Chapter 9
1338 Words
The next morning, I wake up later than I wanted. I start pulling all my books and computer together. I step out of my bedroom and look around. Beth did not appear to come home last night. I sniff the air and I do not detect any sign of her. It’s not unusual for her to stay with one of her friends if she drinks too much so I shrug and head to the library.
I spend the rest of the day in the library finishing up my last research paper and studying for my test on Monday. Brad has texted me multiple times, but I just ignore them and go back to working. Around 5 I leave the library and stop at the cafeteria for a quick bite to eat before heading back to my room.
The room is still empty. There is no evidence of Beth coming in at all today. Figuring that she is still hanging with her friends I settle in and watch TV before getting back to work. The next morning there is still no Beth. I will admit I am worried. She usually does not stay gone this long without stopping by the suite for some reason. She didn’t say anything about visiting family.
I pull out my phone and call her. The call goes straight to voicemail. I text her next. When I don’t get any reply, I text Natalie and Melissa, asking if they have seen Beth lately. I few minutes later Melissa text me that they saw her Friday night.
Ana: Did you drop her off at the dorm?
Melissa: No, she got a different ride. What’s wrong?
Ana: She hasn’t been back to the room all weekend.
Melissa: Are you sure?
Ana: Yes, I been in and out all weekend and I haven’t seen her. She is also not answering my calls.
Melissa: Let me try. It went straight to voice mail. I am coming over.
A few minutes later there is banging on my door. I open it to see a worried Melissa. Melissa rushes by me and heads straight for Beth room. She opens the door and start rummaging through her room. I stop at the door and look at her.
“What are you doing?” I ask her
“Her purse is missing as well as the outfit she wore Friday night. I don’t see anything missing and her suitcases are right here.”
“I am calling campus security.” I tell her as I am pulling my phone from my pocket. I speed dial Rider’s number. He answers immediately
“Rider, what do you need?”
I probably should have called the main office number, but I am not thinking. I am worried and scared.
“Yes, this Nanurjuk Black. My roommate appears to be missing.”
He pauses, “Alright. Where are you located?”
I tell him my dorm name and room number.
“I will be there in 5 minutes.” The phone clicks off and I look up at Melissa.
“They will be here in 5 minutes,” I tell her.
A few minutes later Rider and another campus security guard shows up. They direct Melissa and me to the coach as they walk around Beth’s room looking for anything out of the ordinary.
Rider walks back into the living area, “It looks like someone search her room?”
“That was me,” Melissa says.
Rider pulls out his note pad and asks, “And who are you?”
“I am Melissa Webb. I am Beth’s best friend. After Ana called me, I came here to see if maybe she took off home or something.”
“Ana?” Rider asks.
I raise my hand, “I go by Ana since my name is a little difficult to pronounce.”
Rider nods and looks back at Melissa, “Was there anything missing?”
“No, all her stuff is here, even her backpack. The only things that are missing is her purse and what she was wearing Friday night.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, she had this bright pink tube top and black jacket on.” Melissa pauses and digs out her phone. “Here I took a picture with her that night.”
Rider takes the phone from Melissa. “Can I send this photo to my phone?”
“Sure.”
He taps on Melissa phone for a couple of seconds and hands her phone back to her. He then nods and turns towards me, “And you are the roommate?”
“Yes,” I tell him. “I am Nanurjuk Black.”
Rider turns to Melissa, “I am assuming that you are the last one to see her Friday night?”
Melissa swallows, “Yes, we were at the dance club. She got tried told me she was ordering a car and would see me later. That was the last time I saw her.”
“Ms. Black, did you see her at all on Saturday?”
“No, I was at the library for most of the day, but I have been home both nights.”
Rider nods and jots something in his pad. “Does anyone have Ms. George’s number?”
Melissa hands her phone to Rider again. He looks at it and writes the number into his pad.
“Has anything unusual happen in the last few days we need to know about?”
Melissa and I look at each other and then we both shake our heads no.
Rider asks us a bunch of more questions about Beth. Before he finally looks at us and tells us to let him know if we can think of anything else. Melissa is staring at her phone willing it to ring and Rider and the other officers are turning to go. I stand up with them and walk to the door behind Rider. The other officer is leaving down the hall when Rider turns to me and says, “She is probably out with someone she knows and will be back later tonight.”
“She is not human,” I blurt out.
Rider looks around the hallway and whispers to me, “Are you sure? Her files say she is.”
I look clear my throat and whisper back, “I can read peoples’ energy and hers was not human.”
“Can you tell me what she is?”
“No, I have never felt anything like it before. I do not know what she is.”
Rider nods and pulls out his pad to jot a few more items down. “Contact the station if she comes back.”
I nod and close the door as he leaves down the hallway. I turn around and see Melissa still staring down at her phone. I walk over and put my arm around her shoulders.
“Why hasn’t she returned my phone call?” Melissa whispers. “She would call me for help. Why hasn’t she called?
“I don’t know.”
We sit like that for what felt like hours until my phone started going off. I look down and see it is Natalie. I put it on speaker so Melissa can hear.
“Hello.”
“Ana, I just got this message from Campus Police to call them about Beth. She is not answering her phone and I saw I had a miss call from you. What is going on?”
“Beth hasn’t come back all weekend, I think she is missing.”
“What? Does Melissa know. I need to call her.”
“She is right here. She knows.”
“Okay, okay, where are yall?”
“We are at my room.”
“I am on my way. Stay there.”
Natalie hangs up the phone and I hear a sad chuckle from Melissa. “Where does she think we are going?”
I shake my head.
- Writer
