Lethal Obsession

The Unknown

**Thursday**

*Kale's POV*

Before opening my eyes, I roll over and lay my hand beside me to feel for Halston hoping for a replay of last night. Realizing the place she occupied on the bed is empty and cold, I put on my gym shorts and check her room and see her luggage is gone. What in the fuck is going on?! I run downstairs yelling her name, hoping to get a response. As I enter the kitchen, I notice no one else is awake but myself. First thing I see propped up against the fruit basket on the center island is a note. I hesitantly pick up the piece of paper and upon examining it, I see blood stains. As I read the letter, my heart drops into my stomach and a combination of rage and worry comes over me seeing Halston's name signed at the bottom. I know she wouldn't just leave on her own free will in the middle of the night and she is obviously hurt. Anguish and guilt flood my emotions as I know Nate is somehow behind this and I didn't protect her like I had promised.

There is no sign of a struggle anywhere in the cabin. I check on Beck and Chris and they are both passed out in their beds still from their drunken endeavors the previous evening. "Beck! Christian! Get up!! Tell me exactly what happened last night after you two got back."

Beck rubs her eyes still looking intoxicated. "Give me a second to wake up Kale. I'm still fucking hammered dude." She takes a drink from her bottle of water adjacent to the bed. "Ummm, no one was up when we got back and everything looked fine. Jeff and Mark came back with us."

I clench my fists. "They what? Where in the fuck are they? I really want to know, why you would be so naïve to bring them back here Beck!?!" I pause for a moment before I can get the rest of my words out. "Halston is gone!!!"

She looks around the room in a daze. "I don't know where they are. Fuck Kale! Don't take it out on me! You aren't my dad, dick!" She hops up out of her bed and then realizes what I just said and her anger turns to concern. "Wait, what? Halston is gone?"

I shake my head at her insolence and ignore her. "I need to get my bags and go!"

Shit, I realize I am losing time as I still have to pick up my truck from the tavern parking lot. "Christian, order an Uber to come here and get me."

I toss the letter down for Christian and Beck to read. They both go pale as they read the letter and tears come to Beck's eyes.

Christian gets on his phone immediately to order an Uber. "Fuck, she is in trouble dude! Is this blood? What in the hell happened to her?"

I throw my hands up in the air and then run them through my hair frustrated. "I think so. I don't know where she is but that's what I am going to figure out. This has Nate written all over it. Fuck man! She could be anywhere! I told her I wouldn't let anything happen to her!" I wipe the stray tears from my eyes briefly thinking of if she is alive or not. I can't think like that now. "I have to find her."

I sit on the bed next to my sister and place my face into my palms. She gives me a hug and insists, "I'm so sorry. Kale, this isn't your fault. We couldn't have known something like this was going to happen. We will find her and everything will be okay."

I shake my head. "No, we aren't going to find her. I am going alone. I can't get you guys involved in this and risk you getting hurt."

Beck rolls her eyes. "We already are involved Kale! She is my best friend too! Can't we call the police or your department? They can help, right?"

"NO BECK! You aren't involved! Halston never filed a report against him with all prior events and to top it off, the note is in her writing. There is nothing that proves he was here and she hasn't been gone for more than twenty-four hours. He had a clean getaway so it's our word against his." I get up and punch my fist into the door on my way out of the bedroom. I know the justice system at times can fail and this asshole isn't getting away with it. I'm just going to have to deal with this myself.