BETWEEN TWO BROTHERS AND A PAST

Chapter 7: A Vanishing Act

Julia POV

The sunshine coming through the curtains hit my face softly and stirred me awake. I moaned and blinked and shook my head a few times. Things that happened the night before slowly came back to mind, like the VIP room, the masked party, and the mysterious man.

When I turned to the other side of the bed, it was empty.

"Now seriously?" I sat up quickly and cursed.

He wasn't to be found, and the sheets were a mess. When I saw the mask on the nightstand next to the mask was a small piece of paper folded nicely. This made my heart sink.

I took out the note and read it.

My name is Kane.

That was it. Mysterious words, no phone number, no explanation. My jaw clenched as I reread it, anger rising up inside me.

"Kane?" I said out loud, my voice dripping with disbelief. “That’s it? That’s all I get?”

I squeezed the note in my hand, throwing it toward the trash can. It missed and fell to the ground, but I didn't care.

I swung my legs off the bed when something shiny caught my eye. A keychain sat on the nightstand minimatistic yet styish. I took it and flipped it over. It didn’t seem like much, but it was the only tangible sign I had.

Determining to deal with it later, I stuffed it inside my bag. I just needed to leave for the time being.

As I headed for the exit, the hotel hallway was unexpectedly silent. My heels clicked against the floor, the sound echoing in the stillness.

In the hallway, I half expected to find Mia and Ivy waiting for me, but they weren't there. My stomach twisted.

“Of course,” I mumbled under my breath.

I went outside and called a cab, giving the driver the address of our flat close to the university. The ride was quiet, giving me way too much time to think.

Who was this Kane guy? Was his first name Kane? His last name? Why didn't he say anything before leaving?

I was more frustrated than ever by the time the cab pulled up to my apartment. I paid the driver and walked inside.

When I stepped in, I found Ivy and Mia sitting on the couch. They still had not taken of their party clothes and looked far too energetic for this early in the morning.

"She's here!" Mia jumped up and shouted. "The lady of the moment!"

I groaned, dropping my bag on the floor. "Please don't start."

Ivy smiled and replied, "Oh, we're started. Spill, please. How did it go? Did you meet someone? Did you enjoy yourself?"

I paused, not knowing how to start the story. “It was… okay, I guess.”

Mia's eyelid went up. “Okay? You took off with a guy in the middle of the night, and all you can say is, Okay?"

"I didn't take off," I replied. “I just… went to the VIP lounge.”

"With a guy," Ivy continued, her smile growing. "Don't omit that part."

“Fine,” I admitted, sitting down on the couch. "Yes, with a man. It wasn't what you think, though."

Mia rolled her eyes and muttered, "Oh, please. You don't just go to the VIP room with someone to have a friendly chat."

I gave her a scowl. “Can you not?”

“Okay, okay,” she said, holding up her hands. “Tell us what happened.”

I raked a hand through my hair and said. “He was… nice, I guess. I don't know. He was different, but he didn't tell me his name."

Ivy leaned forward, her curious eyes sparkling. “Different how?”

I shrugged and added, "I don't know. He was quiet and self-assured. Unlike the typical men you meet at these events. He didn’t even tell me his name. Simply said, Kane."

"Kane?" Mia repeated, furrowing her brow. "That's it?"

"That's it," I stated sourly. And he was gone when I awoke. Just left this stupid note.”

Ivy gave a snort. “Wow. Classy.”

“Tell me about it,” I grumbled.

Mia's face became softer. “Are you okay? I understand that this isn't exactly how you had hoped for the evening to come together."

Slowly, I nodded. "I'm all right. It’s just… annoying. He seemed like someone I could actually… I don’t know, connect with. But now I’ll probably never see him again.”

"Perhaps it's better that way," Ivy answered softly.

I answered, "Maybe," but I wasn't convinced.

Mia gave me a light elbow push. "Hey, don't be too hard on yourself. You had fun, right?”

I replied, "Yeah, I guess," but my voice lacked conviction.

Ivy remarked, "Then that's all that counts. Anyway, guys like him aren't worth the trouble."

Even though my head was already buzzing with promise, I faked a smile. Kane. Was it his first name? His last name? And why did he seem so… familiar?

I got up and said, "Thanks, guys. I think I’m gonna take a nap.”

Mia gave me a little smile and commented, "Nice idea."

The keychain in my bag felt heavier than it should have as I made my way to my room.

Kane, I thought. Who are you?

I dropped the keychain on the desk next to me while I sat on my bed. Its sleek, glossy surface teased me with its simplicity as it caught the faint light from my lamp. With a sigh, I reached for my laptop and opened it.

Maybe the internet could help me name "Kane" if I couldn't.

Opening f*******:, I put “Kane” into the search bar. Suddenly, dozens, even hundreds of Kanes' profiles were presented. Others were family names, and others were first names. I felt sick to my stomach as I scrolled through them.

"In all of this, how am I supposed to find one guy?" I whispered to myself.

It was astonishing how many findings there were. There were Kanes from all over the city, some smiling in profile shots, others hiding behind vague, blurry photos. It wasn't like I'd seen his face anyway, and none of them looked even vaguely familiar.

With my fingers tinkering with the keychain, I relaxed against the headboard. Even though I was feeling irritated, there was something strangely comforting about its cold surface.

I turned the keychain over and over while muttering to myself, "Kane. Who are you?" My eyelids became heavy before I knew it. My fingers slowed their movement, the keys slipping from my hand. I fell asleep a few moments later, the laptop next to me still glowing softly.