All About Adam Lauder

Chapter 1

First 24 Hours

   The world had pretty much last things, but when was actually the last time I had seen Adam Lauder?

"Some of you might not know, or may have been informed but one of your batchmates is reported missing," Chief Police Joseph Briar announced at the end of our morning ceremony in school.

Some of the girls started whispering frantically at each other. The boys just stood there, frozen. My teachers were clumped in a group, the look in their eyes were enough to tell that they're suffering.

It was just only yesterday when the sun was shining on us. Pretty scary that no matter how perfect yesterday was, you still never know what to expect for tomorrow.

This was it.

"Adam Lauder's missing, and hopefully everyone would be aware of this."

I swallowed hard. I still couldn't believe any of this was true.

The Chief darted me a concerned look, and as his daughter, I was supposed to be used at this kind of news. We already talked about this, but it was still hard to believe that this was really happening. After I heard about the devastating news last night, I still would want to assume I was only dreaming, but then reality sets in, telling me I'm not.

I would honestly care less if it were somebody else, but unluckily, it happened to be someone I know. It does really hit different now.

"Jamie," one of my best friends, Martha, called. "Are you okay?"

I turned to look at her. "You?"

"I honestly don't want to talk about it."

I sighed, and nodded.

I shifted again to see my father in front who's now warning everybody, telling us that may every student be aware about how possible are the dangers we never expect could happen, because anyone of us could be in Adam's place right now.

"Especially now, we're never really safe in our world." Papa added, and he was right. Everything he'd said really never failed to hit me, and when I say hit, I meant real hard enough to knock me out unconscious.

I could let myself be unconscious for a while right now. But it really wouldn't be helpful today. So, instead of doing that, I pondered at my father's words.

When you think about the things that could never happen to you, that is actually when you're making a mistake. Never think it can never happen, that's why. You don't hold the future, you just run with it. And of how little we notice about the things to expect, you never know what will happen until it's happening no matter how much you avoid it.

Because the last time I checked, Adam Lauder was all good, perfectly unbothered. Hell, no one could ever get a grip on him. And now, he's just... gone.

Did Adam had ever thought of the things that could never happen to him? Did anyone did?

I don't think so. Not even me.

"You're really gonna do this?" Martha whispered, reaching out for my trembling hand.

"I know I can do this."

Martha held my hand, slightly squeezing it in comfort. "You know, you don't have to do this."

"I know, but I want to."

My heart started to beat frantically when I sensed Papa's short speech was coming to an end. When he finally glanced at me, it was then the time for me to speak next as I favored ten minutes ago, and to be honest I wasn't quite sure if I still wanted to do that.