Can't Protect You Now

Missed Call

Christi paced the room frantically; the other adults stayed seated in silence with their daughters sent home by a chaperone. The awards ceremony was entirely ignored by the dance moms in light of the recent tragedy. Everyone nearly hit the floor when they heard the door slowly push open, hopefully one of the police officers they sent have returned not empty handed.

A little lady with round features walked in waving a flag singing, "we won again!"

"Oh would you stop it!" Kelly snapped at Cathy. "A child just went missing!"

Christi massaged deep circles on the sides of her head. Who needed a trophy when their daughter is gone and roaming the streets of a very large city. She reflectingly looked at her Chloe's phone which was packed away before the failed solo. It had about twenty one missing calls before she remembered there was no chance of it getting picked up. It was like the day Maddie disappeared all over again. Instead of Melissa's eyes twitching, it was Christi's.

Cathy left and taking her place were several policemen entering the room with sheepish faces. They separated, combed the city, but nothing. Holly held Christy as she sobbed loudly into her shoulder, the moms could just hear Abby throw a chair in rage in the other room.

No one noticed the door open again, Chloe felt her heart break seeing her parent cry over her. Without wait she alerted all the adults of her safety to ease the worry. Christi screamed and grabbed her daughter by the waist to toss her in the air. Melissa rushed over to stroke her back while Holly and Kelly left to give Abby the news.

"You're not going to believe what I saw—"

Chloe was cut off. "Don't ever leave again. Is that clear?"

The child nodded and decided not to explain anything.

• • •

Chloe saved all her explaining for home but only her reasons for running off stage up until running away all together. She left out all the parts involving her temporary stay at that apartment; it was hard to believe she even considered living there if she never got the heart to face her family and friends. That night, dreams of that mysterious girl who dwelled there will be enviable.

As expected - Chloe's phone had been blown up and filled with untouched notifications about missing calls. She went through them to keep them off her mind; all delivered from Christi's own cell except one.

Maddie. If not mistaken, her phone has been reached for the first time in a long time by Maddie. It was unsettling to say the least. Apparently she tried to make her call 5:40 pm that day. Exactly a half an hour after fleeing from the eerie building. Chloe directed the number to finally return the call... No one picked up.