The Search

The daylight had crept into the room, casting long shadows on the walls, but Jake Mitchell couldn't shake the feeling of dread that had gripped him since the previous night. His thoughts raced in a whirlwind, and the anxiety that had begun as a quiet murmur now roared inside his chest. He had to make sure everyone was alright—he couldn't just leave things unresolved after what had happened.

"Ugh, I should call everyone, check if everything's alright," Jake muttered under his breath. But as his hand reached for his phone, the reality hit him like a punch to the gut.

"Oh shit," he cursed, his eyes widening. "My phone is with Dave!"

How could he have forgotten something so crucial? His phone—the lifeline to his friends, to any hope of understanding what had happened—was in Dave's hands.

"How could I forget about that?" Jake whispered to himself, frustration creeping into his voice. His mind raced, trying to think of what he could do now. The only thing left was to wait. Wait for news. Wait for any sign of where Dave had gone.

Later that day, Jake received a message from Andy. The tension that had lingered in the air now seemed to weigh heavier as the words appeared on his screen.

"Hey," Andy's message read, short and to the point.

Jake quickly typed back, hoping for some reassurance.

"Hey, what's up?" he replied, his fingers trembling slightly as he stared at the screen. The response came almost immediately.

"Not fine," Andy wrote back, and Jake's heart sank. Something was wrong.

Before he could respond, another message appeared. This time from Vault, a friend who had been part of their group, but not fully involved in the chaos of last night.

"Hi, everyone. How are you?" Vault's casual tone only made Jake feel more anxious.

Andy replied before Jake had the chance, his words rapid and filled with concern. "Not fine."

Vault responded with confusion. "What? 😕"

Jake's own frustration bubbled up. "We just did a blunder yesterday," he admitted, knowing the weight of his words. "We're going to Dave's house to check if he's alright."

Vault, now catching up with the gravity of the situation, typed quickly. "Can anyone please explain to me what's going on here?"

Andy quickly filled Vault in, detailing everything that had transpired the previous night—how they had gone to the school, how they had encountered Mr. Black, and how Dave had run off after the confrontation. Vault's response was swift and full of shock.

"Oh shit," Vault typed, his eyes widening at the magnitude of their actions. "That's a big mistake."

"I know," Jake replied, his mind still reeling.

"Wait, wait—oh shit," Andy interrupted, his voice rising in panic. "Dave isn't at home!"

Jake's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?" he asked, dreading the answer.

"He lives alone, without his parents in the hostel," Andy explained, his voice shaky with worry.

Jake's brows furrowed. "Everyone lives alone without their parents in the hostel."

"I know," Andy said, but there was a hint of urgency in his voice. "But his parents wouldn't know he's missing—at least for a few days."

Jake's stomach churned. "Right."

The weight of the situation became clear. They needed to find Dave. They couldn't leave him out there alone, especially not after everything that had happened.

Sebastian's voice cut through the conversation suddenly. "Yes," he said firmly.

Jake's eyes widened as he looked at the message, confusion taking over. "What? Where were you?" he asked.

Sebastian's reply was filled with frustration. "When I woke up, I found myself lying near the school. You guys forgot about me. 😡"

Andy couldn't help but chuckle nervously. "😅"

Jake's guilt washed over him. "Sorry," he said quickly. "But are you okay?"

"Yup," Sebastian replied, his voice sounding steadier now. "But we need to find Dave."

"Yeah," Andy agreed, his voice heavy with concern. "We need to find him. 😟"

Jake nodded silently, knowing the urgency of the situation. "Yup," he agreed. Their plan had changed. The mission wasn't about sneaking around anymore. It was about finding Dave before things got worse.

But as Jake set his mind on finding his friend, one thought gnawed at him. What had happened to Dave? Where was he? What had they gotten themselves into last night?

The answers felt elusive, but Jake knew one thing for sure—they couldn't afford to waste any more time. They needed to find Dave, and they needed to do it fast.