Chapter 5

|Missing

|12:00

"Maybe the camera might give us the answer to where he went?" Aly suggested as she place the camera stand, opening the camera.

There I waited for almost like forever.

She slowly parted her face to the camera as fear and curiosity had painted her own face. Getting impatient was the only feeling I have felt, for the uncertainty of where Mike had gone is still unanswerable.

"Where is he, Aly? I'm sure you already watched the g*dd*mn video!!" I said as all she gave me is a teary, sorry pair of eyes.

"What!? Aren't you going to answer me!?" I ask as my heart starts to beat the fastest. I know something is wrong and I know she's still finding the guts to tell me herself, but I also know that I want to find the answer myself.

"Alyssa tell me!!!" I couldn't help but shout as she became fragile and started crying. No, this is not happening.

She handed the camera to me as I accept it with doubt. She turn around as she continue crying, as I hesitantly rewind the video, from the moment we all wear our goggles.

My heart continues to beat the fastest as I waited impatiently.

On the video, we are all lying diagonally as the video kept on rolling. And just before Aly's phone alarms in the three minute clock, the camera glitched for not more than three seconds and went back to normal, but Mike wasn't there anymore.

Instead, there left a single note on his seat. I was able to see that note in there but didn't took it seriously.

Then, the three-minute time was over. The exact moment it began to ring, was the time I start removing my goggles.

"No,no,no,no. This is not happening." I said as I rewind the tape, but ended up the same way. I rewind it again for the third time but it will end up with the single note to his chair. That's when I look at Alyssa who is still crying.

I didn't feel myself crying instead, I feel more of going back and taking that note. Probably helpful to where he could have been.

"Mich where are you going!?"

"Im going back!"

"What!? Don't-"

She have left me no choice but to go back there and get that freaking paper that's been bugging me since I've watched the video.

"Michelle, wait!!!"

I push the curtain aside as I enter the booth like I'm sure of everything I'm doing. To be honest, all I want is to save my boyfriend and I'll take any chance.

I was able to enter the area where we found out about the Pajan quote and the virtual goggles, I dont know what it is called actually.

"Where's that f*cking note.. where is it.." I mumble as I found out that there's no note into the chair.

"Mich what the heck is your problem?"

"Aly, look for a square shaped note."

"What?"

"Just freaking look for it okay? Help me find the note."

It should be here, probably just been blown by the wind since we panicked earlier.

"Here it is!" She said that made me feel relief at some point.

"Give me." I said as I grab the paper, just the right amount of force to not tear it apart.

There was a messaged written with the use of blood.

"For you seek justice,

But nothing came our aid."

"What the hell does this mean?" I ask as my friend Aly slide beside me. I look at her as I see the expected facial expression she could give me.

But, not for the same reason.

"What are you talking about, Mich?"

"The message! What does this mean?"

"I don't know what you're talking about-"

"Just look at it and read it again-"

She gave me a worried look as I furrow my brows.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I ask a bit edgy.

"But Mich, there's nothing on the paper."

I look at the paper, expecting that the message would disappear. But, it stayed there. I decided to feel the message as I brush my thumb into it, surprise that the blood didn't dried out.

So does this mean, it is written fresh from like a minute ago? But who would write it?

"Mich, we have to get out of here."

"No. The message is still here! It says that 'for we seek justice, but nothing came our aid?' Aly, this could answer to where Mike had gone!!"

"W-what?"

"Aly, look closely! I'm sure you're just joking around!"

She took out her phone as she captures it, and show me her screen. My eyes widen to see the paper I've been holding, is mysteriously blank.

"Its blank, Mich."

You've got to be kidding me right now.

"Now let's get out of here and well contact him when we got home, okay?"

I don't know what to feel right now, I don't know how to think properly, if I can sink all of this. What is happening to me? I don't know.

•••

When we got home, I found myself lazy to even get out. It's pretty much getting dark already, but the happenings earlier ago felt like it kept on repeating.

Am I going nuts? But I know what I saw!

"Mich, I said were here."

I look at her as she gave me a pity look. And I hate being pitied.

I got out of the car and slam the door shut. I open my bag as I search for my door keys. As I was able to find it, I attempted unlocking the door but failed miserably as my mind is pretty occupied by what could have happened to Mike.

"F*ck"

"Mich, are you okay?"

"F*CK! F*CK!!!" I shouted as I depressingly throw the keys away, as I could feel my knees trembling and weaken by the second. I could feel Alyssa's hand as she support me to sit on the stairs.

"I should have trusted you, Aly. I should have listened to you because if I did, Mike would still be here with me, with us."

She hug me there for the meantime as we listen to the echoes of silence. I should have really trusted Aly.

"Mich, there's something you need to know."

"Hmm?" I ask as I sit erect beside her. I look at her as she didn't look at me instead, into the violet-pinkish clouds. She took a deep breath before taking.

"I think I know what is happening to you."

"What are you talking about?"

She scan inside her bag as she let out her wallet, pulling out a piece of paper. She opened it and stare at it for a second before showing me.

"I want to tell you what you see."

I look at the sheet intently, hoping to see something special. But, the note is empty. That made me shook my head and look at her.

"Why are you showing me this?" I ask as she look at the paper again and hide it inside her wallet, right into her backpack.

"There's something written on it."

"What are you talking about?"

"Written in blood are the words

"Your future will haunt you,

Until you decide to take a risk"

"So, what? I should just believe you? Because clearly, I know you're just doing this to make me feel better-"

"Months ago, you were in my dream." She said like she didn't even dare to listen to me.

"What?"

She look at me with sadness and regret in her eyes.

"As much as I wanna tell you everything, I can't. But I'll tell you this Mich, you're on a mission."

"W-what mission?"

"Find out what's behind the dream you had. Or why Mike disappeared-"

"Wait, didn't you had the same dream as mine?"

She shook her head.

"T-then, what did you dreamt of?"

She release a long sigh as a tear rolls down to her cheeks. She look up in the sky once more as she play with her own fingers, answering my question with only one word and two letters.

"Me."

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