She's my mystery

..Madness..

Ethan's P.O.V.

After Layla was gone, the whole town was on alert, some people were scared of being next, thinking that it was a serial killer.. They obviously didnt listen to what actually happened and that Layla got kidnapped by her crazy ex..

Mille was devastated that her best friend was gone and it had happened when she was with her.. Jackie tried to calm her down even though she was upset too..

I was mad at myself for being away from our group for so long, talking to my sisters, but I kept telling myself that it could have happened at any moment and Max told me the same thing I was thinking..

The fair was closed so the police could work, so everyone went home..

When Max and I got back, Max headed straight for the whisky and poured a glass for himself and me. We both downed it in one go and Max poured us all some more..

"We have to come up with a plan, if you want to help the cops find her.." Max said and slumped down on the couch and I sat down next to him..

"I know.. This was not how I expected today to go.." I said and took a sip of whisky..

"None of us did, man.. But what do you want to do to help..?" Maz asked..

"Well, you and I know this town like our back pocket, having lived here our entire lives, so think about abandoned places or buildings that are good to hide in.." I said..

"Oh right, every time we would sneak out or hide from trouble.." Max chuckled..

"Yeah and then get everyone in town to check their houses, barns, sheds, and so on, because Alex might think he can hide her in plain sight.." I said, and we started to write every place down we could think of..

We went over everything for hours but suddenly there was someone knocking on the front door.. Max got up to answer but quickly came back. I looked up and saw Jackie and Mille walk in behind him.. Mille looked awful, her eyes were red and puffy from crying.. Jackie held it together but she had very red eyes too..

"Hi.. we want to help.." Mille said, her voice was very faint..

"I told her she should get some rest but she wouldn't listen.." Jackie said, standing next to Mille..

"Well.. Do you have any places you can think of where Alex could be hiding her..?" I asked and showed them the list we had been working on for the past few hours..

"Hmm, I dont see anything we can add but there are a few places that I'm sure he is not hiding her.. This is too close to town and crowds to take notice of him.. This place has no water or electricity.. He's a rich kid and he's not hiding where there's no running water or electricity if he has to lay low for days.." Mille said and pointed out the places on the list and I gave it a red dot..

"We may have to consider if he could have a generator ready for electricity if he is keeping her out of the town.." Jackie said and she had a good point.. Alex had been in town for some time and had probably been planning what to do before grabbing Layla and having her captured..

We all talked back and forth about what to do to help the police locate them..

Max and Mille got up and went to the kitchen to get all of us some snacks and drinks to keep up our energy because we were all frustrated and tired from lack of sleep..

"How are you holding up Ethan..?" Jackie asked..

"Org I dont know.. I don't know what to do with myself.. I'm mad, frustrated, worried, scared and so tired at this point, but I can't sleep when all I want to do is find her and have her home again.." I told her honestly..

"I guess we are all feeling like that.." she said as a tear trickled down her cheek..

"Yeah.. But I can't imagine how hard it must be for you and Mille, since you both are closer to Layla than me and Max.." I said and gave her the tissuebox that stood next to me on the table..

"Thanks.. Yeah, Mille is worried sick of course, but I know Layla and she's smart and can put up a fight if she needs to.. I'm just scared of what could happen if she needs to fight him off, if Alex might do something like he has done in the past.." she confessed, starring blankly at the table in front of her..

I couldnt even let myself begin to think about Alex putting his hands on her, in anyway and praying to god that nothing happens to her until we find her and get her back home, unharmed..

Max and Mille returned from the kitchen with some food and drinks, then we all dove back into theories about how Alex could have gotten away with Layla, without getting noticed by anyone..

At some point we all fell asleep from pure exhaustion and when I woke up, Mille and Max were cuddled up on the couch still sleeping, and I had fallen asleep at the table and as I looked around I couldnt see Jackie anywhere..

I stood up and went to go look for her and just as I pushed the chair out, I heard sounds of pots and pans coming from the kitchen, so I went to go look there first..

When I reached the opening to the kitchen, I saw Jackie in the midst of making breakfast..

"Morning Jackie.." I said and walked over to her, standing on the other side of the kitchen island by the stovetop..

"Geez, Ethan, you scared me..! Morning." she said, a little startled by me, because she didn't hear me come in..

"Did you even sleep.." I asked her, concerned, because she still looked extremely tired..

"I got a few hours and then I got tired of tossing and turning so I upted to go make breakfast for all of us.." she said and started whisking a dozen eggs together with some salt and pepper..

"Fair enough, but you should really see if you can get some more and not over exhaust your body, okay.?" I told her and she looked at me and nodded yes to me and kept on making the breakfast..

I went back into the living room and woke Max and Mille up for breakfast.. It took some time for them to wake up properly and when they did, Mille remembered what had happened and cried for a bit with Max sitting with her for comfort..

They then joined Jackie and me in the kitchen and we all ate.. No one felt like talking so we just ate in total silence...

........