Wherever You Are

Fifteen: Jack's Disappearance

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"Christmas is the best time of the year you know," Jack said laughing, as he hung the lights on his fake, pine Christmas tree that he placed up. Sitting on the couch as I watched him, I nodded, though my mind was elsewhere. True, it was Christmas Eve, and the cheerful joy of the word Christmas ignited warmth in the pit of my belly, but I couldn't concentrate on any of that kind of joy at all. 

The other kind that scratched my mind over and over again was the joy that Jack brought me. Last night was amazing, more than amazing, life-changing, because it had made my mind up about staying or going. I told Jack that my choice was to stay with him earlier after we woke up, and I still can't get that smile out of my head. He was so happy to hear the news, he couldn't keep his lips off me eventually.

"I'm really glad you're staying, Charlotte," he said again, making me look back to him as he stopped working on the tree. "But do understand you can go anytime you want. Not that I want you to, but I'm not going to force you to stay against your will," he ended, making me get up from the couch to walk over to him.

"Jack, I've waited fifteen years to be with you, I'm not leaving," I whispered, entwining my hand in his that rested at his side. Smiling down at our hands, Jack nodded.

"I know, and neither am I," he whispered back, pulling up our hands to kiss mine and pull me in closer to him. "Are you going to see your family tomorrow though? For Christmas?" he wondered, making me ponder on the question a bit. Of course, it being a holiday and all, I wanted to at least give them a hello, but I really didn't know what awaited me...

"Could you go with me? It won't be long," I asked Jack, his arms still encased around my small body as I rested my head against his chest. The heat that he gave off was relaxing, considering how cold I usually was.

"Of course, if something goes wrong we can always come down here. No one knows where the elevator is in the house except the scientists, so we would be safe no matter who follows us," he responded with assurance.

"Okay, thank you," I whispered into his chest, closing my eyes and becoming tired from the comfort of Jack around me. I was extremely grateful that Jack was coming up with me tomorrow for Christmas to visit my family. I knew that there would be problems, hopefully not with the police, but having him there always calmed me down. Luke, on the other hand, usually made things worse and I was lucky if some random stranger calmed me down in any situation better than my own, now, ex-husband.

"You aren't falling asleep on me here are you?" Jack laughed, rubbing my back while I shook my head, even though I pretty much was. "Come here," he whispered, barely being able to hear it myself, as he picked me up in his arms and carried me over to the bedroom. Placing me gently down onto the bed, I yearned for him to sleep with me again and without any hesitation he stayed. Holding me with the utmost care, his hands caressed my back in soft motions as I fell asleep in his arms...

The light hit my eyes sharply as I woke up, the world spinning it seemed as a terrible headache fell upon me. Reaching to my right for Jack, instead I felt an empty bed, making my eyes dart to find I was correct in the assumption that he wasn't there. I pushed the covers off my body; my side of the bed a mess while his was neatly done. Pushing my way down the hallway, I stumbled down the stairs to the living room.

"Jack?" I wondered, a cold feeling sinking into my chest as I raced to the kitchen to find no trace of him. Oh God no, oh God where did he go? I asked myself, my anxiety kicking in way worse than usual while I checked every other inch of the house. Jack never left anywhere without telling me, that had been how it always was for as long as we knew each other. Stammering to the phone, I knew something wasn't right, and shook while my hands dialed the police.