Chapter 2: Missing in the Night

I drank alone that night, letting the world blur until midnight. When I finally looked at my phone, notifications were stacked up like accusations—the blue glow blinking in the darkness. Missed calls, all from Aubrey’s mom after ten. My stomach twisted as I stared at the lock screen.

There were Facebook Messenger messages, too:

"Jason, your Uncle Rick and I are coming over tomorrow. Come pick us up at the station. Aubrey has to work, so don’t let her take time off."

I sneered, imagining her mom’s bossy tone. Of course her daughter had to work, so I got to be the errand boy again.

I turned my phone off and let sleep take me under.

Before seven, a pounding woke me up—hard and insistent, no chance of ignoring it.

"Jason! Jason! Open up!"

I opened the door, and Aubrey’s parents barged in, tearing through my apartment, opening every door, searching like they owned the place.

Her mom shouted, "Aubrey! Aubrey!" Her voice was shrill and frantic, echoing down the hall.

I slumped against the kitchen counter, my head throbbing. "She’s not here." My words came out flat, heavy with exhaustion and regret.

Her dad frowned, trying to keep it together. "Aubrey’s always been careful—she’s not the type to just disappear. Something must be wrong."

Her mom kept searching, panic rising. "We went to Aubrey’s place and she wasn’t there. If she’s not here, where else could she be? Aubrey, stop hiding! Come out!"

I was helpless. "Why would I lie to you?" I rubbed my temples, her parents’ anxiety infecting me.

"Then tell us, where is she?"

I hesitated. "We went out yesterday, then... argued. I came home first."

"What!" they both shouted. "We called Aubrey last night and she didn’t answer! Jason, you’re her boyfriend. You just left her out there alone?"

Their fear was real, and it sobered me. I tried calling Aubrey, but her phone was off. The ring tone died after one try, replaced by dead silence.

I texted her friends, coworkers, even Megan and Luis—nobody knew where she was. No one answered for hours.

Her parents were frantic. I finally said, "She’s an adult. When we parted, she went to eat with two guys."

"Guys? What guys?"

I shook my head, the implication hanging between us.

Aubrey’s mom cursed, voice trembling. "Jason, are you out of your mind? Aubrey is your girlfriend! It’s dangerous out there! If something happens to my daughter, can you live with that?"

Before I could answer, her mom grabbed her husband’s arm. "Call the police! Now!" Her hands shook, panic plain on her face.

Even after everything, I couldn’t ignore the fear building in my gut. My anger faded, replaced by cold dread.

The three of us rushed to the nearest police station. The waiting area was stuffy, smelling like burnt coffee. Her dad paced, muttering under his breath, while her mom dabbed at her eyes.

The officer worked quickly, checking the system.

"Aubrey’s ID was used to check into the Maple Heights Inn on Cedar Avenue at 11:30 last night."

Checked in.

My heart dropped. My hands went cold, and I squeezed them into fists, trying to keep it together.

Aubrey’s mom nearly collapsed. "Officer, could my daughter have been..."

Her dad barked, "Don’t talk like that, that’s impossible." But fear flickered in his eyes.

The officer stayed professional, driving us to the hotel and getting the front desk to cooperate.

They swiped the card, opened the door, and signaled us in.

Her parents rushed inside. I followed, my nerves raw.

The first thing I saw was a mess—empty beer bottles, men’s and women’s clothes, tissues everywhere. The room reeked of sweat, old cologne, and spilled perfume, thick and sour. The AC rattled in the window, barely cutting the smell. The curtains were drawn tight, bedsheets tangled like they’d been through a storm. I stood in the doorway, my heart pounding so loud I could barely hear her parents shouting. All I could think was: This is how it ends. Not with a fight, but with a silence so heavy it crushed me.