Pattern

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty Seven

// Avery //

We couldn't be in the room while Prudence's dad questioned our English teacher, which was annoying, but the law was the law, as my dad used to remind me. 

Myself, Madison, Dylan and Esther waited in the little chairs outside. Sometimes someone would strike up conversation, but for the most part we were quiet.

Prudence had been missing over a day. Everyone was tense.

Eventually, we were told to leave, and Robert Knightley appeared to tell us he hadn't gotten any information out of her yet, but he'd let us know if anything new was revealed. I was angry, sure, but I couldn't do anything.

I walked home, and on my walk, I ran into the one and only Crystal Evans, who was surprised but quite delighted to see me. 

"I was coming back from a friends'," She explained. "She was close to Hanna, so she's still upset." I nodded, and Crystal continued. Did you know her well?"

"Hanna?" I responded. "Not really, we were friends in middle school, but we haven't talked properly in years. What about you?"

"Not close, but we sometimes hung around together. I guess you could call us friends," She admitted. "But we weren't best friends. I kind of regret not trying to know her better."

"We all do, I'm sure. It probably goes for anyone who knew Natasha and Lucy too."

"And Prudence," Crystal piped up. 

I glared at her silently. "Prudence isn't dead."

"No, no, of course not," She said hurriedly. "I just.. I meant.. "

"It's fine," I muttered. We walked in silence for a while. I was about to ask her why she was bothering to hang around with me, when her phone rang.

She sighed and took it out, then peered at the screen in confusion.

"What?" I asked. "What is it?"

"It's Hanna," She whispered, staring at the phone, then up at me. "Hanna's calling me.

--

The phone stopped ringing before I could grasp what she was saying. 

"What do you mean Hanna's calling you? Hanna's dead!"

"Well, either that or someone's ringing her on her phone!" Crystal replied, pretty loudly. She looked freaked out. I didn't blame her.

"Was Hanna's phone taken from her when she was kidnapped?"

Crystal shrugged. "How am I supposed to know? She used to carry around her iPod.. but I've no clue what was missing or anything."

"Yeah, only Prudence knows that stuff," I muttered. "And Officer Knightley.. Ring her back, Crystal."

"Ring who back?" She asked, probably evading it.

"Hanna. Ring her phone." 

"I'm not ringing her phone! She's dead! It's like, bad luck or something!"

"I'll do it, then," I grumbled, taking the phone from her. She bit her lip as I went into the call log and rang Hanna back.

It was answered after the first ring. 

"Crystal?" A frantic voice rang out, hard to hear but easy to recognise. I nearly dropped the phone.

"Prudence??"

".. Avery?"

I choked back a laugh. "You're alive! Where are you? Are you okay? What's happening? Are you hurt?"

"I don't know, Avery, I don't know where I am.. I'm so happy to hear your voice right now, you've no idea.." Her voice broke near the end, and I could hear her beginning to cry. Meanwhile, Crystal was staring at me. 

"Prudence is on the other end? What's going on?"

"Shh!" I said angrily, then focused back on the phone. "It's okay, Prude, it's okay. I'm going to find you. You're going to be okay. I promise, you'll be safe soon. Everyone's looking for you, we're all so worried.."

I think my words make her cry harder, because I could hear her sobbing a lot louder now. I had to calm her down. 

"Can you tell me anything about where you are?"

She took a minute to reply. "I think it's a basement.. I don't know who the guy is, but he's about forty, a bit smaller than you but not small, he has brown hair, green eyes.. Not really a beard, but stubble.. He was wearing a green jumper and brown trousers last time I saw him." 

"Can you tell me the name of any wifi nearby?" I asked, suddenly having a brainwave.

Prudence half-laughed. "I never knew you were this smart.. But no, it's an old phone. It doesn't do that. Crystal's number was the first one I recognised, so I rang it.. what are you doing with her anyway? According to the phone, it's like six o'clock."

"Never mind that," I said quickly, even though she was starting to sound normal again. "Are you okay?"

She took a breath. "Not really.. My leg is all cut, and one of the cuts is deep, it won't stop bleeding.. It's my own fault for pulling out the scissors, though," Dark humour seemed to creep into her tone. 

"There was scissors in your leg?"

"It wasn't pretty." It was hard to hear her, but I could make out the words. "Please, find me soon, I don't know what will happen if he comes back.. I'm terrified, Avery, I'm fucking terrified."

I began walking towards the station. "Okay, I'll see if they can track calls or something.. I'll get your dad.."

"Don't leave," She begged. "Stay on the other line, please."

"I'm not going anywhere, don't worry." I broke into a run, still holding Crystal's iPhone to my ear. I could hear her following me at a far slower pace.

I kept running, and after about a minute, she spoke again, but there was undeniable fear in her voice. "Avery, I hear something, I think he's coming back."

"Just stay on the line for another minute-"

"I can't," She whispered. "He'll kill me, you don't understand!"

"Please, I'm almost there!" I quickened my pace, but it wasn't going to work.

"I'm sorry," Prudence said under her breath.

Then the call ended.