Looking For Faith

Chapter 1

Betty sat in her car as she tried to hold back her tears and cursed her junky vehicle.                   

"Oh wonderful! This is just what I needed", she said mumbled as despair began to fill her.

The journey she had started with hope had now deflated and was filled with foreboding, for the life that awaited her. All she could think about was the disapproving face of her mother  that had warned her not to come crawling back when her dreams failed. Betty had never paid heed to her words until now. She could not help but think this was an omen despite her non-superstitious nature. Betty pulled out her dead phone and tried in vain to turn it on. 

She wiped her damp hands on her jeans, regretting the decision of wearing a light pink sweater. Betty clambered put of her car to and assessed her situation, she had no clue as to how to change the tire on her second hand car she had recently bough for this trip and was not able to call her mechanic father. Having spent her childhood helping her father in the garage the irony of the situation was not lost on her. She finally decided to trek the rest of the way to town and have AAA deliver he car once she got access to a payphone. As she began opening the door to her car she heard someone pulling up behind her.

Betty had heard enough true crime podcasts to know she was not safe, she quickly grabbed the pepper spray she keep on the dash board before turning around. In the driver's seat of the dark blue pickup truck that had pulled up to next to her sat a brown haired college student. "Hey there miss, I thought you looked like you needed help, can I be of any assistance?" he asked accompanied by a dimpled smile. still not off her guard she clutched the tube in her hand " my car got a flat tire but i was having trouble fixing, could you just point to the nearest mechanic?"  Betty replied in a hopeful tone.

"The nearest mechanic is 7 miles from here and I don't think they're open this early in the morning" seeing her forlorn look he quickly followed by with "My name is Ted and i could fix the tire for you, i work part time at the mechanics store". Betty quickly accepted his offer but didn't relax her grip on the bottle. As Ted began to replace her tire they began to converse. Betty found out he was a student at the state university and he spent his holidays and summers at home, he was a sociology major and was passionate about it.

His easy demeanor and comforting green eyes soon lulled her into sharing details about herself she usually was hesitant to share. Her grip on the bottle of pepper spray slowly loosened as Betty felt herself warming up to him.

"Alright we're done" he exclaimed gathering his tools "You really should be more careful miss especially considering what's going"  Betty couldn't help but ask " What's going on?"

" A local high schooler went missing a few days ago" Betty's curiosity  immediately piqued, it was natural instinct as journalist to want to know more. "Did you know her?" 

He chuckled as he replied "In a small town like this everyone knows every thing about each other" 

As someone who had grown up in a large city the idea seemed unnatural to Betty. She thanked him and made a mental note to drop by the mechanics store to pay her dues. As Betty started up the car her mind whirled with what she had just heard. Even as new journalist she knew that she had just found her first story.

The next day

Betty found herself in her piece of shit car again the next day, this time not physically unable to leave but mentally. Mustering up enough courage, Betty slowly made her way out of the car being careful to not spill any of her caramel latte on her fancy work shirt that she splurged  money she didn't have on. Betty began creating on the introduction she would give when she meet her boss and co-workers, she became so lost in her thoughts that she was finally roused out of her thoughts when she hit her head against the door of the news agency. Rubbing her head Betty began thanking her lucky star no one saw her when she heard a sharp giggle behind her.

"Are you okay?" asked the concerned Asian-American woman behind Betty.

Betty covered her red cheeks as she assured the petite woman that nothing was hurt aside from her pride. The woman's tag caught Betty's eye especially the words Susan and head editor.

"It's so great to finally meet you, I'm-"

"Betty Morral, our new crime journalist, I know. Let's introduce you to our team" Susan replied in a warm but professional tone as she opened the door for me.

After receiving the orientation speech from an over enthusiastic Susan her brain had turned to mush. However it didn't stop her from noticing the posters plastered all  over the walls, as they approached the end of the hallway the face on the posters became clearer. The first thing Betty noticed were her eyes, they were the color of clouds before a thunderstorm. While the rest of her face was fine albeit average her eyes set her apart from the crowd. Written in bold text under the picture was a plea for the return of Faith Parker and a substantial financial reward for her safe return.

"Shocking isn't it?" startled Betty realized she was frozen in place staring at Faith's missing poster

 "That something like that could happen in such a small town like this. If you aren't safe in a place where you know everyone, where are you safe?" Susan mused.

"Maybe that's why she wasn't safe" Betty mumbled back. 

"Maybe. We better get a move on the first staff meeting will be starting soon"

As Betty made her way to the meeting she could not shake the haunting gray eyes floating around in her head.