Manhunt (Sequel to Bechloe - Chicago was a mistake)

Chapter 13 - All-Nighter

Chloe's POV

I woke up to the sound of a door slamming and the next thing I heard was a car starting outside. Once I'd come to my sense I decided to make sure Beca was alright, you know since she'd come out of the hospital and all. I walked into our, her bedroom to find an empty bed. I glanced at the bathroom door, looking for any signs of leaking light. I found none. I went back out to where my phone was and checked the time. It was 4 in the morning. There was no reasonable explanation for her not to be asleep. I'd got her back and now I'd lost her once again. As I went to open my phone to text her I found messages from her in the group chat.
'Beca: Hey guys, is anyone else still up?
Lilly: I am always awake.
Beca: Great, Lil could you wake up Cynthia Rose for me and tell her to text me please?
Lilly: Done.
Beca: Thanks Lilly.' Unfortunately, there were no other messages and no sign of where she was. Amidst the mess of girls in the living room I tried to find Cynthia-Rose with the hopes she may have some answers. My search came to a swift end when I found her empty sleeping bag. Everyone else I'd made sure were present so it must've been hers. I texted both CR and Beca next, hoping for a reply. I soon realised that I wasn't going to get one too soon and finally went to find Lilly. It didn't take long as she was meditating in the corner. She opened her right eye before I could even reach a hand out to her. "I don't know where she is Chloe." The fact that she spoke stunned me in itself. I had come accustomed to either whispers or nothing whenever I tried to start a general conversation with the girl. "Oh okay. I'll leave you to it." I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disheartened by this but there was nothing I could do. I was turning to leave her alone when I heard another whisper at my back. "She'll be alright." I turned back to her and to my astonishment, she smiled at me. It was small but it was there.

As I sauntered to the kitchen I still couldn't get over the fact that Lilly had not only spoken to me but tried to comfort me as well, had hell frozen over? I checked my phone again, desperate for a response and to my relief, there was one. CR had sent a very brief one.
'CR: She's okay Chloe, I promise. I'll look after her and make sure she's home safe.' I offered her a simple 'thanks' before trying to distract myself. It didn't work though. I couldn't help but still worry about the girl. I'd seen the fear in her eyes earlier and the way her hand shook so violently wasn't normal. When I thought about it no part of the situation we were in was normal. I thought back to the past year. I should've realised that something was wrong with Beca. I should've pushed harder to find out what was wrong. I shouldn't of let her walk out the door that day. I should've found her. But I didn't. I'd spent so long wallowing in self-pity once she left when I could've been looking for her. I told myself she didn't want to be found when the truth was I didn't think I'd be able to face her. After a while, I thought I'd got over her but after hearing she was in the hospital I didn't hesitate to rush to her side. All those months ago I was naive. I thought someone so scarred from life would've gotten over it but that's not how it works. But now I was finally seeing glimpses of the other side, the side hidden from the world and reality. The side she tried so desperately to convince everyone didn't exist but I knew otherwise. She'd let the curtain slip slightly before and I swore to myself I'd see it torn down completely one day. It didn't have to be soon but she deserved a life without hiding herself.

Before I even noticed I'd done it I'd walked myself to the door and had my hand on the handle. I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep peacefully if I didn't know a certain girl was completely safe. I trusted Cynthia Rose just not Beca. There was a certain carelessness about her recently. Only involving things like not checking the road before she crossed but that's still a big deal. How long until it came to sitting on the edge on the roof? Part of me knew the thoughts were irrational and crazy while the other worried about her so damn much. I was so helplessly in love with her and no matter what I did that wouldn't change. I'd only briefly been her girlfriend and I wanted that title back. The tabloids and headlines didn't matter to me, her knowing me by that title did. I sat on the doorstep of the house for only God knows how long. I'd started thinking of all the memories I had of Beca and that lulled me into sleep. I'd tried to keep my eyes open but had eventually relented when I concluded they'd wake me up when they got back, hopefully.