Ghost

Vanish

Seven o'clock at night. Reese and Julie are sitting on the couch in the living room, conversing about their middle school experiences. They laugh every now and then, constantly snatching chips from a big bowl in front of them. Everything goes quiet after a while. Suddenly, a phone rings in Mr. Borne's office. He answers the phone with a quick greeting. Julie and Reese turn around and listen to what's happening in his office.

"What?" he says.

A long pause.

"Damn it. Alright, Tom. Thanks." he says and hangs up the phone. He gets up from his desk and grabs his coat. Julie gets up from the couch, arms folded.

"Everything okay?" she says. Mr. Borne walks out of the office.

"Put on some clothes. You two are coming with me to the office. I can't leave you guys alone." he says.

"What's wrong, Dad?" she says.

"Your friend John is missing. His parents called because he didn't come home yet and he isn't answering his phone." he says. Julie covers her mouth and begins to pant. Reese grabs her shoulders and comforts her as she begins to tear up.

The office is pretty empty. Tom is the only one there, sitting at his desk. He's a chubby guy with a scruffy beard. He's playing a shooting game on his phone, not focusing on anything. Mr. Borne, Julie, and Reese enter the office rapidly. Tom jumps at the sound of the doors opening and puts his phone on the desk.

"Hey, Patrick." he says.

"Where is everyone?" Mr. Borne says.

"They uh, left or something. I don't know. I think they went on a lunch break." he says fidgeting with his fingers.

"You haven't been paying attention, have you? It's seven thirty. Lunch break was over four hours ago.' he says leaning on the desk.

"Oh, right. Sorry. I'm just so close to leveling up to a level twenty! I get a free turret when I do so the demons don't invade my fort, okay!?" he says.

"God damn it, Tom. Well, I'm going to the cyber department really quick to see if I can track his phone. Watch them, would ya?" he says. Tom nods and watches as Mr. Borne walks passed his desk and into a room. Julie and Reese stand there in an awkward situation with Tom, who is just looking at them.

"So, are you single?" he says to Julie.

"I'm seventeen." she says.

"Oh, right." Tom says, scratching his belly. "You her boyfriend?"

"No, I'm her friend." he says.

"Cool. So uh, what do you guys like?"

"Um, movies." they both say.

"Cool. Well uh, I need a few more points to level up. So you guys can do whatever, I guess." he says grabbing his phone.

"Thanks." they say quietly and make their way through the office. They walk down the hallways of the police department, peeking through open doors. The last door on the left is wide open. Reese and Julie spot the open door and quickly walk to it.

"The morgue.." Reese says. They exchange looks of fear. Julie looks back at the door and enters the room. The lights are still on. Black body bags are scattered on desks all over the room. Tools are next to each body bag. Julie and Reese slowly step into the room, looking at each body bag' tag. "Do you think we'll find them?"

"C'mon Julie. We shouldn't be in here. This is too painful for me." he says.

"I just want to see.."