Without a Trace

Chapter One

"No Haden." I say to my best friend. "Absolutely not."

"You guys have been staring at each other for the past five minutes!" He argues. Haden and I have been friends since the fifth grade, when we sat next to each other in science class and were assigned as lab partners. Right now, we're getting lunch at a coffee shop. The guy working at the front counter is kind of attractive, and he and I having been checking each other out since he took our orders. When Haden noticed, he tried to convince me to have an actual conversation with him.

"I'm not interested." I say, crossing my arms over my chest. "He's not my type."

"You do realize that I've know you for over ten years right?" Haden says, raising his eyebrows at me. "I've witnessed you date three different guys. I'm pretty sure I know your type." Of course, since he and I have known each other for so long, we ended up dating our senior year of high school. It didn't end badly or anything (obviously, since we're getting lunch together right now, two years later), we just realized that we love each other as siblings and not like that.

"Well I'm not interested in talking to a guy right now."

"You're talking to me."

"Shut up." is all I can think of to say in response. He smiles smugly. "I'm still not talking to him." The smile leaves his face and he sighs.

"You're way too stubborn."

"That's why you love me!" I say, smirking. He just rolls his eyes. Then, he has a serious look on his face.

"So how are you doing? I know today can't be easy for you." Now it's my turn to sigh when I realize what he's talking about. Today is the day that would have been Emma's birthday.

"I just miss her." I say quietly. "I'm gonna walk there after this to see her I think."

"I'll drive you there." he says, smiling sympathetically. "I'm not gonna let you walk. It's freezing out."

"Thank you." I tell him, not wanting to walk when there's snow on the ground outside.

A half hour later, we pull up in front of the cemetery. I take a deep breath. Even though its been three years, it's still hard for me to come here.

"You gonna be okay?" Haden asks softly, looking at me with concern. I just nod, and get out of the car.

"I'll only be a couple of minutes." I say before shutting the door. I walk over to where Emma's tombstone is.

Emma Reves

1990-2012

Loved Daughter and Sister

"Happy birthday." I say sadly. "You would be twenty-five today. We would probably be out drinking right now." I laugh humorlessly. "I don't even know why I try talking to you. You're not even here." When she had gone missing, her body was never found, which makes this a lot more painful. "Where did you go?" My voice cracks. "You're never gonna answer, are you?" I start to walk away, but then here a voice behind me.

"She was your sister?" I spin around and see the same guy who had been checking me out at the coffee shop standing a few feet away from me.

"Yeah." I say cautiously. Had he followed me here? "Can I help you?" He smirks.

"Yes actually." He takes out a knife from his jacket pocket and my eyes widen in fear. "You can help me send a message." I start backing away slowly.

"Please," I plead with him. "I'll do whatever you want."

"Sorry sweetheart, this isn't personal. We just need to scare her."

"Who?" He doesn't answer. I quickly glance behind me, trying to see if Haden would be able to see me from the car. The car isn't even in view. I'm screwed. While I'm looking behind me, I'm tackled by the guy with the knife. "HADEN!" I scream, praying that he hears me. Then I feel a piercing pain in my side. I look down and see that the guy has stabbed me. It starts bleeding immediately and I become dizzy at the sight of it. The weight on top of me is gone, and I'm left on the ground about to pass out. I place my hand over the wound to stop the bleeding. "Help." I croak, hoping that somebody else is here to visit their loved one. "Help, please." I desperately reach into my pocket to get my phone, but realize that I left it in the car with Haden. My prayers are finally answered when I hear the sound of running footsteps.

"Willow!" I hear somebody yell and I realize that it's Haden. He drops down beside me, placing his hand over the one that's covering my wound. "Oh my god." he whispers when he sees the blood. I gasp in pain when he applies more pressure to it.

"I don't want to die." I whimper. "Please don't let me die."

"It's okay." Haden reassures me, smoothing my hair back. "You're gonna be just fine. Just stay with me okay? Hold on." He takes out his cell phone, and calls an ambulance. "Please, hurry. She's losing a lot of blood." My eyes are starting to feel tired now and I close them. I immediately feel Haden patting my face. "You can't fall asleep okay? I know it's hard, but you have to stay awake. Willow please..."

His voice fades away as I pass out.