I sit at my computer desk with the crumpled note still clutched between my fingers. I keep reading those same words over and over again.
"I told her to keep her mouth shut."
I can hear his voice as I read it. I can just feel his glare hovering over me as my eyes skew across such words. I feel like I'm going to be sick.
"It wasn't your fault, Jeremie," Ulrich rests his hand on my shoulder and speaks softly against my ear. It was my fault. How could I have been so stupid as to actually believe a legitimate police officer would be looking for her so late at night? I'm such an idiot.
"It was," I stutter. "Only a fool would've thought that was a real cop. Even Odd didn't believe it." Odd goes to speak, but he simply gapes with no words escaping his mouth. He more than likely assumed whatever he was going to say probably would've been better kept inside. No one else answers. They just stare at me with this weird look on their faces. A look of hurt, and despair; but also of pity. Guilt.
"I…" I choke. It's hard to get words out. "I don't know what to do." I let the fragile sheet of paper slip out of my hands. I don't want to look at it anymore. Yumi, Ulrich and Odd are all towering over me but nobody really says anything. I don't think there are any appropriate words for this situation. I remove my glasses and rub my sleeve across my eyes as they start welling up. I sigh.
"Why don't we go to her room," Yumi straightens her posture and softly suggests. "See if we can find any clues or evidence that will help us find out where he might have taken her?" I glance over at her, along with Odd and Ulrich. It's not a bad idea; but at the same time, I don't know if I can handle being inside of her room.
"Shouldn't we go straight to Delmas?" Odd retorts, "Contact the police?"
Yumi simply shakes her head. "We should look around first and see if there's anything there that we can hand to Delmas. That way, when the cops get here, they'll already have someone to go off of." I clench my fists against my desk upon hearing the word 'cop.' I don't know if I can trust any more cops. I was so quick to believe that guy was the real thing. Why wouldn't I be just as oblivious to others?
There is silence for a moment as we all contemplate the thought inside our heads. Ulrich breaks it. "After class," he says whilst glancing at his watch. "We'll meet up by her door and start exploring."
After class? I don't know if I can wait that long. Nonetheless, though, we all nod in agreement.
The day goes by agonizingly slowly. I tap my pen in impatience against the solid wood of my desk, but the longer I stare at the clock the slower the time passes. I almost wish I'll end up hearing that familiar, ominous beeping muffled inside of my laptop bag. It would get me out of class, at least…
Oh, no. What are we supposed to do about XANA now that Aelita isn't here?
My heart skips a beat as the treacherous thought enters my mind. I was so distraught over the fact that Aelita was missing that I had completely forgotten we have an entirely different enemy at hand still. No. This isn't the time to be so morbid, Jeremie. She will be here again. She will be here again soon. You have to stay strong. For her. Don't wimp out like you always do.
Then comes the most painful question that I will continue to hear for the entire day as the teachers take attendance. I clench my fist against my pencil so tightly that my fingers dig into my sweating palms.
"Where is Aelita Stones? Does anyone know where Aelita Stones is? Jeremie?"
I grunt, before forcing myself to look Mrs. Meyer in the eye. "Uh, n-no ma'am. I don't." At least I'm telling the truth, though. I really don't. I look over at Odd and Ulrich as they're asked the same thing. They share the same mixed expression of confusion and gloom that I do, as well as a vibe of resentment from being compelled to answer such a question. We all glance at each other, before solemnly returning to stare at our notebooks as we begin taking notes. I have never cared less about the fact that a+b=c.
And then Mrs. Hertz's class.
"Why isn't Aelita Stones here? Odd, do you know where she is? Jeremie?"
Over and over and over again. I don't know where she is, okay! I wish I did. Believe me, I wish more than anything in this world that I did. I check the clock. Twenty more minutes until this class is over. I look over at Odd to see what he's up to. Scribbling something inside of his notebook, as usual. I lean over a bit. It looks like… like Kiwi. Does he ever draw anything else? I glance towards the table next to me and check Ulrich out. He looks half asleep. No, wait, he is asleep. Oh, no he's not. He's daydreaming, I think. I sigh and look back at the clock. Nineteen minutes.
Fumet's class.
"Ms. Stones? Stones is absent?"
Every time I hear her name I cringe. Like every little whisper of her name pokes a needle against my heart. Oh so gently, but enough to still leave a prickling sensation. Abe Lincoln this, Civil War that. I. don't. care. I just want this day to be done with. I'm sitting here in this stupid history class learning about stuff I already know for the most part, and Aelita is off God knows where…doing...doing God knows what. Or… or having God knows what done to her.
No! Stop, Jeremie. Don't you dare think like that. I slam my head down against my desk. I'm done with class. I quit. I don't want to do school work today. No. It's not happening.
"Belpois, are you alright?"
I groan. Can't I just be left alone for one day? I force myself to sit upwards and sigh heavily. "Yes," I mumble. "I'm fine, sir." As fine as one can get when the most important person in their life disappears without a trace.
Except… was it without a trace? We won't know until we investigate her room further today. I check my watch. This is the last class until lunch period, and I don't know about Odd or the others, but I'm going straight to the dorms. The sooner we get to the authorities, the better.
The bell rings. Finally. I sloppily throw my books inside my bag and fling it over my shoulder, shoving past the other students as I rush out of the door.
"Hey, Jeremie! Jeremie, wait up!" Odd and Ulrich both cry to me as they desperately try to catch up. Am… am I running faster than them? I'm actually ahead of them for once? Wow. I guess I am. I hadn't even realized, because the only thing on my mind right now is Aelita.
Aelita, Aelita, Aelita.
I'm coming, Aelita.
Yumi is already waiting for us by the time we rush down the hall that leads to her door. She's perched against it, a smirk on her face as she greets us. "Ready, guys?" she asks.
Of course. "Ready," Ulrich and I both nod.
She raises her eyebrows suddenly. "Hey, where's Odd?"
Odd? What? He's right behind… what? Where is Odd? "I… I don't know," I confess as I enquiringly turn around and scan the hallway.
"He was just right behind us," Ulrich declares. He looks at me, and I shrug in response. We turn back towards Yumi. She, too, shrugs, and slowly turns the door knob until it clicks. Gently, she pushes it open, revealing the darkness and barrenness that lies inside.
The room is cold, dark, and empty. It doesn't matter how much sunlight is shining through her wide open window, it still feels dark to me. Pitch black, in fact. There's no Aelita around to fill the room with light and warmth. I don't like being inside here. It feels wrong.
Nothing seems too out of the ordinary. It looks the same way it did last night. Her curtains are swaying in the breeze that sneaks through the window; still completely open from the intruder's meddling. Did she even lock it? No, don't try and curse her, Jeremie. It wasn't her fault. It's your fault, if anyone's. She'd still be here if you hadn't—
"Nothing that's catching my eye." Ulrich mutters, throwing off my train of thought. I'm glad he said something, actually. I don't need to stand here beating myself up internally. It won't help anyone, especially not Aelita. Yumi sighs as she looks through all of her drawers and cabinets.
"Nope," she agrees.
A timid barking erupts from the distance, rapidly growing louder until I turn around and am met with the sight of Odd's little terrier jumping into the room.
"Odd!" Ulrich shouts. "There you are!"
He smiles. "I thought I'd bring Kiwi and see if he could sniff anything out. Go get em, Kiwi! Show us something good." Obeying his master, he starts scurrying around the room and digging his nose through everything he possibly can, all whilst making very annoying noises. "But quietly, Kiwi!" Odd begs as he kneels down in front of his dog, urgently whispering while pressing his pointer finger against his lips.
Ulrich, Odd, Yumi and I all find something to lean against, impatiently waiting for Kiwi to find something of use. My hopes aren't very high, of course. Kiwi is just a mini bull terrier. Not a blood hound; or a K-9. Odd exhales unhappily and stands up as his arms collapse against his sides. He looks a bit fed-up. The rest of us kind of are, as well. Well, we tried. It's time to go to Mr. Delmas.
"Come on, Kiwi," Odd calls. But it seems Kiwi has actually found something to grab his attention. He's yipping incessantly and burrowing his nose underneath her bed. Something is rustling against his paws. He's… he's definitely found something. "Huh? Whatcha got there, boy?"
Kiwi tugs out a few articles of clothing. A dress, a hoodie… a pair of underwear?
It's Aelita's clothing.
He drops the thin fabric before his owner's feet, and Odd almost cringes a little upon glancing at it. "What good is this gonna do, huh Kiwi?!"
"Wait a minute!" Yumi orders, reaching down to grab the undergarment. "This is Aelita's underwear!" Yeah, it is. I didn't need to be reminded. This is too weird. I feel like I'm invading her privacy completely.
"Yeah, and?" Ulrich questions, but Yumi seems enthralled. She flips the article inside out, gasping as she reveals what lies inside. She looks… horrified almost. But also relieved, as if what she's found is going to help us immensely.
Odd, Ulrich and I all lean in slightly as she shows it off to us. The other's are fascinated, but I feel like I'm going to be sick and I step away immediately. I don't want to see that. I don't want to see the… the leftovers.
"Is that…" Odd points to the red stain that coats the dainty white cotton. All Yumi can do is nod, silently.
"It must be from the first night," she adds.
Yumi is right. This is going to help immensely. I refuse to face the others, but I add to the conversation nonetheless. "If it is," I start. "Then it should have some of his… er, DNA, on it."
"Which means the police will be able to send it in and have it tested. And we'll be able to figure out who it is immediately."
Should I be excited or disgusted? I don't even know what to feel anymore.
"Well," Ulrich speaks quietly. "We better get going, then."
Yumi crams the underwear into her book bag before we sneak out of her room, shutting the door behinds us. Instantly, we dart down the hall and head off to Mr. Delmas' office.
We're coming, Aelita. Hold on. I'm coming.