Page 179 of Withered

I drop by Esme’s house after school, but she isn’t there. So I decide after dinner. Like last time, she is completely unaware of herownson’s whereabouts. She believes he is at Tyler’s, but he is not in the picture. Unease and worry grip me; what if they’re in trouble?

I avoided Professor Caleb on Tuesday as well, but he caught up with me on Wednesday, reminding me of his false accusations against Jake. When he mentions Jake being dangerous or something similar, my spine straightens, and I urge myself to defend him. He catches up to me again on Thursday when English is the last class of the day. He has the decency to wait until everyone’s out of the class, which worries me.

“How are things going?” He asks, folding his books and keeping them aside.

Even though he can’t look at me, I nod. “It’s pretty good. I’m sorry, but I have to leave.”

He looks up at me and says, “Let me rephrase my question: how are things with Jake?”

My phone vibrates in my pocket at the same time, saving me from pouncing on him and throwing his head against the wall.Wow, I didn’t know I had a serial killer side to me.Kristy’s name flashes across the screen. “I’m sorry. I need to go.”

“I know where he is.” Professor Caleb’s words make me halt in my steps.

I turn around quickly, anger seeping out of me. “You say that because I won’t stay here and talk to you?”

Caleb looks stunned at my outburst, but he recovers and says, “I can take you there right now.”

Instead of texting Kristy to meet me in the parking lot, I call her and tell her to leave without me. I return my attention to the professor and say, “Fine, show me.”

He scratches his neck and sighs, “Let me tell you this: you are going to regret it.”

“I don’t think I will.” I’m feeling an adrenaline rush, and I’m determined to prove him wrong.

“If it does, do I get to say, I told you so?” He asks, and I nod because I know I won’t regret it. I know Jake; he does not.

It’s the fourth day without Jake and Tyler. Four days have gone by without a single word from Jake.

The first day, I thought they did go to work, but then why not pick up their phones?

The second and third days were equally awful. And now I’m worried.What is this work that has kept them both busy?

Caleb gets into his car and ushers me in to follow him. I walk to my car and throw my backpack in the passenger seat. Starting the car, I follow his white Swift Dzire.

I follow him as he turns right and left. We drive for over an hour, leaving the main city behind and arriving at the opposite end, where I have never visited. He makes a sudden left onto a tiny, gravelly road; the houses around here are crumbling. My palms are sweaty, but my grip on the steering wheel is firm.

I gulp at the surroundings. Houses are broken and on the verge of collapsing. The sun is setting, and the sky above me is darkening, adding to my discomfort. The whole idea is ridiculous. What if Caleb is a liar who has come to kidnap me? I’m not acquainted with him.

I call Jake again, but his phone is still turned off. I weigh the pros and cons of the situation.Is it too late for me to turn around and go back?

Caleb pulls over into an open field, and I do the same. I take a few deep breaths to relax. Whatever this is, I have a nasty feeling about it. I exit my car and keep my phone closer to me. My phone’s battery percentage is 77, as I charged it in my car. It comes in handy in times like this.

“Come on.” Caleb gestures.

I look around. “Is this not the place?”

He shakes his head and tosses his jacket and a cap at me. “Wear it. It’s a two-minute walk; we need to blend in.”

“How do I believe you? What if you brought me here to kill me?” I speculate.

He gives me a tight smile. “You can keep 911 on speed dial.”

I put on the cap and the jacket and follow him, keeping a safe distance between us. After a minute, we arrive at a two-story building, and I hear faint noises from inside. Caleb motions for me to remain quiet, and instead of entering through the big door, which I assume is the main front door, he turns around the corner and stops in front of a smaller door.

He slightly pushes the door open and peeps inside. “Why didn’t we get in through the other door?” I ask him, confused.

Goosebumps erupt on my skin because of the chilly winds and also because of the surroundings around me.

“Bodyguards,” he answers, and we enter the small hallway.

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