Chapter 112
“Come on, pick up,” he urged after calling a couple more times. But each time he was met with the same answer. None. Panic began to set in. There was no other way he could think of to contact Emma. She hadn’t indicated where Jess said to meet, or if a place had been provided at all.
He needed to call Jess. That seemed like the only logical solution, but he didn’t have her number. The other person he knew that could have it was Sabrina. If he called her in his current state, it would be a dead giveaway that something was wrong. That girl didn’t miss a thing, and he didn’t want to alert anyone yet. Not yet at least. For all he knew, Emma’s phone turned off from low battery, and lack of sleep was making him paranoid.
But he figured he didn’t have a choice. He had to get that number.
“There better be a good reason you’re calling me this late at night,” Sabrina answered in lieu of a greeting.
“Hello to you too,” Will remarked.
“What the hell do you want, Will?”
“I need your friend, Jess’s number. Can you text it to me?”
“Whatever the fuck for?” She was awake now.
“I just… I just need it. Message it to me.”
There was a long pause. He knew that Sabrina was putting the pieces together in her mind. The wait felt like a strain in his chest. Every second that ticked by ripped something away from him.
“I sent it,” she answered. Her voice was thick with suspicion. His phone buzzed in his pocket for confirmation.
“Thanks.” Will hung up and immediately called Jess.
Hi, you’ve reached Jessica Royce. I’m not available right now. Please leave a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
Her phone was off.
“Fuck!” He paced in the living room. His heart hammered away in his chest; his imagination played with several possibilities, each more gruesome than the next. Something was very wrong, and he was going to have to go out and find Emma. He looked towards Lizzie’s room. There was no way he could bring her and possibly endanger her too. But he couldn’t leave her.
“Ugh,” he rubbed his hands over his face. He needed someone to stay with Lizzie while he went out to try and find Emma. Minnie came to mind, but she lived far away. It would take her too long to get to him. Alex and Sabrina also lived far, and Emma’s father wouldn’t be able to get to the apartment at all. That left one person. One person he knew could be there in about five minutes. Emma had him down as an emergency contact. Well, this was a fucking emergency.
“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” he muttered. He got his phone and dialed a number.
“Hello?” a groggy voice answered.
“Spencer, it’s Will. I need you to come over to Emma’s apartment. Now.”
“What’s going on?” Spencer asked. Will heard shuffling in the background and figured that Spencer was getting out of bed and throwing clothes on.
“I don’t have time to explain. Just get there. As soon as you can.”
About ten minutes passed and there was an insistent knocking on the door. Will opened and was ambushed by Spencer.
“Where is she?” he yelled, pushing his way into the apartment.
“Shh!” Will insisted. “Lizzie is asleep.”
“You better start answering questions,” Spencer seethed.
Will sighed and ran his hands through his hair.
“Emma is missing.”
Spencer’s eyes flashed with fury. He grabbed Will by the collar and shoved him against a wall. Will had always suspected that Spencer’s feelings for Emma were more than platonic or professional. Spencer loved her, and Will didn’t know what to do with that realization.
“What have you done to her?”
“Nothing! She got a message from her friend and ran out. But I have reason to believe it’s a trap.”
“Letting you back into her life was a mistake,” Spencer hissed at him. “All you’ve ever brought her is pain and sorrow. If something happens to her,” Spencer pushed Will harder into the wall. “Or if I find out you’ve harmed her in any way, I swear to God, I will kill you myself.”
“Get off!” Will shoved him away. Spencer’s words stung him a little. But there was no way he’d ever let that show. “I need you to stay with Lizzie while I go look for her. She trusts you.”
“How do I know you aren’t lying? How do I know you haven’t hurt her and are just trying to cover your tracks? You better not have laid a hand on her.”
“I haven’t touched her… in a way she didn’t like,” Will smirked. He couldn’t resist jabbing Spencer with that. She is mine.
“You fucking…”
“We don’t have time for this! Every second you spend arguing with me is a second, she could be in danger. Stay with Lizzie. There are bottles in the fridge, and Minnie instructions on how to heat them are on the counter. I have to go.” Will grabbed his keys and phone and ran out. Adrenaline pumped throughout his body, setting every nerve in his body on fire. He started driving towards his uncle’s home. If he sped, he could make it there in about 45 minutes. The streets were quiet and empty, and Will’s car was a blur in the wind.
In the meantime, Sabrina couldn’t sleep. Why had Will needed Jess’s number? And at this time of night? She called Jess herself. The phone was off. She called Emma and couldn’t get a hold of her either. After a few more unsuccessful tries, panic began to settle in. She called Will to demand answers.
“All right. What the hell is going on?”
“Nothing gets past you.”
“You’re damn right it doesn’t. Now answer the question.”
“I… she’s missing. But I’m going to find her. I’ll bring her back safely. I promise.” He hung up.
Sabrina was stunned. Her friend was missing? How was she supposed to just accept that answer without any explanation? She called Will back, fully revved up and ready to cuss him out, but he didn’t answer.
Will had gotten another call right after hanging up on Sabrina. It was an unknown number.
“What?” he answered.
“I have something of yours,” a distorted voice answered. Will fumbled with his phone and made sure he recorded the call.
“She better not be hurt!”
“Well, that’s up to you. Her safety is in your hands now. If you want her back safe and sound, I will need something from you.”
“What do you want?”
“All in due time. First you must return back to her home. Await further instructions. If you deviate at all, if you call the police, Emma Wells will die.”
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