Page 101 of Massacre Monday
Now, all I want to do is live.
For her.
thirty-three
I can’t stop pacing.It started as a slight tapping of my feet as I sat at the dining table, waiting for Ryan to come home. The spaghetti I made us grew cold, coagulated into a single lump of pasta with tepid stewed sauce.
I messaged him several times. There was no reply, which made me nauseated enough that I couldn’t eat. All my calls went straight to voicemail.
That’s when my legs wouldn’t quit shaking, so I got up and started walking while calling people who may know where he is. Amelia gave me his brother’s number, but he’s last on my list to contact.
I text him first, just so that he won’t freak out about an unknown number.
Me
Hi. This is Pippi. I was looking for Ryan.
The second after I hit send, the phone rings in my hand, and I jump. It’s Aiden.
“H-hello?” I ask.
“When did you last see him?” a gruff voice asks. He sounds intense, like he’s walking at a rapid pace.
“Um, earlier this afternoon. He went to get a tattoo.”
“Where?”
“I don’t know, actually.”
The silence on the other end makes me dizzy with fear.
What if something happened to him?
No, Pippi. Focus. He’ll come back in with a big smile on his face.
When he speaks, Aiden’s voice changes from terrifying robot to warm commander. “Listen to me. I need you to stay right where you are. I’m sending someone over.”
“S-should I ask my brother to come over?”
“No. Not until I understand what’s happening.” There’s a mumbled word with someone in the room with him before he returns. “And I want you to call Amelia Joseph to come over, too.”
“For all night?”
“You’ll have someone there tonight.”
I open my mouth to ask who it is, but he ends the call.
My finger shakes as I hit the number for Amelia, who readily agrees to come over. Then, I call Adal, since Oz seemed to blow me off earlier.
Instead of answering my call, he texts me back.
Adal
Sup Pip?
Me
Ryan is missing and I’m worried.
