The Hunt

1

The phone rang loudly, like a screaming newborn child that awoke Jose with a start. He fumbled blindly for his phone, trying to block off its noise. He thought it was his alarm to wake up, but it was actually someone calling him. After straining to see who the caller ID was, he pressed the green button to answer.

"Wassup, Ren?" He murmured into the receiving end, collapsing back down onto his plush pillow and sleep immediately washed over him, but he refused to go back to bed.

"Did I wake you up?" Her voice sounded frantic but still concerned for her friend's sleeping pattern. "Sorry."

"Don' worry 'bout it," he muttered, groaning as he sat up and yawned. "So wha's wrong? It's --" he checked the clock hanging on the wall -- "like, five-thirty."

"I know, just, uh, can you possibly throw on some jeans and meet me at the Starbucks down the street?"

"Huh? Why? Wha's wrong? Seriously," he rooted his feet on the floor, more awake than he was before, despite the bags under his eyes. "Tell me wha's goin' on, Ren. No lies."

"Um ...," her voice was nearly a whisper on the other end. He heard pacing in the background. "Look, we shouldn't even be discussing this over the phone. They could be listening."

"They?" He questioned, gripping his phone tightly. "Look, you're gonna have to tell me wha's goin' on. If this is some cruel joke, I'm gonna strangle you the next time I see you."

"No, it's not. I promise. Just, get over as fast as you can."

"Wha? Come on, Ren, just --" the call was abruptly ended and Jose stared at his screen questioningly. He logged onto his device and shot his friend a text.

On my way. You OK?

He tapped the send button and stood up, quickly rummaging through a laundry basket full of clean and dirty clothes he hadn't sorted out in weeks. Whatever was going on, Ren sounded worried. Terrified, in fact. She was probably in huge trouble.

Jose hoped deep down inside that this was just some stupid prank.