lost in the city and when I found a lead, I had to follow up on it. Anyway, I hope that you can forgive me, stranger." His lips turn into a smile and he accepts my apology. 

     "The name is Jack by the way." 

    "Well Jack," I start. "This is my friend, Veronica. I feel like you two will get along very well." I left them to it but didn't leave too far. I wanted to make sure that I could still keep an eye on her. I started putting up posters where I could and where I knew people would look. Finally, after a while, Veronica appears next to me. She grabs several posters as she explains that the two were very different and did, in fact, hit it off, but only as acquaintances. I and Veronica were putting the posters on the post, on the walls of stores, and on buses in every corner that we saw when a voice suddenly disturbed us.

     "Could I help?" I laughed a little and smacked the arm of the person who I knew the voice belonged to.

     "Tom you scared me," I say between laughs and Veronica was laughing at how startled I had been. All three of us soon continue with the posters until they have run dry. When it begins to nightfall we head back to a bus stop that could take us closer to our rented home before we could lose our way.