". . . What?!" Alex's voice sounded shocked. "'Gone'. . . ? Did—Did she leave or something?"
"No," Jakira mumbled, trying desperately to control her emotions. Fresh memories of what had just happened clouded her head as she tried to explain. "We . . . we were talking in the living room. At one point she got up to make a tea, and asked me to get her something from her room. I went to get it, but when I came back out, she was gone." Her voice shook. "I- I thought she was just playing around, but . . ."
Without waiting for any more explanation, her friend announced, "I'll be right there," and hung up. Jakira lowered her phone and ended the call, then slumped against the deck railing miserably as police rushed around her searching for traces.
This was probably just how Night must've felt, she realized with a jolt, ten years ago when his father had abandoned him for no obvious reason. In shock, confused, and scared.
So this is the penalty for giving away my identity . . . even though I don't remember it . . . ?
She sat there in sad silence for another minute or two, and only straightened when she saw Alex stumble to a halt at the end of her driveway. They stared at each other for a moment before he dashed forward and she turned to rush back through the house almost simultaneously.
They ran into each other on the landing of the indoor stairs, where he instantly and wordlessly embraced her. She hugged him back tightly, afraid for no rational reason that she might lose him as well if she didn't.
"It's okay," he murmured softly after a long pause, then backed slowly into the wall without letting her go. "It's okay . . . I'm here now."
She liked how he was comforting her in a way different than most people would. He wasn't saying they would find her mother, because he knew as well as her that they might not, and he wasn't making promises he couldn't keep. Instead, he was gently reminding her that he was still there for her. That she wasn't alone.
Alex drew back ever so slightly, and, never letting her go, led her quietly the rest of the way up the stairs. It was then and only then— because of the dreaded silence forcing her to think— that she glanced at him and realized how bad he looked. His complexion appeared paler than she'd last seen him, his arm around her was trembling from either exhaustion or cold, and his hands were freezing. His eyes had lost their usual outstanding gleam of fun and now looked dull and strained since their dramatic moment was over.
As they emerged from the hallway, she ventured with him over to the couch, and he more or less collapsed onto it rather than sitting. "Alex, you look awful," she whispered in alarm, and he jerked back to attention, looking startled.
"I'm sorry," Jakira mumbled, "I shouldn't have called; I didn't realize—"
"Don't apologize," Alex interrupted her, quickly raising his hands for silence. "I'm glad you called. Don't worry about a thing."
"But you look—"
"It's fine," he cut in again, although the look in his eyes contradicted his words. "I'm fine. I told you: no worries."
She stared at her stubborn friend for a long moment, then finally asked the question that had been terrifying her for days.
"Alex . . . are you going to die?"
He hesitated, his eyes slowly dropping from hers, and her heart nearly stopped when he remained quiet for an eternal few seconds. At last he muttered, "I . . . I don't . . . know . . . M-Maybe? I mean—" He paused again, then went on carefully, "I will if this anxiety thing doesn't go. But I won't if I can help it." His expression slowly built with a new strength and confidence as he spoke, more like the boy she knew and . . .
YOU ARE READING
Where Light Meets Dark
Ficção Adolescente[COMPLETED ~ TO BE PUBLISHED... eventually] Sunray was the light, lonely and shining. She was a beacon of hope to the public, but quiet in her own life. To everyone else, anyway. Night was her shadow, sworn to protect her just as much as his home. H...
