The Net: "The Need For Blood": Chapter 10
Not quite knowing how to react, Angela put down the note and picked up the smaller box. Upon getting it open she found Jacob's high school class ring. Her heart stopped for a moment as she took the ring carefully out of the box and held it in her hands. I knew something was wrong. I knew it. Jacob's not coming back. He knows he can't stay alone for too long. God, I've got to find him! Angela unconsciously slipped the ring onto her left ring finger and picked up the phone. She dialed a number and waited while it rang on the other end.
"Hello?" came a groggy voice.
"Walter, I'm not coming into work today."
"What's wrong?"
"Jacob's in trouble and I need to find him. I don't know where he is."
"Angela, you don't know he's in trouble. He probably just forgot about dinner last night and right now he's most likely still out partying with his friends."
"Jacob doesn't party! How many times do I have to tell you that! And I do know he's in trouble. He hasn't eaten since lunch yesterday. Don't ask how I know. I just do. He also sent me a package in the mail."
"What? Why would he do that? What's in it?"
"I don't know why he did it. But his class ring from high school was in it along with a note."
"Well, what did it say?"
Angela read him what Jacob had written. "Don't you see how he's in trouble? Can't you tell something's wrong?"
"Apparently he just wants time alone. I mean, you practically mother him all the time. I'm surprised he hasn't left sooner."
"Walter!"
"Sorry."
"Yeah, well why would he want time alone without his ring? What does that have to do with anything?"
"How should I know?"
"Look, Jacob hasn't been his normal self for about a year now. And you weren't there yesterday when he left. He had this really sad expression on his face."
"Why isn't he himself?"
"I…I can't really tell you."
"Why not? How can I help you if I don't know what's going on?"
"I just…..he's got some kind of disease. The doctors don't know what it is. He won't eat unless I make him."
"Why didn't you tell me that sooner? I mean, I'll admit that doesn't make much sense, but I'll go along with it anyway."
"I just need you to help me find him. Come on Walter! This is urgent! If he doesn't eat….."
"OK, OK, I'll meet you at the office in half an hour."
"Good, and we're taking my car."
"Fine."
Angela hung up and got ready to go, ignoring the coffee she'd spilt earlier.
✠
In the car, Angela gripped the steering wheel so hard her knuckles and even her nails were white. Both arms were white too. She drove slowly along, her eyes peeled for signs of Jacob.
"Angela, it's been five days. You've been driving for five days straight! Don't you think it's been long enough? We've been all over this city. We haven't found him yet. I think we should either call the cops and file a missing person report or abandon this whole thing. I mean, I don't know how you are able to stay awake. I haven't slept in five days and I'm tired. I can't keep going like this!"
The car braked to a sudden halt, surprising Walter.
"NO! I'm not giving up! You wanna get out and go home! Then go! Get out of here! I'll continue on my own! I don't need you! But I'm not giving up until I find him!"
"No, I'll stay," he said wearily.
"This is the longest he's ever been without food. And we're not calling the cops!" Angela said as the car continued forward again.
"Why not?"
"They'll call for an ambulance. They won't know what's wrong with him or how to help him. I can't have that."
She slowed down quickly to a sudden halt again, throwing Walter and herself forward a bit.
"What?" he asked.
"That's his car! That's Jacob's car!"
"What would he be doing in the deserted parking lot of an old factory fifteen miles out of town that's been empty for twenty-five years?"
Angela ignored him as she sped across the parking lot. She stopped just inches from Jacob's red Dodge Intrepid. She rushed over to the car and looked inside. Jacob was there, lying in the backseat, his eyes closed, and his body rail thin again. She could plainly see his ribs through his t-shirt. She tried the door but it was locked. So were all the others. She looked around wildly for something to break the window. Finding nothing, she quickly raised her elbow and smashed her way into the car with a brute force neither Walter, nor she, ever realized she had. She unlocked the door from the inside and climbed in alongside Jacob. She found a note in his hand. Prying it lose, she read:
Angel,
I'm so sorry, but this was just something I had to do. I couldn't bear to see you hurting because of me. Having me around was only ruining your life. This way is better for both of us. At least one of us will survive Sean. I thank you for all you've done. You've been a wonderful friend, the best I've ever had. Thank you. Thank you so much. May you live on to lead a wonderful life! I'm sure I'll see you on the other side when your time eventually comes. Thank you and goodbye for now.
Love, Jacob.
Tears sprang to her eyes and rolled down her cheeks as her hand covered her mouth. "Oh my God! How could he do this to me! Jacob! No! You can't do this! No! You can't leave me!" She brushed the tears from her face with the back of her hand. "So this is your big plan, huh? This is it? This is what you had in mind? The big plan you couldn't tell me about! How could you! How!"
