Chapter 6: Gone Without a Trace

Rachel’s POV

My phone nearly slipped from my hand as Adrian’s words echoed through the speaker.

“Amber’s gone.”

For a moment, I couldn’t move. My chest tightened, the air sucked clean from my lungs.

“What do you mean gone?” I whispered, but the line was already breaking up with his shouting in the background.

The world around me seemed to tilt. I stumbled out of the gym, still drenched in sweat, my legs trembling. My vision swam as I made my way down the hall, clutching the phone to my ear.

The moment Adrian saw me, his voice exploded through the night.

“Where were you?” His face was hard, eyes cold with fury. “Do you even know what’s happened?”

I stumbled out of the car, breathless. “Adrian, what—”

“Amber ran away!” he shouted, stepping forward. “Because of you! Because you couldn’t control your emotions for once!”

The words hit me like a blow. “What?” I whispered, my throat tightening. “No… she wouldn’t—”

“She would,” he snapped. “The neighbors saw her leave with a backpack hours ago. She was crying, Rachel! Crying because of you!”

I felt the ground sway under my feet. My knees nearly gave out. “I didn’t mean, we just argued, I—”

“Argued?” His voice rose again. “You’re her mother, and you can’t even take care of her! What kind of mother lets this happen?”

Each word tore into me, sharp and merciless. I couldn’t argue. I couldn’t even breathe. Because somewhere deep inside, I knew he was right. I had failed.

I pressed a trembling hand to my mouth. “Where is she now?”

“The police are searching,” he said curtly. “I’ve already filed a report. They’re checking the nearby surveillance footage.”

“Then let me help,” I said quickly, already turning toward the car.

But Adrian’s voice stopped me again. “Rachel.”

When I looked back, his eyes were dark, unreadable. “If anything happens to her, I’ll never forgive you.”

I didn’t answer. I just ran.

Hours passed. The sky deepened into black, the streets lit only by the occasional streetlamp flickering through fog. My shoes were soaked, my breath uneven, but I didn’t stop.

I checked every park, every street Amber liked to walk through. I called her name until my throat burned. I asked strangers, showed them her picture, ran from block to block with trembling hands clutching my phone.

Every minute felt longer than the last. My legs ached. My vision blurred. My mind kept circling the same thought, please, just let her be safe.

I checked my phone again. No missed calls. No messages. No updates. The silence felt unbearable.

Finally, with shaking fingers, I called the officer handling the case. “Please tell me you’ve found her,” I said, my voice breaking. “Anything…?”

“Mrs. Parker?” His tone was hesitant. “Your husband already called us a few hours ago. He said your daughter’s been found.”

I froze. “Found? But… I’m still out here looking. She hasn’t come home yet.”

“That’s what he said,” the officer replied. “He requested we close the report.”

My stomach dropped. “Thank you,” I whispered faintly, though the word barely made it past my lips.

I immediately dialed Adrian’s number. It rang once, twice. He didn’t answer.

I tried again. Still nothing.

Frustration and fear twisted inside me. If Amber had been found, why hadn’t he told me? Why let me run through the dark, alone and terrified?

I was heading back to my car when a sound behind me made me stop.

Footsteps.

Slow. Deliberate.

“Adrian?” I called softly, turning around.

No answer.

The street was empty, shadows stretching long under the streetlight. I exhaled shakily and reached for my phone again.

Just when I dialed to call Adrian, a hand clamped over my mouth.

My scream died in my throat.

Another arm wrapped around me from behind, yanking me back. I kicked and struggled, nails scraping against rough fabric, but the man was too strong.

“Shh,” a low voice hissed against my ear.

My phone slipped from my grasp, falling hard onto the pavement. The screen lit up, showing Adrian’s name, but it kept ringing, endlessly.

The world tilted. My head spun, darkness crowding my vision.

Then everything went black.