Matt's Missing

Chapter 16: No One Deserves To Be Forgotten

     The classes today seem to pass in a blur. I can't concentrate. The only thing I can think about is Matt. And the tree. And what we figured out.

"You ok?" Shiro asks me as I exit my final class of the day. I think for a moment, then nod. He gives me a look. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah." I walk over to him.

"What's the plan?" He questions as we start walking.

"Go back to one of our rooms and talk about what we figured out this morning?" I suggest, looking at him and pushing up my glasses.

"Sure. Let's go to mine since I don't have a roommate." Shiro tells me as we turn into our wing's hallway. We almost run into Lance as he has Keith pinned against the wall. Shiro grabs my arm and pulls me back.

"Come on lovebirds. Out of the hallway." Shiro smirked.

Lance sighed dramatically. "If you insist." He grabbed Keith's hand and pulled him into his room.

Shiro and I walk inside his room and sit on his bed. He slides his arm around me and I lean against him. I can't help it.

"Alright. Let's get started." I pull out my laptop to take notes. "Why would a group of adults we're supposed to trust not even look for my brother?"

"I have no idea. It's not like he was a problem child or made a big deal about anything. He was the star student and the teachers loved him." Shiro thought aloud.

I see a notification pop up in the lower right hand corner of my laptop screen. I click on it and the school newspaper's website pops up.

"What is it?" Shiro asks, looking over my shoulder. I begin to read.

"The Daily Garrison. Yet another student has gone missing, making this the 3rd disappearance this school year. Slav Caterson went missing the afternoon around lunch time. After the disappearances of Matthew Holt and Ulaz Marmora, the staff is beginning to worry for the safety of the students. Letters are being sent to parents about removing their children from Garrison Academy. Letters are also being sent to parents of the other academies in the area, all of which have suffered similar disappearances. The newspaper staff advises to transfer to public school, where less disappearances have been happening."

I look at Shiro. "There have been more?"

"I... I guess so."

We sit there in silence for a while. The article was a real eye opener and honestly really scared me. It's still scaring me.

"I think I'm just gonna... call it a night." I mutter. Just as I'm about to stand up, Hunk barges in.

"Did you guys read the article. I mean, I'm sure I'm not the only one who got an alert. I can't believe the disappearances have gotten this bad. I mean, I knew they were bad, but I didn't know they were this bad. It's a little nerve wracking, don't you think? Knowing that someone else can disappear." Hunk just seems to ramble.

"Hunk, do you have a point?" Shiro asks.

"Do you think we can all stay in the same room from now on? So we can keep an eye on each other?" Hunk smiles a little.

Shiro smiles as well. "I think that's a great idea. It'll definitely put the entire team at ease."

"We can stay in mine and Keith's room. We still have the blankets you used on the floor, so it's practically already set up." I offer. Both boys nod.

"Great, so can we, um, go?" Hunk asks. Shiro and I stand. We start to walk out, but Hunk stops Shiro.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?"

Shiro nods.

"I'll wait outside." I tell them before walking through the door.

The two of them walk out a few minutes later. We then continue on to my room, where Lance and Keith already are.

"So, I guess we're all roommates now." Lance smirks.

"I guess so." I smirk back.

"Same sleeping arrangements as last time?" Keith asks, glancing at Lance. Shiro nods. I think. That means Keith and Lance in one bed, Hunk on the floor, and me... and Shiro... in the my bed.

"Let's get some sleep. We want to be nice and rested for school tomorrow. If students are actually going to transfer, teachers will be paying for attention to those who are left." Shiro tells all of us. We all nod and start getting ready. While the boys get changed, I grab my PJs and head to the bathroom.

As I get changed, I hear movement outside the door. My guess is that some of the others are getting into bed. I finish getting changed and walk out of the bathroom. Hunk is already passed out of the floor. Lance and Keith are snuggled together on Keith's bed. Shiro is sitting on the edge of my bed.

I carefully step around Hunk and walk to Shiro, who takes my glasses off and sets them on the bedside table. He smiles and moves aside for me. I crawl onto my bed and lay down, hugging my lion. Shiro lays down next to me and puts one arm behind his head and the other around me. I move closer to him and close my eyes. I can feel him breathing.

My mind begins to wander. Three kids have gone missing from Garrison Academy. More have disappeared from other schools. Yet all I heard about was Matt, and that's because I'm in his immediate family. None of these kids are talked about. They don't get mentioned in the halls or in classrooms. They don't even get their name on a wall or board. They just fade away in the mind of the student body. But no one deserves to be forgotten. Not like this.