Alone In The Dark

Chapter 3: I need answers

I walked the corridors confidently with Amanda and Taylor, searching desperately for Jasmine to find out from her what her problem is, but there was no sign of her today. I was frustrated, to say the least, because my mind was set on finding out what her problem is. Oh well, tomorrow is another day to try so I carried on with my usual school routine with Amanda and Taylor, but it really bothered me why Jasmine wasn't at school, I mean Kelly, Samantha, and Michelle were there yet they were looking very sad and lost and were as quiet as atoms. They weren't their usual bubbly, gloating, overly self-centred selves.

The past two days were pretty much the same, Jasmine a no-show. Now I'm really starting to get worried, I decided to call her after school today and maybe get some answers as to what her problem is and why she's not at school. By now Kelly, Michelle, and Samantha carried on with their lives; they found a new clique master and moved on rather quickly, kind of like ants or bees with a new Queen immediately. It's like they are all inter-connected to one brain and can't think for themselves, it's as if they need somebody to direct and strategize there next step- it's pathetic and sad actually.

The final school bell had rung; home time as usual; I said goodbye to Amanda and Taylor then walked to my dad's car. It was a long drive home; all I could hear was the radio music, which was set low enough to be just background music. When I got home I ran to my room, tossed my bag to the side and reached for the phone. Just as I was about to dial my dad called up to my room, "Aren't, you hungry Christina? You went pretty fast up to your room, everything alright?" he called sounding as concerned as ever. Since mom passed on he's really been over-concerned about me it's really funny and sometimes sad and annoying. "No thanks dad I'm not hungry. I'm fine just need to make an important phone call." I replied. "Ok, call me if you need anything, like food." He called up with a hint of mockery in his voice. I never really ate much; when mom was here he never pestered me about it, but now he thinks I'm being silly not eating much, always using jokes as an excuse to bring up my eating habits. "Ha-ha, really funny dad, I'll eat later at dinner time," I replied in a rush to make the phone call. I dialed the number fast and listened to the dragging dialing tone. Finally, an answer, It was her mother. "Hello?" she said, sounding depressingly sad. "Hi, it's Christina. Is Jasmine there? I need to talk to her." I could hear her mother's sobs through the phone, her breaths were unsteady and she said, "Christina... Jasmine is missing..." she paused sobbed and blew her nose then continued, "Since Tuesday morning I thought you knew..." she sobbed again. It was Thursday evening now, which meant she'd been gone for about three days already. My heart sunk to the bottom of my soul, like a stone in the vast ocean, with concern and sadness. I was taken aback and frozen, "Oh no...I didn't know, I...I'm so sorry to hear that...I...I have to go now, bye Mrs. Benson, I hope we can find her." That was all I managed to stutter out through my shock and grief. Her mother pulled herself together and said, "I hope so too, for all of our sakes...Bye honey." I heard a few sobs before she hung up. Missing? I'm going to have to go against the vow I made to myself and I'm going to have to ask Michelle and the rest who she was seen last with on Tuesday morning, as much as I do not want to talk to her I have to, for Jasmine. I was still staring at the phone when suddenly all of the truth had just crept in. I dropped the phone on my bed and buried my head into my pillow and sobbed for hours. I could not come to terms with the fact that she was missing, Jozi is huge; she could be anywhere.

I was still sobbing when my dad called up, "Dinners ready!" I pulled myself together wiped away my tears and said, "I'll be down in a second." Before I left my room I stood in front of my full-length mirror and made myself presentable, then stared for a few moments thinking that I should have asked her sooner. I tied my waist length curly auburn hair into a bun and cleared my face of all traces of sadness. I was painstakingly average, 5'4" inches tall, with waist length auburn curly hair, my mom's hair, hazel eyes, my dad's eyes and freckles. Once I was done with that I made my way down the stairs to the dining table, where my dad sat with a neatly laid table of food. He could sense something wasn't right, a hint of concern crossed his face as he asked, "What's wrong, honey?" I pulled out a chair and took a seat. Staring down at the table and doodling sad faces on the table with my right index finger I slowly answered blankly, "Jasmine's missing dad, since Tuesday and I... I didn't even know. What happened to us dad? She just changed so much and now she's missing. I... I just don't know what to do anymore dad, I really don't..."