Connection

Chapter Twenty-One: Cliff

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Chapter Twenty-One: Cliff

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The next day passed in a mix of scoldings by teachers for not completing his homework and boring lectures. Lacking any of the practical classes that Cliff preferred, Mondays were often a drag.

By the time the day was over, he was drained of energy and had a pounding head, though he forced himself toward the dorms, where he hoped to find Tony sick, but perfectly alive and safe. 

He wasn't yet sure what he would do if that was not the case, though instead of creating a plan, he thought of all the things that might be revealed when he spoke to Tony.

As he arrived at the same building as last night, he shook off his coat and walked to the desk where the same woman sat.

"It's you again! Glad to see you came back," she said, forging a smile though Cliff could tell by the heaviness hidden behind her words that something was wrong.

"Has anyone gone up yet?" His heart fluttered faster as he watched her smile droop into a frown.

"Yes," she answered quietly. "Something is wrong. No one could find Tony. His roommate said that he hadn't come back for a few days, but he figured he was staying with . . . well, you. He said he saw you guys talk a few times and figured he must have been staying with you because you guys seemed to be working on something. He said he heard something about dreams and names while he was getting a burger, and he figured you both decided it would be easier to speak in privacy and be easily accessible to one another."

Cliff rolled his eyes. It was definitely the most idiotic thing he'd heard all day. He knew it was honestly because people nowadays didn't think of anyone other than themselves.

"So, people are looking for him now, right?" he asked.

"Well, you could say so. I told the headmaster who told the mayor, but they're keener on finding the Charlotte girl and the woman who attacked our school," the woman answered.

"Why are those more important? Besides, don't they realize that he was most likely taken by that woman? If they look for him, it will lead them to the attacker!" Cliff's voice was raising and he felt his temple pulsing.

"I know," the woman answered quietly and softly. She glanced quickly toward a lounge area to the left where students mulled around. A few glanced toward them with their eyebrows raised, though none seemed to be listening intently. "I agree. They're not doing anything to search and they should be. It should be a top priority. It's like they don't want to find any of them."

Cliff nodded, and muttered, "That's probably the case," making sure she couldn't hear him. Then louder, "Is there any way that we could look for him on our own?"

"I mean, you can try to, but I don't know where you'd start," she answered, casting a vacant stare toward the wall behind Cliff.

"Well, thanks," Cliff said, extending a hand rather awkwardly.

"I'm glad you came and asked about Tony," she replied as she shook his hand with a warm smile. "We might not have figured this out without you."

They bade one another farewell and the moment Cliff got out of the building, he began running, only aware of his feet that pounded against the frozen ground and snow furiously. His heart thumped as he barreled across the grounds.

He pushed himself to run faster and further even though his legs complained as he went. He ran in a vain hope of leaving behind whatever was happening. Though, in the back of his mind, he knew he'd reach his house and all the terrible occurrences that had riddled their once peaceful community would still be existent, the fear still prevalent.