The Fate of the Unknown

Chapter 10: Searching for mom

Darkness.

I am consumed by darkness.

While in the dark I have thoughts, almost like nightmares. Flashes of images. Images of my mother. It is dark, I can’t make out everything. I just see my mom. I can’t see where she is. Just her walking. Someone grabs her from behind and injects her with something in her neck. Her body goes limp. My mind is back in the dark.

I start to feel like my body is hot, why am I so hot? Then I start to hear muffled voices. I’m being shaken.

“Lex! Wake up! Wake up! Lex!!!” I can now hear Caitlyn. Her voice is full panic.

I slowly open my eyes. My vision is blurred, then begins to focus on two very worried people.

I realize I’m half on the floor, and half in Sam’s embrace. s**t. I try to jump up, which was a big mistake. I lost my balance halfway up, and ended up back on the ground.

“Ouch!” I groan in pain.

“You just woke up from passing out. You shouldn’t be making such sudden moves. Give it a second and we’ll help you to the couch.” Sam says in a gentle voice.

So I did pass out. That’s embarrassing. Even more embarrassing that Sam is here. He probably thinks I’m emotionally unstable, and a freak. Maybe I am in some ways.

“Lex please breathe and collect yourself. Are you ready to move to the couch?” Caitlyn asks.

I nod my head and they help me to my feet, and then guide me to the couch.

“So you were out for a bit. You hit your head off the counter before we could catch you. Thankfully you won’t need stitches, but you scared me half to death!” Caitlyn stated.

“Me too. While you were out Caitlyn informed me of why you were freaking out. I think I’m going to head home and see if my parents can use their connections to see if they can help find her. Caitlyn said she wants to head to the ER and talk to her coworkers. I think it would be best for you to stay here.” Sam was saying until I cut him off.

I stood up a little fast and got wobbly. Sam tried to grab my arm to help steady me, but I ripped my arm away.

“NO! I have been saying all day it was weird she wasn’t home or answering. I’m not going to sit here like a damsel in distress! I’m going to go to the library and the ER. The other job is more secretive, and I doubt I can find a lead there.. Damn!” I was ranting until my head started to throb. When I touched it realized I touched the gash I had. Well at least we are going to the ER.

“Just be careful. If I hear anything I’ll get ahold of you.” Sam stated before leaving.

“Before you say anything, you were right. I should have listened to you. Now get cleaned up, so we can head out. Good thing we’re going to the ER, you should probably get checked out. While you’re cleaning up I am going to call the cops and see if they can help locate mom.” Caitlyn said as she started to rush around the house. Grabbing stuff and throwing it in her purse and then headed to the bathroom. Once she was done I decided to see the damage to my face. It wasn’t too bad, a gash a little under 2 inches across my forehead on the left hand side. But I had blood on my face and clothes. So I decided to throw on a loose sweatshirt and jeans. Carefully cleared up my face and put my hair up in a bun. Once I was done I put on my boots, and off we went.

“So I called the non-emergency number. They said since it technically hasn’t been over 24 hours, they can’t do anything. So that was a waste of time! We should probably hit the ER first. That was the last place mom should have been, and that way we can get that cut looked at. Well and make sure you don’t have a concussion. After we can head to the library. Ok?” Caitlyn asked as we got into our car.

I nodded my head softly. My head was pounding and I felt like I was going to be sick. Not sure if from nerves or a concussion, either way I knew I couldn’t speak yet.

We get to the ER. Caitlyn tried to drop me at the door, but I refused. So once she parked we went in. Marge is sitting at the intake counter. Marge is an older woman, grey hair usually in a ponytail, and glasses that are on a chain around her neck. She is a smoker so her voice was typically horse. She isn’t the most friendly, but she isn’t mean either. When she saw us she stood up and came over to us.

“Hello sweethearts. What happened to your head Alexis?” She asked me as she looked at the cut.

“I fell and hit my head off the counter. Hey, have you seen our mom?” I quickly change the subject.

She looks at us confused, “honey your mom got off at 5am. She went to the on call room to sleep. I went to wake her up when it was my lunch time, but she was gone.”

Caitlyn and I looked at each other. Oh no. First lead is a dead end. I was ready to leave when she grabbed my arm and brought us to the chairs in the waiting room.

“Alexis you need to be seen. You can’t leave without being checked out. Your mother would kick my ass if I let you leave. Let me just go get Dr Myrtle and have you seen real quick, ok?” She asked but quickly shuffled off before I could answer.

“Lex we will find her, ok? Let’s just get you checked out before we do anything else.” Caitlyn said while holding my hand.

“Well hello ladies, Marge said you need checked out, and it looks like she is right. Let’s head back to a room, ok?” Dr Myrtle said.

Dr Myrtle is a man old enough to be my great grandfather, but he is very good at his job. He is a very wise and respected doctor in this area. He is also very small. I tower over him. He is probably 5 foot even, a little heavy, and bald. He has bifocals and a cane. He is what i imagine my mom’s dad to be like.

We get into room and as we get in the room, I start puking. Great. First blood on my clothes, now puke. Most went on the floor, some on my pants, and some on his shoes.

“I am so sorry Dr Myrtle! I didn’t mean to. Let me clean it up! Let me..” he grabbed my arm and led me to the table. I carefully climbed up. He put his hand on my shoulder and then started the exam.

“Ok sweetheart. First off, you have a concussion. Which was probably painfully obvious when you just puked all over. Which you will NOT clean up. Secondly, the cut needs to be closed. It’s not overly deep, so I would like to just glue it up. Ok?” I slowly nodded my head.

After he glued me up I asked, “have you seen my mom since her morning shift?”

He was washing his hands and stopped to turn and look at us. “Why no I haven’t. I saw her last night when I was clocking out and she was clocking in for her double. She had to leave after her first shift. She was gone for about 20 minutes. Then came back with a cloud over her, but clocked back in for the second shift of her double. Is everything ok?” He asked very concerned.

“She hasn’t come home and her phone is off. So we are just checking leads to see if we can find her. Thank you for your help.” I said as I stood up and headed to the door where Caitlyn was waiting for me.

We headed to the library in silence.

As we pulled up we notice that it is closed. So both leads are dead ends. s**t. Now what?

We get home and go inside. It is now almost 9. We need to eat something. Thankfully Sam left all of the Chinese food. We start heating it up. Still in silence. After we were done my phone rang.

Sam

“Hello” I say as I answer my phone

“Hey Lex, unfortunately we have no leads on our end. Hopefully you guys found something? How are you doing?” He asked

Crap!

“s**t. No leads for us either. It’s like my mom and her car just disappeared. I know it would seem she ran away, or left us. But she would never do that. The cops also won’t help. They said it hasn’t been long enough to count as a missing person. So that was a waste of time. I’m ok. I have a concussion and they had to glue the cut.” I quickly said.

“No she wouldn’t. But if you can’t find anything soon, you may need to figure out something. You two are both minors. You can’t live alone.” Sam stated.

Shit. I didn’t even think of that.

“Thanks Sam. I have to go.” I said as I hung up.

“He’s right you know. We are going to have to go into mom’s emergency stash.” Caitlyn said.

I knew exactly what she was implying. We need to call our dad..