Collateral Damage

- THIRTEEN -

I half expected Dimitri to follow after me, but he didn't. I found myself wanting to be comforted by him rather than by my boyfriend. I mentally scolded myself for the thoughts.

I made my way to Matilda's bedroom. I needed to see it. I walked into the dorms and made my way around the halls until I found a room with tape across the door in a X shape. I opened the door and held my breath, I wasn't sure what to expect. But what I saw wasn't it.

The covers on the bed had been pulled off in what looked like at attempt to pull herself away. The computer had been thrown off the desk and smashed on the floor. There was blood stains on the carpet and the curtain had been ripped off the window. The standing floor mirror that sat in the middle of the room had a smash in it at about head height. It looked like someone had gotten a brick and thrown it at the mirror, but there was blood where the brick would have hit, making everyone believe that her head had been bashed against the mirror.

I took a second to imagine her in this room, late at night talking to her friends as she laughed and continued to gossip. I imagine her with a book in her hands as she sat at the window looking out at the amazing view she had been given. I imagine her flicking through dresses to wear to the equinox dance with her friends, and a smile appearing on her features as she selects the perfect dress.

"I thought I would find you in here," Adrian said from the doorway. I turned to face him and he was looking at the ground. His eyes shot up to meet mine and he avoided looking at any of her personal belongings. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." I replied.

"I know girl talk well enough to know that 'I'm fine' means that I'm not fine and I can't deal with this."

I rolled my eyes, "Well, you must know me too well then mustn't you." I said, my tone blunt and sarcastic.

I walked past him as he grabbed for my arm, "I know what you're thinking Rose and I think that you should just leave it."

"What?"

"You can't run off knowing that there is a lead, that's how Mason died, and none of us want a repeat of that to occur."

Ouch. But I guess it had to be said. I know that I can always count on Adrian to tell me the truth, straight up, no bull shit.

"C'mon." he said, nodding his head towards the hall way, "Let's go."

I followed Adrian towards the apartment where he filled me in on the plan. They all think that it would be best if we waited until we know more about who took her and why they took her. I mean it's not a stupid idea, but if we wait then that could mean life and death for Matilda.

They also don't know that Matilda is my daughter, and I can't seem to shake the feeling that I am responsible for her disappearance. I keep on dismissing it as me being paranoid or that if I had stayed that she would be safe, but it's something more and I just know it.