And we're back, and let me just say happy new year :) and I hope you've all had a happy Christmas and if you don't celebrate Christmas then a happy holiday nonetheless, its good to be back now and I've had time over the break to come up with a few new ideas about where to take this, so without further ado lets get right back to it
*No P.O.V*
Tori headed in to school on another morning on another day, hoping it would be different but like every day before it since Cat left, she was sure she would be disappointed.
And just as she had played the scenario over in her mind a hundred times on the way to school, it was unfolding exactly how she knew it would, she went in to school, to Cat's locker, removed the rose that had died and replaced it with a new one, even though it was becoming a natural series of events now, to walk in expecting to see Cat and be disappointed when she didn't... Tori couldn't help but always have that slight sense of optimism that today might be different, but so far it was looking like just the same.
The morning was no different, Tori found herself standing in front of Cat's locker for longer than she did her own, almost lost in the crowds of students that filed through the halls, passing her by without so much as a second glance, to them it wasn't the case of "it was like Cat never left" it was more like "Cat had never been there in the first place" none stopped to ask Tori if she was okay, or if she had heard anything about Cat, or if she had seen her, or anything for that matter, they all just walked straight by her, even Tori's friends were perplexed by her behaviour, they were all worried for Cat too but as far as they were all concerned she was just at home in her room with the door locked, it had been almost a month since Cat vanished into thin air and rather than heighten the worry amongst her friends, time seemed to be moving past the girl who felt so alone it drove her out of the country itself.
Class, just like the morning was no different, Tori went in expecting to see the familiar bright red hair and ever present smile sitting in the seat at the front, beside the seat Tori would always sit in, but as usual nothing was there, the seat was taken by someone else entirely, everyone knew it was Cat's seat but it was like nobody cared.
Tori took a seat toward the back of the class, she didn't like sitting next to "Cat's chair" as she'd always find herself distracted staring at the empty seat, picturing in her mind Cat sitting right there, jumping up to tell the class some random predicament she had found herself in over the weekend, to Cat it seemed like every time she told a story like that nobody listened, but they did, her friends did, especially Tori, and the more time went on without a story like that from the girl who seemed to brighten up even the darkest days, the more her friends missed her.
Lunch time, same old same old, Tori and her friends sat at the same table, everyone there, minus one, as it had become, they'd talk about her, in the slightest hope that something may have changed, but it was always exactly the same, nothing new, nothing better, Tori would spend time at lunch sending Cat text messages and attempting to call her, but the same message she received every time had become enough to move her to tears, the message that meant Cat's phone was off, and the fact it had been off for this long just made Tori worry more and more, sometimes it was like she found herself secluded from the world around her, her sole focus being the safety of Cat, feeling alone in her conquest, hoping beyond hope someone would offer her a hand and stand by her through it.
The same way Cat needed it, but it never came.
And after school was the same too, Tori would walk down to Cat's house, see the bedroom light on, attempt to call Cat, and text her, but never got an answer, knock on the front door, go up to Cat's room, and try as she might she would never hear anything on the other side, she thought about kicking the door down but then thought she probably couldn't even manage it, but she knew she had to try something, standing in front of the door with her fists clenched tightly she thought long and hard about it, she had been told by her dad the correct way to kick a door in, check the hinges to make sure it opens away from you, if not kicking it down will be just about impossible, and kick close to the lock, not the lock directly, and most importantly follow through with the kick, don't ease up once you make contact.
3...2...1... "what are you doing?" but just before Tori could kick the door she was stopped by Jade, much to Tori's surprise, she had never once came over with Jade to Cat's house, Jade never even mentioned it ever, at least with the others they told Tori they'd go with her, and they all tried to no avail.
"Jade?" Tori asked surprised as Jade put her hand on the door handle and attempted to open it, no surprise it was locked.
"Cat? are you there? its me, Jade... its been nearly a month Cat, no matter what the problem is I promise if you let us in and you let us help you it will go away" Tori watched silently as Jade wiped a tear away, "Cat I miss you... you understand me like no one else does, I feel safe with you, I can tell you anything... I miss that... I need that... I... I need my best friend back"
*Cat's P.O.V*
"I'm sorry Miss Valentine but you're just not what we're looking for" I can't even be bothered to read the rest of this email, I know its just another rejection notice, and its obviously the same excuse "you're too young, not enough experience, blah blah blah" how can I get the experience in the first place if no one offers me the chance?
I looked around online for a while for a few more job offerings, at this moment in time I'd take just about anything, I knew time was against me, it was almost the end of the month and unless I could pull a few hundred pounds out of thin air I wouldn't have a place to stay.
I sat there in the library for what felt like hours sending off email after email and application after application, I checked the time and it was about half seven, it was dark out, well it had been since about four in the afternoon anyway, so I figured I may as well head back, knowing I've got less than a week now to land a job somehow.
I headed out, folding my arms tightly around my chest to keep myself warm as I began to walk down the street, it wasn't far from the hotel so I didn't need to worry about a car or anything, but I couldn't shake the thoughts from my mind, what was I going to do? where was I going to sleep? how was I going to get home? did I want to go home? did I even want to carry on living?
"Excuse me miss" a deep voice from behind me pulled me from my thoughts, I spun on my heels to see a man, taller than me, but then again who isn't really? he looked rather shady, dressed in all black with a large coat on, and a hood covering most of his face, even though it wasn't raining.
"Um, can I help you?" I asked nervously as the man walked over, "I couldn't help but notice you back there" he signalled down the road, obviously meaning the library, was he watching me? and following me? I could feel my body tense up and the fear run through me as I thought of a thousand and one scenarios that could happen.
"I see you're looking for work?" wait, could he possibly be trying to help me? "I... am" I was still nervous and pretty much couldn't control it, "how old are you?" he asked with his eyes wandering over me, "um, 17... sir" I don't know why I called him sir but I was trying my hardest to make a good impression and to not make him mad as I had no idea what he might do, "a young one eh? I might just be able to help you out" he said reaching into his pocket, for some reason I thought he was going to pull out a gun, but instead it was just a notepad and a pen, he quickly wrote something down and ripped the page off and handed it to me, it was a phone number.
"if you need work we might just be able to help you out, give that number a call" I nodded feeling a wave of excitement now as I thought this was essentially my ticket to safety, "what kind of work is it?" I asked, he laughed a little "the right kind for a girl like you, young, cute, eager to learn, with my help there will be a line of people a mile long for you, and you'll be making good money for it too, if you're good that is" he said with another little laugh, blatantly looking over my body once more "and I bet you are..."
Something over my shoulder caught his eye and he immediately wrapped it up "I gotta go sweetheart, remember, if you need work, we can give it to you, call that number" before I could reply he took off down the alleyway, I folded the paper up and put it in my pocket, turning around I saw two police officers walking right toward me, was that what he saw? I mean he did look a shady character... and he didn't really tell me what the job entailed... and he ran from the cops? I don't know if I'd be wise to trust this guy.
"Are you alright there ma'am?" one of the officers asked me as they got closer, "I'm fine officer" "who was that you were talking to?" "he was just asking for directions" I'm not sure why I was lying to the police but it seemed like the easiest option at the time, they exchanged a look and then back to me "well, if you see that man again, don't talk to him, he's dangerous" that sent a shiver down my spine, who was he? what had he done? what does he do? so many questions I wanted to ask but I was too scared to do so.
"Okay officers" "do you need a lift home?" "no thank you, I'm staying at the hotel down the street" "okay, well make sure you go straight there, and remember what we told you" "I will, thank you" "have a good night ma'am" "you too, bye" with that I headed off, walking as quickly as I could back to the hotel, so many thoughts flying around my head, and I still had the piece of paper with a phone number in my pocket, what was I going to do? he said he could help me find work but the police said he was dangerous, but what if its my only option?
*No P.O.V*
"Cat open the door..." Jade again pleaded, but it was no use, she turned around and collapsed into Tori, hugging her tightly as she sobbed into her chest "why wont she come out?" Jade asked clutching Tori as tightly as she could, Tori hadn't seen Jade so upset before, she had seen her sad before and she had even seen her cry before but never like this.
"I don't know Jade..." Tori couldn't think of anything else to say, "I want her to come out" "me too Jade" Tori felt herself on the verge of tears as she looked at the door, still toying with the idea of kicking it down.
After a few minutes of holding one another Jade finally eased her grip on Tori and turned back to the door, trying a few times to open it but not getting any results, Tori could see the fear in Jade's eyes as tears ran down her cheeks as she desperately tried to open the door.
"Jade that's enough... let go..." Tori took Jade's hand away from the door handle and held it close, "she'll be okay, we can try again tomorrow" Tori reassured her, still wanting to kick the door but thinking better of it.
Jade on the other hand wasn't ready to accept defeat but felt like she had no choice, again hugging Tori tightly and sobbing into her chest.
To both girls surprise they heard a slight thud on the other side of the door, they quickly exchanged a look and both knocked the door, yelling out "Cat!" hoping to hear her.
"Alright that tears it!" Jade yelled surprising Tori, "move!" she yelled again pretty much throwing Tori out of the way, taking a few steps back.
"Cat! this is your final chance! if you don't open this door right now I'm kicking it down! understand?"
"I'm going to count to five and then I'm coming in there whether you like it or not!" Tori watched from beside the door as Jade began to count
"One..." nothing
"Two..." nothing
"Three..." nothing
"Four..." nothing
"Five!" Jade yelled and without warning went straight for the door, kicking with all her might, the door swung open and Jade stood in the doorway in silence, Tori quickly moved behind her to get a look over her shoulder
But at that moment their worst nightmares became a reality as they realised
The room was empty.
Well, well well... I hope you enjoyed that :)
Until next time