Sub Rosa Ties ( A High School Dark Romance)

Gerard

Hair tousled from incessant pulling, eyes bloodshot from the relentless insomnia of the past 24 hours.

My heartbeat pounded erratically, refusing to find a steady rhythm since last night. Surprisingly, my body remained upright, but my fingers drummed incessantly against the small table in the corner where I sat.

I am beyond furious, seething with anger. A chaotic blend of fury, wrath, frustration, and worry churned within me. I am a mess-a completely wrecked mess.

"Yes, I need every investigator on this case so we can ensure..." I zoned out Ben's voice, my uncle and David's father.

He's the chief of the police department, and I found myself in his office. I never called him and scarcely caught sight of him except during family gatherings. It never bothered me much until this moment, with Zera's life hanging in the balance.

She was the primary motive behind my decision to reach out to Dad, and I told him to reach out to Ben.

He was in his early-fifties, his ebony hair streaked with silver strands, tousled yet impeccably groomed-an unexpected sight for a man of his age. He sat behind his desk, his gaze fixed on the computer monitor, his grip on the phone firm.

He multitasked, engrossed in his work while maintaining a conversation. I couldn't help but speculate whether he would be juggling these tasks if it weren't for a personal call from my father.

Dad had left a few hours ago after a brief visit, having been the one to alert Ben. Mom had left just half an hour prior.

Bret lingered outside the office while I remained inside, clinging to every detail about their efforts to bring Zera back to me.

Recollections of last night flooded my mind, and I sensed a tense lump constricting my throat, coiling its way down to my stomach.

It all began when Bret diverted my attention with a discussion about a basketball match, a topic I now bitterly curse myself for entertaining. If only I had maintained my focus on her, none of this chaos would have happened.

The moment Bret's phone rang, his demeanor shifted, his expression morphing into one of concern.

It was as though his face had suddenly become a canvas, painting a picture of worry with every subtle movement.

My gaze swiftly veered towards the spot where Zera and Sarah had been engrossed in conversation just moments ago.

However, the space was now vacant, devoid of their presence. It was as if they had vanished into thin air, leaving behind an unsettling emptiness in the air.

"It's Sarah. She said... " I didn't wait for Bret to complete his sentence before I sprang from my seat, seizing my phone and dashing out of the restaurant.

The frigid night air assaulted me like an unexpected blow, momentarily disorienting my senses.

Crossing the street, I hurried to the opposite side, where Sarah stood, her figure illuminated by the distant glow of streetlights.

She clutched her phone tightly against her chest, her gaze darting anxiously in every direction.

"Sarah!" My voice erupted louder and harsher than I had intended, almost causing the poor girl to quiver as her eyes snapped towards me.

I disregarded her reaction, my focus solely fixed on the urgency of finding Zera.

"Where's Zera?" I demanded, my steps lengthening into determined strides as I closed the distance between us in mere moments.

"She was here just now. She was here.I had just... then I glanced up." Sarah's voice trembled violently as her eyes darted around, her petite frame quivering beneath my towering presence.