The Moon, The Sun, and Everything Else

Missing

MISSING:
Kirstin Taylor Maldonado
Female
25 years of age
5 foot, 4 inches tall
Last seen at her apartment

If you have any information on her whereabouts, you are being urged to contact the LAPD immediately.

Avi froze at what he had just skimmed over. He had been blankly staring at this newspaper for the past fifteen minutes, in means of avoiding human contact. Of course, he loved the band, they were family, it's just he didn't really love them at four in the morning. He'd much rather be still asleep, but alas, when a video of yours that was your blood, sweat, and tears goes viral, I guess it calls for a celebration at four a.m. Not that he wasn't happy about it, he just wasn't happy about it at four in the morning.

After snapping back into reality and reading the Missing Persons snippet, everything crashed onto him at once.

They were waiting to celebrate until Kirstie arrived.

But she wasn't going to arrive because she's missing.

Everything else started to piece together as well. Everything about how she hadn't been responding to texts, and how her phone went straight to voicemail without even ringing first. Everyone figured she was doing the healthy thing and taking a mental health day or two, they didn't really think too much of it.

Avi threw the paper down and started out the door.

"Where are you going?" Kevin asked.

"I'm going to find Kirstie!" Avi ran out the door and started his car.

The rest of the group was perplexed by this, but once Scott caught a glimpse of the newspaper, they too followed suit and were all piling into a car.

~~~~~

Out of force of habit, Avi turned on Spotify through the aux cord that was connected to his phone. He shuffled the pre-made Top Streamed Songs of 2017 playlist and I guess even Spotify has it out for him.

In a matter of the first note being played, he knew it was one of Kirstie's singles.

"STOP!" He yelled at his phone and shut off the music. "JUST STOP!" Avi by now had pulled into the parking lot of Kirstie's apartment complex, and he was taking a few deep breaths and saying a couple of prayers before he went in there.

He didn't really know what he had thought knocking on the door would do, but he knocked anyways.

Obviously, nothing happened.

He crouched down and lifted up the small flowerpot that sat by the door. In years of knowing her, he knew she kept a spare under the flowers.

"You have got to be kidding me." Avi muttered when he saw that there was no key under both the flowers or the doormat. "You really did think of everything, didn't you?" He also muttered before he found himself picking the lock with every possible thing you could pick a lock with. Avi got so desperate to get into his apartment that he took off his hoodie and attempted to use the stiff part at the end of the strings to pick the lock. And sure enough, it worked.

The lock inside the door clicked, and he mentally praised the Lord as he used his knee to kick the door completely open.

"Kirstin!" Avi frantically shouted and ran throughout the apartment until he stopped at a handwritten letter that had been laid on the table.

Dear Whomever is reading this,

PLEASE GIVE THIS LETTER TO THE MEMBERS OF PENTATONIX RIGHT THIS SECOND!

Congratulations, My Loves! Daft Punk went viral! It was definitely a very exciting way to go.

If you're reading this, chances are Mitch has probably recruited Scott to kick in the door to this apartment for y'all. Also, chances are they've reported me as missing.

Don't stress, I'm not missing. I'm at home. Like 'home' home. I'm safe, I promise you that.

The thing is, I didn't have the heart to say all this to your faces. You know, I was always known to be totally collected and composed, and I guess my facade has cracked now.

Being honest, I have no motivation anymore to do music. I did my singles, we slayed with Pentatonix, we toured, and I'm not lying when I say it was the best six years of my life. I still love music and the fans, and you guys, of course, but something just kept telling me to go home and have a normal life.

Please know that I'm okay. I'm just starting over. Starting clean.

Also, please remember that I still love you guys to absolute pieces. Y'all gave me the best career one could have, and of course, as always, you're all welcome over for Thanksgiving.

Hopefully, I'll see you all again, but know that I am with all of you in spirit until then.

All of my love,
Kirstie

Avi's hands shook as he set the note back down, the paper folding in on itself as his tears hit it.

A moment later, Scott, Mitch, and Kevin had walked into the apartment to see the same sight Avi had.

Kevin came up behind Avi and looked at the note. "What happened?" He whispered.

Avi just handed the group the note and left her old apartment. Her flame had burnt out, and his went with it.