Looking For Faith

Chapter 2

Despite Betty's pessimistic outlook on life, she couldn't help but appreciate the serenity that life at Valdez brought. There was a comfort in knowing how the child of the local seamstress was doing in algebra or how the optician's divorce was going. Betty could see how adoring tourists fell in love with the cozy city so easily, with its tight nit community and old time feel. However the bright red missing person's reports plastered all over town quickly dissolved the rosy image. It reminded her of the story of the sheep in wolves clothing, the thought sent shivers down her spine.

Perhaps one of the reasons Betty had adjusted so quickly was due to her outgoing nature, it was a rather strange mix being a pessimistic extrovert but it ran in her family. She easily meshed with everyone at the news agency and even made a new friend, however she couldn't help but feel stumped in regards to her career. So far Betty had only published two stories in the week that she had been working at the agency, both regarding the increased price of legumes. She understood she was lucky to even have a job due to the intense competition but still felt a persisting sense of injustice.

Sometimes as she lay awake in her damp, dark shoe box of an apartment she couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if she had accepted the position her mother had laid out at the international news agency in New York. However Betty only entertained these thoughts for a brief moment since nepotism wasn't an ideal she held. After all she wanted to follow in her father' footsteps who immigrated to America and became a successful self-made business man. It was thoughts like these that keep Betty going as she researched about legumes for the 3rd night in row.

'Maybe if I do it well enough Susan will let me report on the carrots next week', Betty thought warily.

In the two weeks that had passed Betty still hadn't forgotten Faith Parker's haunting eyes. The news agency had published three articles about the disappearance and each one had left Betty more confused than before. The circumstances surrounding the case were so.... normal. Faith Parker was on paper the perfect daughter, with good grades, plenty of friends and a normal childhood. Betty understood that bad things happened to everyone but she still couldn't wrap her mind around what happened to Faith.

Faith's mother and brother were still organizing search parties. Betty felt guilty she still hadn't attended any of them so she set time aside today to go to the search party in the forest area next to the town. At least this way she wouldn't have to do the bi-weekly facetime meeting with her mother. Betty took the day off work and woke up early to prepare. Despite annual camping trips with her dad she felt adversely towards natural, thus Betty carried a 'nature safety bag' containing a flare, 5 nutribars, a waterproof fire starting kits and insect repellent among other things. 'Better safe than sorry' Betty thought as she hauled her bag out of the car.

Feeling self-conscious she quickly walked over to join the small group of people standing close to the entrance of the mountain trail. She arrived in time to hear the end of the sheriff's speech "....groups of three. Everyone please stay vigilant and stick together. We are looking for clothing items or things like a cell phone or..... Just stay on alert everyone." The sheriff didn't have to finish his sentence for the uncomfortable realization they were most likely looking for a body to fall on everyone.

Everyone began gathering into their groups but Betty had no idea who were her partners were. She hesitantly approached the sheriff who was in mid conversation with the mailman Mr Rogers. The pair abruptly stopped their conversation when then they saw Betty standing beside them. "Excuse me. Hello, I'm Betty Morral. I was wondering if you could tell me the names of my team partners?"

"Sure, your with Ted Naught and Miles Parker" The sheriff replied after consulting his clip board. Betty suddenly realized "Parker? Is he-" "yep that's Faith's brother, he came home as soon as he heard about what happened. Miles has attended every search party so far. Bless his heart anyways you'll also be with my son Ted as well, he is standing by that pine tree over there" Betty felt though as she had been dismissed and headed in the direction of the pine tree. There she found a man leaning against the tree with his eyes closed; Betty suddenly realized he was the guy that had helped her when her car broke down. Feeling reassured he wasn't a dangerous stranger she approached him. "Hello, my name is Betty...." Betty spotted the white airpods in his ears and trailed off.

Unsure what to do she hesitantly poked him on the arm, Betty stumbled back when he woke with a jump. "Oh lord you scared me" he mumbled "Hey I remember you! Aren't you the person with the shitty car" Blushing Betty confirmed his theory. Betty still remembered that he was a sociology major and to be honest his 6'1 form, dark blue eyes and sharp nose were rather hard to forget. They continued to converse about how she was fitting in at the news agency and how his degree was coming along. Betty seemed to always fall into conversation with him easily 'He really is charismatic' she mused to herself while he described his annoying professor.

Mid laugh she heard a cough from behind her, turning around she realized that almost all out groups had set out and just her group was left. Her gaze soon fell on a disheveled man who was slightly hunched over trying to catch his breath. "Look who finally showed up, put down your bottle long enough to realize your sister is missing" Ted sneered at the man who Betty could only assume was Miles Parker, Faith's brother.

Betty could only wonder what Miles' reply would be as instead he choose to slam his fist straight in Ted's face. Betty looked at the ragged Miles and furious Ted and knew it was going to be a very long day.   

A/N- I have such a bad work ethic lmao