Apricity #Wattys2016

Chapter Four: Victoria

"The imagination imitates. It is the critical spirit that creates"-Oscar Wilde

I waved good bye to my boss and Marlene as I pulled on my coat and left the bar. I was leaving extremely later than I wanted to but we were busy again and I couldn't just leave them to do all the work on their own.

My car was a little ways down the street. It was cold and pitch black outside with only a street lamp giving off an erie light in the distance. The wind pulled my hair over my shoulders and I picked up my speed. I clicked the little button on my key chain making the car lights flicker on and a beep filled the silent street. I climbed in the car as the wind picked up again. I turned the heat up to full blast making the windows fog up.

I pulled off the side of the street and speed off feeling the car warm up. By the time I pulled up to the apartment it was almost 3:00 in the morning. The wind had died down and the car windows were so fogged up I could barely see out of them I turned the car off and locked the doors behind me.

I shoved my hands deep in my pockets fiddling with the little bits of fuzz as I walked down the walkway and into the lobby area. The apartment room was silent and all the lights were off. She must already be asleep I thought to myself as I tossed my keys in the clay bowl on the counter and pulled off my shoes and coat tossing them by the door.

My bare feet silent against the cold tile floor I crept into the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water. I was to tired to try and find or make something to eat so I chugged the water gently set the glass cup into the sink and crept to my room flicking off the lights that I had turned on back off as I went. I plopped down on the bed fighting my way under the covers. I hadn't realized how tired and worn out I was until I finally got comfy and just laid there looking up at the ceiling. After a few minutes of silence a thought popped into my head. Amber snores. Like really loud, wouldn't I have heard it by now?

I tried to shake the feeling but the silence was frightening. I shuffled around and slipped out of bed pulling the covers off of me.

My feet met the cold hard wood once again and I shuddered. I flipped on the hallway light and snuck down the hall to Amber room. I quietly opened the door and popped my head in waiting for my eyes to adjust to the dark

. There was no snoring noise.There was no figure lying on the bed, the room was empty.

My stomach dropped to my feet as I opened the door all the way and flicked the light on.

My head snapped around the room searching for her or any sign that she had been in here at all. There was nothing. I jogged through the house looking in every room.

"Amber" I called as I peeked into the bathroom and walked through the living room and kitchen flipping on lights. I continued to call her name my heart skipping a beat at every room I went to and realized she wasn't their. I was shell shocked and didn't know what to do. She could of went to a friends house. Yes that is what happened she came home and didn't want to be by herself so she went to a friends for the night.

Wouldn't she of left a note though?

I asked myself. Maybe she didn't come home at all maybe she just went to her friends house after school and tried to call home to let me know but I didn't answer because I was at work. My head snapped to the phone sitting in the kitchen. I jumped off the couch that I had perched on while I was thinking and jogged into the kitchen.

Their was no voice mails and their was no missed calls. Well she is old enough to take care of herself without having to check in I guess. She will be back in the morning I assured myself as I sinked back into the couch cushions. Deep breaths I reminded myself as I listened to my heart beat which was like a drum pounding in my ear I could feel each beat throughout my body as it shook along with my heart. I breathed in and fell back laying down and glancing at the clock which lit up as 3:53. She will be back in the morning no problem was my last thought before I fell asleep on the couch.