Shards of Memory [English - Under Revision]

Chapter 12: The Gang

Blaise's POV

I felt like a zombie drifting through the corridors. If eyebags were a currency, I'd be a billionaire. Sleep hadn't touched me last night. My brain refused to shut down—every thought was her. That something bad was going to happen.

Yeah, I knew I shouldn't worry. I'd seen her with my own eyes. I drove behind her and Dalyn last night, watched him drop her safely in front of their house before he sped off somewhere else. A bar, maybe. Who cares.

She went inside, doors locked, lights on. I stayed a few minutes, just to be sure, then drove back to my condo. She was supposed to be safe.

I sighed and shoved my practice clothes into my locker. Practice could wait. Class could wait. My chest was wired too tight.

As I stepped toward the classroom, eyes turned, greetings came—just nods back from me. My hand was on the doorknob when someone called my name.

"Finally. Found you."

Sacha, sprinting, out of breath, face flushed. The others—Brent, King, Seth, Jrish—were right behind him.

"What's going on?" I asked, scanning their faces.

Sacha sucked in air. "Limetheo's missing."

I froze. The others nodded, grim.

"Are you sure? Did you call him?"

"Over and over," Brent said, worry carving lines on his face.

"His mom called me," Jrish added quietly. "She said he didn't come home."

King crossed his arms. "He skipped afternoon classes yesterday. Means he's been gone since then."

"But he texted that he was just buying food," I muttered.

"Yeah," Seth said. "I asked the kwek-kwek vendor. She said some guys tried to force him into a black van yesterday."

The word hit me before I even realized I'd said it. "Kidnapping."

We all looked at each other. Then we ran. Corridors, stairs, out the doors. Class didn't matter. Limetheo did.

We reached the parking lot just as another voice cut through the air.

"Pick up the damn phone, Sky!"

My head snapped toward it. Ryder. He was with Harice, Tim, Chase—and Dalyn.

Dalyn.

My stomach clenched. He wasn't a student here. No reason to be standing on our campus, right at the gate, during class hours. Yet here he was, planted right in the middle of Ryder's group. My instincts spiked. Coincidence? No. He was out of place.

I walked toward them, suspicion already curling through my veins.

"What about Skylane?" I asked.

Four heads turned. Ryder and Harice's eyes flicked to each other. Tim and Chase shifted uncomfortably. Dalyn just stared back at me, unflinching.

"She's missing," Dalyn finally said.

My pulse surged. "Since when?"

"Last night," Chase answered.

I frowned. "Impossible. I saw Dalyn drop her off."

The boys looked shocked. Dalyn didn't. His face was stone. He knew I shadowed them sometimes.

"One of the maids saw her running out," he said flatly.

I cursed under my breath. I knew it. I knew something would happen if I left.