Sweetheart

Chapter 1 - Missing

I'm so pleased that I've received such a good reaction from my viewers about this story! I will remind you that it won't always be gorey, as I know some of you have weak stomachs xD But, here's Chapter 1! Please vote/comment for more, and I apologise for any delays in uploading as I am currently taking my last few exams.

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"Bye Riley!" came the call of my co-worker, Ted. I looked over my shoulder, giving him a wave.

"Cya Teddy!" I yelled back whilst fumbling for my car keys. Striding out of the automatic sliding doors, I clicked the unlock button. My car's lights lit up momentarily and a beep sounded. I tugged open the driver's door, slipping into the seat with a sigh. It had been a long day at work. I guess working in an office all day wasn't too exciting, but it was all life could offer me at this point. I was only young after all. I'd be twenty in two weeks' time. God, saying it like that made me feel so old.

Pressing the keys into the ignition, the low hum of the car's engine started. I slammed the car door shut. The interior of the car began to warm as I switched on the heater. I hated winter, especially English winters. The cold chilled you to your bones. I shuddered slightly at the thought. I flicked my lights on and buckled myself into my seat with the belt. Reversing slowly, I exited the now deserted car park.

Driving down the streets of London, my mind wandered. I disliked my job, I'll admit, but it offered me good pay. I needed money desperately too, so it suited me well. I let out another sigh as I wondered what state the apartment would be in when I got home. My flatmate, Kian, didn't seem to understand the practicality of tidying up. But I wouldn't ask for anybody else to live with. He was my best friend as well as my lodger. Plus, with a smile like his, you couldn't stay mad at him for long. Kian was one of those people that everybody loved and wanted to be around. His bubbly personality earned him his respect. Unfortunately, I was a lot less socially inclined. Whilst he had many friends, I didn't. My family, co-workers and Kian were practically all I had. I didn't have the time nor the energy to correspond with old friends. I was your typical boring every-day office worker. But that's the way I liked it. If you shared your secrets with the world, some time down the line you'd get burnt for it by society.

Turning into the complex parking lot, I shut off the engine and climbed from the seat. Extracting my car keys, I locked the car and followed the stairwell to our door. Apartment 13AB. I searched for the set of keys to open the door, but nothing came to view. "Shit!" I cursed under my breath, glowering into the depths of my purse. I knocked on the door loudly, just in case Kian had gone to bed early. Unlikely, but possible. Nobody came. "This actually isn't happening." I say, mentally bashing myself for not remembering my keys. I pulled out my phone and quickly pressed the call button for Kian. He picked up almost immediately.

"Riley?" He asked, surprised. It wasn't like his phone had shown him my caller ID or anything.

"Yeah. Listen Kian, I left my keys in the apartment this morning. Stupid, I know. When are you coming home?" I question, barely stopping to catch my breath.

"Woah, slow down. I'll be coming home in about fifteen minutes. I'll meet you in Jeff's." He hung up. I stared blankly at my phone and then let it drop back into my purse. Jeff's was the little cafe that sat next to our complex. It was silly really, because the owner wasn't even called Jeff.

I made my way down the stairwell and next door, to the small cafe that me and Kian used to hang out at before the complex was built. It seemed like the perfect destination to move to after the apartments were built, what with our favourite diner next door. I pushed open the door and walked into the almost empty eating place.

"Can I just get a coffee? Thanks." I say to the petite waitress at the counter. She nods and briskly goes to prepare my order. I go to sit at a booth at the far end of the diner and slide onto the seat. The woman brings over my coffee and I pay her with the small amount of cash I have. She thanks me and scurries back to her post behind the cash register. I pull out my phone, scrolling through the most recent news.

'WOMAN FOUND BRUTALLY MURDERED AT HER HOME IN LONDON'

How lovely. Reading further, the story showed that a woman, named Alexandra Bynes, had been stabbed. She had only been twenty-one. A heart image had been carved into her chest. Police were investigating the situation, as they believe that an escaped patient from a mental institute had been involved in the murder. Wow, society today was seriously going downhill. My gaze rose then to meet the entrance of a stranger. His chocolate brown eyes glinted mischievously and he strode confidently towards the counter. Ordering a latte, he folded his arms onto the worktop. The waitress flashed him a smile with a suggestive look in her eyes. Oh god. I wasn't really in the mood to watch two people flirt it up whilst I couldn't even pull a muscle. Rolling my eyes, I returned to the light of my phone, sipping my coffee. I could hear him walk away to the other side of the cafe and sit down. The waitress continued to watch him from afar, yet he wasn't paying attention. I lifted my eyes to reach his form, but I was sneaky about drinking him in. The hood of his fabric jacket was resting just behind the quiff of his hair, hanging loosely onto the back of his head. His hair was dark, yet with caramel wisps highlighting it. He was fairly tanned and his jeans clung to his hips loosely. His left arm revealed a peek at a sleeve of tattoos. He sat with his legs spaced apart and his hands clenched together, fists pressed to his lips. Almost like he was praying somewhat. Whatever. Probably just another lunatic on the streets of London. There were plenty of them. I shook my head slightly and drank from my coffee, finishing the dregs. Where the heck was Kian? Impatience was settling in, and I didn't have enough money to buy anything else. Speaking of impatience, my eyes caught the incessant bouncing of the boy's knee across the room, his Converse shaking with the movement of his foot.

Suddenly, the tapping of the window made me jump. I cursed and turned to the sound to find Kian grinning. He gave me a thumbs up and gestured for me to come home. I got up from my seat. Oh Kian, what perfect timing. As I stood, the prickling of my skin made me shiver. I pulled my coat closer around my body, lifting my gaze absentmindedly. He was staring at me. The boy in the booth was staring at me. I offered a weak, awkward smile in return but he just looked at me blankly. I averted my eyes, almost embarrassed under his stare, and went towards the door. I followed Kian out, but had the urge to look over my shoulder. When I did, the boy had gone. I frowned.

"What's up Riley? Sorry I was late. I was with Layla." A grin formed on his face as he said her name, and I knew exactly what he meant.

"Ew Kian, I didn't need to know who you were with. It's nothing, just some weirdo staring at me in Jeff's." I say, shaking my head.

"Don't worry about it, I'll protect you from all of the loonies." Kian laughed, slinging a friendly arm around my shoulders. I broke out of my reverie and nodded, punching him playfully. "Hey, hey, hey! You're supposed to confess your undying love for me and say I'm your knight in shining armour! Everyone knows that's how the story goes." He said matter-of-factly.

"That's one story I've never heard." I giggle as we turn into the stairwell of the complex and climb the stairs. I decided to forget my encounter with the guy in the booth. I probably would never cross paths with him again, so there was nothing to worry about anyway. But something still had made my blood frost as I'd squirmed under his gaze, a feeling I could never get used to.