Page 2 of Raise 'Em Up

“Fuck you,” Donny spits as he pushes past her.

“Watch who you're talking to, Adonis!” she screams, as I follow after him.

We find Lennox and Mateo talking in harsh whispers in the middle of the front lawn.

“Did you get a hold of her?” I ask as we join them.

They both look over at us. “No,” Lennox says, casting his eyes over to Mateo. “Went to voicemail.”

“I’m going to call Alex. I haven’t seen him here yet, maybe he knows where Rylee is.” I bring up his name on my contacts.

“No need,” Donny says, nodding his head forward.

I look up to see him and Serenity walking toward us.

“Alex!” Donny shouts.

“What’s up?” he asks us, his gaze flicking between us all.

“Have you seen Rylee?” Mateo asks him.

“No.” His brows furrow. “I left her in the dorm to give her room to pack while I came over here to get ready with Serenity. But we decided to go out for supper so we’re running late.”

“Fuck!” Donny shouts. “Guys, something isn’t right.”

“You don’t think we don’t already know that!” Mateo barks.

“We gotta go.” Donny starts toward the cars.

“We can’t fucking drive!” Lennox shouts after him. “We’ve all been drinking.”

“Alex, take them. I’ll stay here in case she’s on her way,” Serenity says.

Alex nods. “Okay.” He gives her a kiss and looks at us. “Come on.”

I feel sick as we all climb into Alex’s car. The whole time we're driving, I can’t help but think the worst. She better be okay. If she’s hurt, I don’t know what I’d do.

“Could you drive any slower?!” Mateo snarls.

“Listen, I’m going as fast as I can on campus. You want the campus police to stop us for speeding and keep us longer?”

Mateo says nothing, turning his attention out the window.

Every second that passes, more and more dread fills my veins. Where are you, Rylee?

After what feels like a lifetime, we pull up to Alex and Rylee’s dorm. We shove our way out of the car and race toward the lobby.

“Fuck the elevator,” Mateo says, heading for the stairwell entrance. We all follow, taking two steps at a time.

Once we get to their floor, Alex steps in front of us and heads to his door. He unlocks it and we all burst inside.

“Rylee?” Donny says her name with too much hope. Because there’s nothing. Her side of the room is not packed up like someone going home for the holidays. There's nothing. Her bed is stripped. Her whole side is gone.

“What the fuck?!” Mateo roars.

A little meow sounds from under Rylee’s bed. Peaches pops her head out from underneath, looking up at us with her big kitty eyes.

“Shit.” Alex bends down and scoops her up. “What the fuck is going on?”

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