Eyeless Jack X Intelligent Reader - Chapter 19

(If you need a reminder of what happened in the last chapter, please go back and skim to refresh!)


--Abbey—
       I had been standing here way too long.
       The glowing lights from the bar were inviting, and painfully reminded me that I needed to go to work. From my position in a nearby alleyway, I could see my manager running around behind the counter giving drinks and serving food frantically.
       I should be in there.
       I should be working.
       There is no need for me to sit indecisively in the middle of an alley on my motorbike doing… nothing.
       I glanced backwards, peering down the dark street from where I had come. Was _______ coming soon? I had been here a while… How long had I been waiting? She should’ve been here by now, right?
       ________ was just taking pictures, right? For her dad?
       Why does nothing feel right? Why did she look so… stressed? No, that’s not the word. That girl looked downright exhilarated. What was going on?
       Something didn’t feel right.
       Something…
       That was why I am still sitting here in between destinations… and decisions.
       I gave a quick snort, revving my bike and whirling around in a fluid motion. Back turned on my place of employment, I sped back into the darkened streets to search for my friend. Something didn’t feel right… not at all!

       After about ten minutes riding around the streets in search of my friend, I sped toward the warehouse. Kicking my bike into higher gears, I rocketed onto the scene. Braking on the side of the road, I positioned myself at a decent vantage point. From here, I could see multiple alleyways and streets peeling off from this one. I turned my head towards the warehouse, noting the dark opening and stillness of the place. Would she still be in there? It’s not really possible to take pictures when it’s so dark.
       In fact, there was no reason to take pictures in the first place. There were plenty of pictures online… and I’ve never heard ______ say ‘dad’ or ‘father’ before… I thought she lived absolutely alone…?
       I suddenly sat up straight on my bike, eyes forward and wide. Did she… did she lie to me? Why? And for what purpose?
       Just as my mind was working out an answer, I heard distant laughter to my left. Looking up, I saw a dark figure disappear into the shadows of an alley. People walk around creepily at night all the time, right? I pulled out my phone and called ________, becoming increasingly worried for her. Putting my phone to my ear, I was immediately disappointed when only a dial tone was heard… not even a single ring.
       What have you gotten yourself into, _______!?
       Revving my bike, I peeled towards out of this quiet and dismal place, directing my ride down the familiar streets towards the bar. Reluctantly, I turned back onto the street of my employment and cruised to a stop in an adjacent parking lot.
       Laughter bounced quietly off the bricks, resounding in the relatively quiet night. I spun to look down an alley, peering into the darkness. I could see a light at the end of the street. And a figure ran under it! The person had _____ colored hair and a __(insert identifying clothing)__! Oh my god! That had to be _______!
       I jumped off my parked bike, staring down the alley intently and straining to see through the darkness. The girl was running, no, sprinting! She tripped once, stumbling and probably scraping her knee before getting back up and clutching her side… as if in pain…
       After her figure went out of view, another darker figure darted through the narrow view down the alleyway. It was a larger masculine figure that seemed to be carrying something thin and sharp. I once again heard the deranged laughter echo through the night, faint but none-the-less scary.
       My reaction was instant. My phone was dialing 9-1-1 before I even processed what I had seen. Once the police knew where I saw the chase, I stayed on the line with the receptionist as I trotted on foot down the street. Peering down every space, I searched for my troubled friend. What has happened to you, ________?