When We Meet Again

Chapter 23: Police Investigation

"Tell me something officer!" Astrid yelled as she paced around the living room in frustration. Tuffnut and several police officers arrived at the house where the party was held a few moments after Toothless found Heather's beer can and hair tie. Two officers were seated at the couch interrogating the host and remaining guests who didn't seem to have a clue about the night's events.

"Miss, we're trying our best to find as many clues as possible. We are already a step further thanks to your dog for finding the spiked drink but there's still a huge procedure before we can locate her whereabouts," the head officer explained as calmly as he could. "I heard from your friend that the kidnapper called about her. Would you mind handing in your phone for us to conduct some analysis?"

Astrid rose a brow at the officer's request. She glanced at Hiccup and Ruffnut who were standing next to her watching the conversation, searching for a silent opinion from them. Both of them gave her a single nod of encouragement.

They watched as she whipped out her phone from her jacket pocket and handed it to the officer. She helped him unlock it before showing him the phone number, then he stuck a sticker with Astrid's details and Ruffnut's phone number to contact her when Astrid could collect her phone.

"Thank you. I'd advice you and your friends to return home for the night. There's really nothing else we can do right now except for tracing this phone number," the officer told them. "Come back in tomorrow morning. We should have traced the phone by then."

Astrid just nodded as she stared into blank space before walking out the front door. Ruffnut and Hiccup thanked the officers assisting them and made their way out after Astrid, the other boys already outside. The scene they saw the moment they stepped out, however, broke both their hearts.

Astrid was on her knees sobbing as Snotlout and Tuffnut knelt beside her, trying their best to comfort her. Eret called for Toothless following behind Hiccup who immediately ran over to Astrid to lick her face and force his way in between her arms. Thankfully he knew his job well, calming the distressed blonde almost at an instant although tears didn't cease to flow down her eyes. Hiccup ran to the girl, getting on his knees to hold her arms. Snotlout and Tuffnut got up to give them and Toothless more space.

"I failed, I failed her, Hiccup. I broke Dagur's promise. What would he think of me?" she cried out between sobs. Her blonde hair in a messy bun fell and stuck to her face wet with tears.

Suddenly, Hiccup hugged her. He didn't know what reaction he would get from her as he pulled her into an embrace but decided to risk getting pushed away and yelled at. He knew her well enough to understand what she needed most. At that moment, all she needed was comfort.

To his surprise, she didn't show any signs of trying to get rid of him. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face into his chest, sobbing against him. He missed the feeing of having her in his arms so much, but he knew that wasn't a time to think of his moments with his high school cheerleader girlfriend. His other best friend was missing and it stressed him out too.

"Astrid, everything will be fine eventually, I know it," he whispered as he tried assuring her. "Dagur would never blame you. It wasn't even your fault. You didn't know she was alone. We all know you or the twins would've done something to ensure her safety if you did know."

Astrid just nodded against him, with Toothless sitting next to her with a paw on her back.

After about ten minutes, Astrid slowly got up when she calmed herself down well enough. Tuffnut led her to his car parked on the roadside with the boys following behind them. Before she got in, she had the most unexpected request.

"Hiccup, can you come to our apartment for the night?"

Hiccup stared at her, shocked by her words. He glanced at Fishlegs, who gestured encouragingly. "It's alright, we'll walk back. She really needs someone," he whispered to Hiccup with a weak smile.

Hiccup nodded before hugging Fishlegs. "She'll be alright, don't you worry too much. Heather's a fighter," he told Fishlegs, knowing the man was hiding his fear and worries.

The boys began their walk home while Hiccup and Toothless hopped into Tuffnut's car to get to the apartment with them. There, Ruffnut helped Astrid prepare a spare mattress for Hiccup and a pillow for Toothless in Astrid's room.

When Astrid climbed into bed, Hiccup who was sitting at the edge of his mattress watched her. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying while her hair was an untamed mess. She sat in her bed staring at the wall in front of her, clearly zoned out. Hiccup knew her mind was whirling without resting. Since he had taken off his prosthetic, he got up and hobbled over to her without getting a reaction. He sat on the side of her bed and held her hand, making her turn to look at him.

"Hey, she will be alright. Trust me. She's one heck of a survival machine and you know it. We should get some answers tomorrow," he said as she stared back at him with an expressionless face.

Astrid sighed. Hiccup leaned down and gave her a quick hug which she unfortunately didn't react to this time. Understanding she needed some time of peace, he wished her good night before getting back to his mattress on the floor.

Astrid didn't get any sleep. With Hiccup and Toothless on the floor in her room, she tried her best to suppress her crying not wanting to wake them up.

The next day the entire apartment was prepared to leave by 11am after Ruffnut got a call from the station saying they had news about Heather. Although they were all exhausted, they couldn't help but feel hopeful to see Heather again. They picked up Fishlegs on their way to the station, who looked like he hadn't gotten a wink of sleep just like Astrid.

An officer was standing at the front desk of the police station, who brought them to a room with the head officer from the night before. He gestured to the group to have a seat as he took a deep breath.

"Ms Hofferson, here's your phone," he said as he handed her a ziplock bag with her phone in it. "I have good news and bad news."

The entire room was silent as he made eye contact with everyone. It was a long while before he spoke again. "We have found Heather Berserker, and we have rescued her. We have also contacted her brother and he is on his way from Berk."

There was a huge sigh of relief from the twins, however Hiccup, Astrid and Fishlegs were confused. "Officer, why does he need to fly halfway across the world if she's been found?" Hiccup asked cautiously.

"Mr Haddock, I'm deeply sorry to say that Ms Berserker had been raped, physically abused and lost quite an amount of blood before we found and saved her. She's now in the ICU."