Chapter 6

Eventually, we made it to the parking lot.

Apparently, Yu, the owner and a family friend of mine, had been watching us during the lunch date and got a little excited. He had realized that we were on a double date, but I dont think that he understood that Alex and I were just there as friends. He has always had this silly thought that Alex and I would end up together. Like dating. Funny right?

His suggestive glances between Alex and I persisted as we went up to pay the bill. I rolled my eyes at him and sighed. Our light chatter quickly became more of a pestering interrigation as to how the date went and why Alex and I were not dating yet.

Finally, he agreed to let us go, me exasperated and Alex blushing slightly from the barrage of questions. He only did so though on the condition that I bring my parents by the resturaunt soon so that they all could catch up.

I pushed through the doors of the resturant, Alex trailing behind. We slowly made our way through the smaller parking lot to our vehicle. Right as I placed a hand on the handle of the truck, my phone started to ring. I pulled it out of my back pocket and looked at the caller ID.

Alex looked over at me expectantly.

"It's my mom," I told him.

He nodded slightly as I pressed answer and placed the phone against my ear.

"Hey, mom, what's up?" I asked hesitantly.

She never calls me during the school day, even during lunch break. I wonder what she needs...

I paused and waited. The only sound that came through was static.

"Mom? Mom, are you there?"

Still nothing. I sighed. She probably just butt-dialed me or something like that. I moved to pull the phone away from my ear, but then the static cleared and her voice came through.

"Hun? Can you hear me? Where are you?" she asked. She was panting and her tone was urgent.

"Ya, I can hear you, mom. What's wrong? You're panting... a-are you ok?"

I heard her cough on the other side. "Yes....Yes, I'm ok." suddenly, her voice became quiet, as if she had moved the phone away from her.

"Mom?" I asked hesitantly into the phone.

"Where are you? You need to...tell me........ where you are!" I heard her say as her voice came back.

"I'm at Yu's restaruant with Alex, why?"

"Baby, I need you to..." the static returned, cutting off her words, making it hard for me to hear what she is saying.

"Mom? I can't hear you. Mom?"

"Stay....Alex....Safer." Her voice was fading in and out.

I looked over at Alex, an appologetic look on my face. He gave a little smile and nodded his head as if he read my thoughts.

"Thanks, I'll be right back, I promise," I told him as I let go of the handle and started away from the car.

"Mom? I'm having trouble hearing you. It's really static-y, so I'm going to try and find better signal. Just hang on a moment."

"NO...Stay... Alex!"

I sighed.

"Mom, I can't hear you," I repeated, turning the at the corner of Yu's and shuffled my way down the side alley.

"Get back...Alex!"

"Mom, I--"

My sentence fell apart midway as I made a left at the end of the alley.

My chest tightened as I darted back behind the side of the building. I clutched my phone to my chest and tried to calm my breathing.

There, just around the corner, stood Liam and Paige. Scary as the pair was, that wasn't what caused my panic. What caused the blood to drain from my face in fear, was the body lying at their feet.

Just then I heard Mom's voice burst through the phone, loud and clear.

"Get back to Alex! Please Corren, something is wrong! You need to find--"

My phone was snatched from my hand.

"She's right, something is wrong," snarled Liam, my phone dangling between his fingers.