Page 141 of Rear View
I whipped onto the shoulder, and we burst out. My chest heaved, and my legs went weak. I wanted to findher, but not in a ditch. In the dark. Alone.Fuck.Not like that.
The thought of it had my guts heaving and I pitched to the side, bringing up everything in my stomach. I swiped my forearm over my mouth as I dragged a deep breath and straightened.
“Ryah?” I called, my voice thick as I peered around. “Answer me, darlin’!”
Be alright, dream girl. Be alright.
Silence.
Using my phone, Alec called it. Several seconds passed before a buzz sounded out.
“Over there!” he said, darting to the left.
Her screen lit up, glowing bright against the snow. We bolted that way. She wasn’t there. Not good, but better than… Shit. I couldn’t even think it.
The glass was cracked, the texts and calls from everyone displayed under the damage.
Mom: Where are you, sweetheart? Please answer us!
Miles: We’re looking for you, Ry. Hold tight! We’re looking!
Entering her password, I clicked through, praying for something useful. I homed in on a message from Christian.
Christian: R.J. I know you’re done with me, but I’m still worried. Just let me know you’re alright and you made it, okay?
An hour later.
Christian: I’m serious, R.J. Please.
Time showed his text came an hour earlier. Around when she’d gone missing. Hate the preppy dick or not, I had questions, so I clicked his number.
He answered on the first ring. “R.J. Thank God.”
“It’s Xavier.”
Silence, then, “Xavier. Is R.J. alright?”
“She’s missin’. The fucker has her.”
“What?” he said, his tone high.“How’d you get her phone?”
I ground my teeth. “Found it. The thing was tossed.”
“Oh, Jesus!” he said, the words broken.
“Your text said you saw her earlier. What happened?”
“I, ugh. I ran into her and Barlowe on campus. They were headed toward the staff lot. She looked pale, had blood on her face and shirt. He was taking her to the hospital.”
Barlowe. My chest seized. Motherfuckin’Barlowe! She was bleeding. He’d hurt her. He was dead. So goddamn dead. “What time?”
“Um, I, uh. Around quarter to five.”
I scanned the screenshot from Miles. 4:39 PM.
“Sh-should I call the police?” he asked.
I doubted it’d help, but the more people calling about her, the better the odds. “Do it,” I ordered. “I gotta go.”
