Psycho Sawyer (MANxMAN)

Chapter Thirteen

AN: I'm currently being kicked out of my college for... well being naughty basically, so sorry for not uploading sooner I'm just extremely busy lately. Anyway's!

Austin's POV:

My self and Derek awoke from a restless sleep, only to prepare for work. "It's not like we can call in sick, right? It'd be a bit weird if the both us did? We'll have to wait till tonight." Derek nodded at me, but I knew he wasn't listening to me. He'd spilled his guts last night, and he was therefore in no frame of mood to focus. Perhaps one day off work wouldn't matter?

I began throwing my weight onto either feet before determining that one day off work would in fact, mean nothing. "I'll be right back." Derek's head jerked up, his features wild with panic.

"Honest?"

"Honestly, I'm just going to call in sick for the both us." Derek nodded, going back into his room. I walked to the spot we kept the telephone, dialling works number as I tried opening the bottle of beer that was left beside the receiver.

What? I was going to need to drink to get myself through this day.

Derek walked in on me finally taking a swig, after I called to explain why we wouldn't be coming in. Sometimes it pays to be in a shitty work force that pays good money. So, I guess it does pay.

"We're off the hook, we can-"

"Sawyer didn't come home last night." I stared at Derek. Perhaps Cody was slightly right.

"What do you want to do then? Are we going to find him or...?" Derek watched me carefully.

"I don't know. I just hope he didn't go to the parental units." I shivered for Sawyer. I doubt he'd do something like that, he hated them. I pulled his arm towards the shower, gesturing for him to clean up. "Austin, you think it'll work? You know, talking to the girl?" I nodded my head, dismissing him. But truth be told, I wasn't sure. How could I be?

**

After an uneventful breakfast and shower, we headed to the cafe down the street, Derek having called the girl after he got out the shower. She was willing to talk, as long as we agreed to coming alone. We couldn't really bring anyone with us anyhow, not without the proof.

We sat towards a more secluded part of the cafe in silence, waiting for the girl to arrive. After an hour of waiting there was still no show. "What the hell? I told her where to go didn't I? And the time!" I nodded my head, watching the passerby's. We sat there for a little while longer, before a sense of anger washed over me as well.

She knew this was important why was she a no show?

"Perhaps she freaked out on us?" I voiced my thoughts, knowing too well that was the obvious thing. He didn't answer. "Derek?"

"I know where she lives..." I raised my eyebrows at my best friend.

"Derek? You know where she lives? Since when! How?" I was truly astonished as I sat there staring at him. What other secrets was he keeping from me?

"Does it matter? Look, if we're going to find anything out she is our only hope." I nodded regardless of the sinking feeling in my gut. I have a bad feeling about this.

We left the cafe in an odd manor, both of us eager to leave but reluctant to arrive. We ran to the curb before haling a cab quicker than initially expected. It was weird sitting beside a gloomy Derek, he was so ominous lately and I understand why, yes, but that didn't mean I understand why. You get me?

I mean, it was more strange for him not to bounce back like usual. Then again, how is this usual? Derek told the taxi man where to go and ended up having to direct him a few times through back roads. "Derek, where are we going?" He just dismissed me, staring out the window. I don't like this. It was like we had nothing to say, or at least that we didn't want to talk.

I preferred it when we argued over this.

Eventually we pulled up outside a long street of abandoned looking terrace houses. I paid the cabi and exited through the same door as Derek onto the curb. "Which apartments her's?" He looked down at his feet contemplating, and then answered: "Number 27 floor 4 I think... I know its 27 though."

I didn't bother asking how he knew, we just walked over to the front door. I was about to ask how we planned on entering without the key punch but it seemed the door had been broken and for quite some time, as it was wedged open using a broken chair and cardboard box.

We skipped the shifty looking elevator and began to climb the dull laminated stairs. Half way up I began to count the stairs, stopping every time I got to 67 because after that I'd get confused. "Still can't count, hu?" I looked up at Derek, realizing I'd begun to trail behind slightly.

"Still a nerd then?" He smirked lazily at me, walking up the stairs at an awkward angle.

"Just because I can count doesn't make me a nerd. It means I'm a child who grew up actually learning things." I rolled my eyes.

"After 67 they all get muddled up. The numbers just sound alike." I replied shrugging my shoulders. He squinted his eyes at me, but said nothing else.

We reached the fourth floor's door and pushed it open, emitting an almighty stench. "Fuck me that's pungent." I didn't want to breath it in so I didn't answer. We walked along the corridor to find the room 27 to be open. "Open?" I mouthed to Derek.

He shrugged, pushing the cracked white painted door wider. He stepped forward as I craned my neck behind him to see inside. "The place is trashed! Are you sure this is her?" He nodded his head.

"I checked the dial pad downstairs, her name was assigned to this room. 27." I scrunched my nose up in disgust. The place reeked like smoke, alcohol and something else I couldn't put my finger on. A sudden surge of dread washed over me as we stepped inside the hall of the apartment. Something is wrong. Very wrong.

We ventured further, every so often Derek would hold his arm out to stop me. "Watch your step." I stared at my feet as we walked through the compact hallway, into what I hope is the main living area. There was stuff everywhere. Boxes, furniture, dirty laundry and paper. "Either she's been robbed or she's got herself a bad interior designer." Derek laughed at my attempt to lighten the mood.

"Or she's tried moving...."The way Derek said it, made it seem like it was a thought to himself and I just so happened to hear it. But looking around now he's right. It was like a bomb had gone off in the center. Half the room seemed to be in the process of being packed, and the other half looked strewn about.

"Was she looking for something?" I voiced, seeing that it all must have been packed and then unpacked in a haste. The furniture and bits and pieces were in the 'wrong' sections of the apartment. I picked up a toaster off the ground leading into what looks to be a toilet. We walked further in to see the place was empty.

"Hello? Anyone in here?" I called out, waiting silently for a response.

"Go check the bedroom, I'll check the kitchenette area." Derek rolled his eyes.

"Do not eat her food. Where is the bedroom anyways?" I shrugged, walking over to the kitchenette, avoiding the fridge purposely as he watched me. I spun on my heal a few times. Okay, checked everywhere.

"Austin... Austin get in here." My blood ran cold as Derek called out to me in an urgent tone. I ran, dodging boxes as I did so, to stumble into the room behind Derek. There, hanging off the bed upside down was the girl.

  The girl.

With her brains blown out across the carpeted floor.