Missing

Chapter 1

Pulled straight out of a dream by the realization I was soaking wet in my own sweat. It was disgusting and something that only started happening recently.

My dreams were becoming increasing intense and surreal. I was exhausted all the time. Maybe it was the stress getting to me.

I sat up rubbing my eyes waiting for them to adjust. Looking outside the dark window there was no trace of the sun rising. I threw my blanket off frustrated that I was awake. I walked to the bathroom in frustration and turned my shower on. Looking in the mirror at the bags under my eyes I sighed remembering I have job interviews to go to all morning. I looked like I had been on a three day bender. I brushed my red hair and hopped in the shower. After sitting in the water for a while to relax I finally washed and got out.

I tried to make myself something to eat in my tiny kitchen. My adoptive parents had left me a small two bedroom house after they passed away. It had been nearly six years since they died. They had been on a trip celebrating their anniversary when I started my freshman year of college. They were staying at a hotel in Tokyo when a massive earthquake struck. After searching for days through the rubble their bodies were never recovered. Them passing away changed my life and I fell into a deep depression. I even had to take a year off from college but I ended up going back and finishing my degree in business.

At my last job the boss I was working for was a complete prick so I quit. If I didn’t want to lose my house I had to find a new job and fast. This was all I had left of my parents. I couldn’t stand the thought of losing it and honestly I would feel like I let them down. That I failed.

My stomach growled. Coffee is what I settled with and sat down at the table. I looked at the wall of photos above me. My eyes set on the photo of mother and father on the day they adopted me taken in the courtroom after everything was finalized. We were smiling and holding up the documents. I was about five in the picture. I still remember how happy we all were that day. It was the best day of my life. My real parents had died from overdoses. I didn’t think about them much. My adoptive parents were everything to me and I still thought about them almost everyday even after six years it hadn’t gotten easier. Tears welled in my eyes and I started sobbing for a while.

After I decided I should get ready to go to the first interview I had and stop feeling sorry for myself.

The first two interviews were competitive and I realized I probably wouldn’t be in the running especially with my small amount of experience. I arrived at the last place on my phone. Augustus Enterprises. It was a large modern building with lots of glass windows and people running around in expensive looking clothing. I felt like I stuck out like a sore thumb with my simple black suit that was clearly purchased from the clearance rack. My shoes weren’t even a brand that anyone would recognize. Losing confidence by the second I walked up to the receptionist.

“Hello my name is Fawn Dawson and I’m here for an interview with Mabel George.” I smiled confidently even though my self esteem was s**t from the other interviews and my lack of designer apparel.

“Welcome! Here is a visitors badge. Head to the elevator to your far right and her office will be on the tenth floor.” She smiled brightly at me back. “Good luck!”

“Thank you so much.” I grabbed the badge from her and slipped it over my head.

That was weirdly nice of her. This wasn’t like anywhere I’ve interviewed or worked for. She was so cheery it was almost unnerving. I headed to the elevator to the far right and scanned my badge.

It immediately activated the elevator with an up arrow. Very fancy.

It finally arrived and I got in. Thank god no one was in here so I could compose myself before this interview. I really needed a moment to sort out my thoughts and gather my confidence. Smoothing my shirt down and breathing slowly the elevator stopped at the sixth floor. A man and woman stepped in looking surprised by my presence. She was very beautiful with full red lips and long dark hair. He was just as gorgeous as she. Tall and handsome with piercing green eyes.

They got in and said nothing but stared at me. I saw nothing in their expressions but I felt some awful energy coming off of them. I looked away out of intimidation and pretended to examine my nail beds. They exited on the ninth floor and I let a breath out I didn’t know I was holding. As the doors opened on the tenth floor the reception desk sat before me empty. Confused I waited for a couple of minutes at the desk. The room was closed off with only one door with a small window close to the desk. I peered in the window and called out. “Hello?”.

Gently knocking I tried again, “Hello? I’m Fawn Dawson here for an interview with Mable George.”

Nothing. I sat on the one couch in the room and waited for about half an hour. Maybe they had went out to lunch and forgot about the interview? Whatever it was I was done waiting. Honestly I was with today altogether. I got back in the elevator and massaged my temples. Dammit I needed today to work out so badly. I started to feel like my walls were coming down and I was going to start crying at any moment. My stomach turned with only my coffee from this morning.

I needed to get to a bathroom now. The elevator lights flickered and it briefly stopped. No! f**k I need to get out of here.

I put my head in my hands trying to not think about throwing up. My eyes filled with tears as the elevator started right away again but started opening on each floor down. I ran out onto the seventh once I realized what was happening. Maybe I would find a bathroom. This floor looked like a*****e room but I saw a restroom sign pointing toward the left.

I ran to the left side between some shelves and passed some closed dark offices to a bathroom at the end of the hall. Getting to the toilet in time I threw up some coffee bile and wiped off my mouth with a paper towel.

Jesus I need to get out of here. I felt immediately that I was not supposed to be here. Alarm bells were ringing in my head. I cautiously quietly slipped out of the bathroom. That’s when I heard someone arguing in one of the offices close to me.

I walked closer trying to be as quiet as possible to pass to get down the hall unnoticed. As I got closer to the office and ducked my head down so they wouldn’t see my silhouette in the window of the closed door. I finally got passed but something caught my ear before I started toward the elevator.

“That b***h was going to be the ruin of this entire new product line and my company. I had to do something about her.” A very deep angry voice yelled.

“This wasn’t the answer to the problem sir. You could have taken care of this matter in a different way. Maybe pay her off. I don’t know but this was not the way to do it. You should have come to me first.” A softer but firm female voice retorted.

“I don’t always need your approval on my actions Juliana.” The man spat. “Are you going to take care of it or not?”

She sighed, “I guess I have no choice now do I? Where is she right now?”

“In the holding room. Get a clean up crew now and I don’t want to know the rest. After today we are shutting the f**k up about this little mishap and launch the brand as expected. Understand?” He ordered the woman.

I started running very fast after that toward the elevator. I don’t know what that was about but I was not supposed to hear any of it. I felt like I was in danger. I finally reached the elevator and swiped my card. The light turned red and the elevator didn’t move. f**k!

I was definitely not supposed to be here. I tried again pleading for it to open. Finally I heard the door to the office down the hall open and the voices approaching. There was no where for me to hide but I looked and saw a stairwell door across the room. If I tried to run and get there they would see me but maybe I could get away? Or I could pretend I was lost and didn’t hear anything? My body moved faster than my brain and I ran toward the other side of the room through the shelves to the door.

“Hey who are you? Stop right now!” The man yelled.

I turned around briefly and saw the two people I saw in the elevator earlier looking dead at me from the elevator. I flung the door open and dashed down the stairs kicking my shoes off. I ran so fast I had to jump down some railings to gain speed because I heard someone following me. My knees and legs were f****d up and I cried in relief seeing the level one doorway. I ripped it open and ran out leaving the receptionist and other people looking horrified by my appearance. Some guards saw me and I took off out the front doors but no one was coming after me anymore. I ran until I reached my car. I got in locked the door and sped away.