What Happened to Sarah?

Chapter Six.

The walk to her room felt like an eternity. Every step Naomi took was heavier than the last, her feet dragging as though the weight of her guilt was physically holding her down. She wanted to turn around, rush back into the night, and keep searching—anything that might lead her to Sarah. But the darkness outside was impenetrable, a void that swallowed up any hope of finding her best friend. She clenched her fists at her sides, her heart pounding, echoing the same relentless thought: I failed her.

The hallway felt suffocating. The walls seemed to close in, every shadow threatening, whispering of what might have happened to Sarah. Naomi’s breath hitched, and she forced herself to keep moving forward. Each step was a bitter reminder of how reckless she had been. Why did I let her go?

Cali walked beside her, his arm draped across her shoulders. Naomi could feel the exhaustion radiating from him; they were both drained. He guided her to her room, his voice low and soft. “Get some rest, Naomi. We’ll find her tomorrow. I promise, it’s going to be okay.” His words, meant to comfort, barely registered through the haze of guilt in her mind. Before leaving, he gave her shoulder a gentle pat, but Naomi barely felt it. She was numb.

She stood still for a moment, staring at the door after it closed. The silence was thick, pressing down on her. With a deep, shaky breath, she muttered under her breath, “Please be safe, Sarah. Please.” The alternative was too horrifying to even consider.

Naomi finally pushed the door open. Inside, the room was dimly lit by the faint glow of the streetlights outside. Betty and Nia were already in their beds, lying still, their faces drawn and pale in the dim light. Neither of them spoke, and the quiet stretched uncomfortably. The air was thick with unspoken fears.

Naomi dragged herself to her bed, collapsing onto it without even bothering to undress or wash. Her muscles ached, and her mind was exhausted, but sleep seemed impossible. How could I sleep knowing she’s out there, alone?She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the torrent of guilt and fear that flooded her mind. But it didn’t help. The weight was unbearable.

“Did you call Angela?” Naomi’s voice broke the silence, barely a whisper. She didn’t even open her eyes. The sound of her own voice was so weak, so distant, like she was underwater.

“No,” Nia replied after a moment, her voice just as quiet, just as heavy.

Silence returned, pressing in on them, but this time it was broken by a sob—a sharp, ragged sound that cut through the stillness like a knife. Naomi’s eyes snapped open, and she saw Betty sitting up in her bed, her face buried in her hands, shoulders shaking. She was crying, no longer able to hold it in. The raw sound of her grief filled the room, and Naomi’s heart shattered at the sight.

Without thinking, she leapt from her bed and rushed to Betty’s side, Nia following just behind her. Together, they wrapped their arms around her, trying to hold her together as she fell apart. Betty’s sobs were uncontrollable, each one more gut-wrenching than the last. It was the kind of crying that came from the deepest, darkest place of fear and despair. Naomi could feel it—could feel Betty’s heart breaking, her voice trembling with pain. And it was Naomi’s fault.

“I’m so sorry,” Naomi whispered, her voice cracking as she hugged Betty tighter, though the words weren’t really for her. They were for Sarah.

Nia was the first to pull away, wiping at her eyes as she walked over to the mini-fridge. She returned with a bottle of water, handing it to Betty, who took it shakily, trying to catch her breath between sobs. Naomi watched her with hollow eyes, wishing there was more she could do. They tried everything to calm her down, whispered reassurances, comforting touches, but nothing worked. Betty’s cries were relentless, and the sound of them haunted Naomi. This is all because of me.