Lost and Found

The Intruder

The drive lasted forever. Forever! I mean, where in the world were these people going? Canada?

Even though the driver was careful, each turn caused the items in the back to shift and some to roll into me. I'd barely been able to hold back a whimper when a gallon can of paint fell on my leg from where it had been stacked on a bin. I'd internally cursed Sherwin Williams for a solid ten minutes until the pain subsided.

When the van finally came to a stop, I held my breath. The driver and passenger said something that was too muffled for me to understand and exited the vehicle. The car lock beeped. Lots of creaks and groans sounded from outside, like metal grated on metal. The feeling I got knowing I'd managed to escape was euphoric and terrifying at the same time. It reminded me a whole lot of the part in a horror movie where one of the heroines think they've managed to escape and the movie-watcher doesn't know if the killer is going to manage to get them at the last minute.

I stayed there, listening for any sounds that they were still around. But after several minutes, I guessed they'd left. I extricated myself from my hiding spot and looked around.

From what I could see through the windshield, we were parked in some sort of garage. But it wasn't one you would find in a house. The ceilings were too tall, the width too expansive. As I scooted up to the front, I counted ten other similar vans to mine parked inside. If I had to hazard a guess, then I didn't think I was actually in a parking garage but a warehouse where they'd decided to park these vans.

I prayed the car alarm wouldn't go off, and pressed the unlock button on the driver's side controls. Other than the sound of the van unlocking, nothing happened.

I thanked whoever was listening and climbed out of the vehicle.

With a dead phone and no idea where I was, I kept close to the walls and moved toward the exit. When I tried the handle, though, it wouldn't budge. Tears of frustration and exhaustion sprang to my eyes, but I forced tehm away through sheer determination. Since that way obviously wouldn't work, I looked around for another way out of here. And that was when my gaze landed on the van I'd hidden in.

I hurried back to the vehicle and checked the driver's side visor for... Yes!

Attached to the visor was a garage opener.

Biting my lip, I clicked the button and ran for the opening like an angry mob with pitchforks and torches were chasing me down. I didn't know if the people who'd driven here were still around or would be notified if the garage opened, and I didn't want to wait around to find out.

When I slipped outside, I slowed to a fast walk. I was on a small street behind a row of buildings. I quickly moved down the street and rounded the corner. There were a few people wandering the streets, but no one even spared me a glance as I marched down the sidewalk, searching for anywhere to go.

When I spotted a bookshop, I stepped inside.

The familiar smell of books accosted me as the door closed behind me. A little old lady with purple hair moved around the checkout counter, and she glanced up at me with a warm smile.

"Hello! Welcome to Oasis. Can I help you find anything?"

I fidgeted and shook my head. "Um, no. Sorry, my phone died and I just need to call someone to come pick me up. Do you have a phone I could use by chance?"

"Of course, sweetie." She grabbed a landline phone from near her monitor and set it within reach.

I thanked her and dialed Karen's number. It rang several times, but she didn't answer. I called again. And again.