Ghouls (Avenged Sevenfold / Synyster Gates)

Chapter 38

Brian's POV

It had been at least a month and still no word from Lauren. Everyone, myself, Cameron and Mikey especially, tried everything we could to get some kind of lead. I was worried sick. I missed her so fucking much. Her giggle, her smile, and her face... the more that we were apart, the more I realised how much I really liked her. I didn't really know what we were, I mean, I presumed we were together but I really couldn't be so sure, after everything that happened; I never know where she stands.

"Hey, Brian, Cam thinks he might have something," Mikey interrupted my daydreaming.

I rushed from the sofa in the studio back in CA, moving to the room adjacent where Cam, Mikey and the Berry's were.

"Yo, what is it?!" I asked, pulling on a tshirt and meeting the brothers at the laptop screen.

"She's accessed her account," Cam spoke, not breaking eye contact with the screen.

"But we've got her card," I asked, knowing that she left all of her belongings here.

"I know. She must have gone into a branch," he was speaking kinda rudely and a big part of me was pretty pissed that he was being so monotone and snappy. I think Mikey got a whiff of that as he placed his hand on my shoulder to calm me down; reminding me that Cam was just as worried about her as all of us, if not more.

"Where's the branch," Mikey asked, leaning on the back of Cam's chair to get a closer look at the computer screen.

Cam turned around, eyes firmly at the floor before lifting, fear evident in his eyes as he answered with, 'Jacksonville.'

"Well, we better get moving," I told them, immediately calling up our regular carrier airline to ensure we had at least 3 seats on the next flight south.

Seven hours later, we landed in Jacksonville. The three of us, accompanied by Lacey, Jade, Georgie and Caitlyn, got a cab and went to the city centre, desperately showing as man y people the photo of Lauren that we all had hoping that someone would recognise her and help us.

After hours of searching, I finally came across a small, frail, dirty scrounger a couple of blocks away from the biggest bus stop in the city, where busses from all over the country came with tourists and travellers, into Jacksonville.

"Hey, sorry to-"

"What the Hell do you want, pretty boy," the older woman hollered with a thick Irish accent from underneath the mountain of clothes, blankets, and broken boxes that lay on top of her.

"Sorry, I'm just looking for my partner. She went missing about a month ago and I think she came here. Please just look at this and see if you recognise her," I passed her the picture, almost losing hope in this manhunt.

"Yeah, I know her," the woman looked at me, somewhat disgruntled.

My face physically lifted in honest disbelief, "you do?! Well, when was the last time you saw her? Where was she going? Is she still here?"

The woman said nothing and simply held out her hand and motioned her fingers, as if asking me to pay up or some shit and despite my horror, I gave her all the money that was in my pocket. She looked through the bills handsomely before putting the bills in her chest pocket and folding her arms.

"Last I heard, she as on her way to New York. Gonna get a bus up. I'd wish her all the best; it's a tough crowd up there, but she's a cheatin' whore so I hope she gets what she deserves," she leant forward aggressively. There was no way I was going to let this dirty bitch get away with talking about Lauren like that but before I could react, I was pulled back by the shoulders.