Page 43 of No Mercy
EVA
Makingmy way towards my room, I throw on a pair of black shorts and a tank top, my hair flowing down my face, sticking to the tears that I didn’t even know appeared.
When we first came here, Rob gave us access to the security cameras around the house. We’d never had a reason to check them—until now. And that’s exactly what I’m going to do.
I’m going to find out who took you, Mandy. I swear it. And when I do, they’ll wish they’d never been born.
I think back to this morning, trying to piece together what happened but it’s like I stepped into another dimension. My mind blank as I ran from room to room, frantically searching. A tiny part of me hoping it was some cruel joke—that she’d leap out, giggling, from the shadows of a dark room. But that hope vanished each time I was greeted by emptiness.
Walking down the stairs, I notice a vase sitting on the table, sitting there as if everything is okay in the world. Rage fills me as I force it off the table, sending it towards the floor. I can’t help but feel satisfaction at breaking something so beautiful. The flowers scatter across the floor mixed between the shards of glass and water, as if they’re crying from being hurt. Just like I am.
My laptop is on the table in the living room, the sound of the TV still playing from this morning, echoing against the walls.
I sit down and pull the laptop onto my lap, quickly loading the footage from today’s date.
But as the folder opens, my heart sinks.
Times are missing.
The exact times she was taken.
I feel my whole world shatter around me once again, the little piece that was holding me together, was gone. I have no leads, no evidence apart from her empty bed and the open balcony door.
Tears roll down my cheeks as I feel myself spiralling out of control. The sound of laughter on the TV screams inside of my head. Picking up the controller I press ‘off’ before throwing it across the room in frustration, it bounces off the floor and a part of me laughs when I spot a little piece fall off it.
Soon, the laughter turns into tears as my body shudders with each gasping breath.
A movement catches the corner of my eye and I look up, only to be greeted by a red glow.
It’s him…
A sense of security wraps around my body at the sight of him, as if him being here will keep me safe but it doesn’t last long as guilt quickly replaces it. How can I be sat here feelingsafe, when my best friend is out there?
I narrow my eyes at him, needing to know what the fuck he wants from me, why does he keep appearing randomly, why me. Pushing myself off the sofa, I round the side of it as I force myself to stand taller.
“You…” I murmer, trying to keep my voice steady. My chest rises faster as I take a step closer, needing to be close to him but also as far away as possible.
I watch him closely as I stop a few feet away from him.
“What do you want from me?” I ask, keeping eye contact with the eyes behind the mask, “Why are you here? Why do you keep showing up randomly? What the hell do you want from me?” I need the answers, I need to know why. My fists clench against my sides as I try to stop myself from running away.
He just stands in front of me, examining every inch of me beneath the mask. I want to ask him to take it off, to confirm my suspicions of who he is, but the mysterious factor of it all, excites me.
I wait patiently for him to answer me, before his low voice fills the air, “I’m not here to hurt you Eva, I don’t know what you think I’m here for, but I just… I like to make sure you’re okay.”
I can’t help but scoff at his response, who the fuck does he think he is.
Matching his tone, I take a step towards him, “Make sure I’m okay? You think you can just randomly appear in my life and playhero?” I drop my voice lower, making sure he picks up on the last word to mask the emotions flying around inside of me.
A voice inside of me keeps telling me not to trust him, that he is hiding something big from me but I ignore it, pushing it to the back of my mind.
He tries to say something else but I don’t want to hear it, I need a strong fucking coffee if I’m going to get through this day of hell.
Brushing past him I head towards the kitchen, but as I reach for my cup, my phone rings from my pocket. The second I see her name on the screen, the feeling of relief overwhelms me as I nearly collapse to the floor.
I grip the phone in my shaking heads as I press answer.
“Mandy, is that you?” I ask, my voice trembling as I try and keep the tears at bay.
