Ch. 3 - Finding You Part 1

Theme Song: “If you only knew” by Shinedown, alternative: “I miss you” by Blink 182.

 

"It's going to be cold around here. The night will fall soon. My plane will leave on Wednesday around seven. We should take care of this matter now."

"Okay, Madam, I'm going to wake her up."

 

Rosaline opened her eyes and found herself lying on a red carpet. Her eyes covered with haze and her neck felt so stiff.  


She stood and shook her head to get a clear view of the surroundings.

 

"Where am I?" 
Running to face the window, she  looked at the hill. She was on the upper floor of the house, villa or -- whatever the place was.

 

The pain was still immersed in her head when she heard footsteps behind the closed door. The sounds stopped, but a low creaking sound of the door being opened stimulated her heart to beat rapidly than before. Someone was standing behind the door, looking at her -- probably with a furious look on her or his face.  Her instinct to escape burst out through her chest, yet... she knew it was already too late for her. 

 

"It seems I shouldn't be bothered to wake you up." said the man with a black tuxedo behind her.

At White Residence:

I could not believe myself  sleeping on the bench while Rose hasn't come home yet. Where could she be at this time of evening?

She might have decided to stay over at her friend's house, but when I  phoned them, they said that they have not seen her.

 

There has not a single phone call from her. It isn't like her. She used to call me if she's going somewhere and not coming home. 

The worry is about to explode in my head as I think about of all these facts. It's important to think straight at the moment. "Think, think straight! Where could she be right now?"

 

"Rose, where are you?"

 

I cannot stay here  any longer. "I must find her!"

 

I search for Rose in the library, grocery store, city park, and even graveyard -- place where she loves to hang out --  still she is nowhere to be found. My heart races with worries and it's almost morning as I decide to go to Mr. Pivert's house to find Pierre. I heard that he has returned from Bali for a week. Maybe if we search for Rose together, we will find her sooner.

 

We split up to find her. I look for Rose in public places while Pierre is searching for her in her school and her friend's houses.

 

Mr. Fouchier is around in the park with his children. I must ask him about Rose. 

"Monsieur, do you know where she is? She hasn't come home."

 

"I'm sorry, lad. I didn't drive her home because my wife was sick. She said that she would go straight home. I don't know where could she be right now."

 

If he doesn't know, then... who else?

Annabelle?

She's standing in front of a Café near the park. However, she isn't helping. She blames me for Rose's disappearance.

The argument with her will only be a waste of time. It  would be better if I use it  to find Rose instead.

 

At time of panic like this my stomach is growling. It's almost noon, but I haven't found her.

I could not find her even in Ms. Girard's house. I was hoping that she was there to help Ms. Girard with her garden. 

My mind could not rest until she was found. I call Pierre to know about his progress.

Pierre hasn't able to find her too.

 

The fog is coming over my head, but a sparkling object on the ground catches my attention. It looks like her bracelet. The one I gave her the other day.  Perhaps, it's just a similar bracelet from the same store, but my instinct tells me  that she is somewhere nearby or at least was around before she got lost.

The place looks  luxurious that it makes the possibility of Rose inside there is so little. She doesn't have a rich friend or knows someone who might have lived there.

The guy standing in front of the mansion seems quite suspicious, though. He looks around like he's guarding the place. I call Pierre to inform him about the bracelet and my suspicion about the house. 

However, my existence is known to the guard.

It seems I have to try to get inside the house.


"I'm sorry. I'm a tourist here and I'm a bit lost. My cell battery is dead. If you don't mind, may I go inside your house to use your phone?"

"Heh!" The man snorts. "I know what you're up to. You want to go inside so you can steal everything inside while my boss is not around, heh?"

"Your boss? So...  you are..."

"Yes, I'm the bodyguard here. I keep this place safe when my boss is not around."

"Who is your boss?"

 "It's none of your business."


 **

I walk away, hiding behind a tree, waiting for the guard to leave the house. I dial Pierre's numbers again -- asking him to come here and bring a disguise to distract the guard's attention.

"You once told me that you're studying Art and often do theatrical performances. Why don't you bring your custom or anything that you had worn in your performances?"

"What for?"

"I'll tell you later."

"Are you sure that she's there inside the mansion? Why don't we just call the police?" Pierre has arrived and he's asking me for the reasons I told him to come here. I noticed his wig and the make up.

"There's no time. We might lose time if we waited for the police. We don't have any proof beside this bracelet and that doesn't prove a lot. You should distract the guard so I can go inside the mansion to check whether Rose is inside or not. If I find her, I will give you a signal through the window and you should call the police soon. "

 "But, what if they catch you, but Rose isn't there? The guard will probably call the police."

 "I will find an excuse for that. If that happen, I'll find a way. Hey, why are you wearing this hair anyway?"

"Well, you said anything that I often wore in my performances. I was in a rush and this hair was the only thing in my mind at that time."

"Oh, and you managed to put make ups?"


He's weird.


"Well whatever it is, you should go there and distract the guard. This time he let the door open."

"Okay. Good luck."

"We need more than luck this time, Pierre

 I have no idea from where my bravery came. All  I can think of  is to find Rose as soon as possible. 

Pierre does seem convincing enough, though.

I sneak into the mansion.

And he keeps the guard's attention away.

 

"Thanks, Pierre. I owe you this time."

But my foot accidentally stomps on a small can.
 

The clatter brings the alarm -- a.k.a. the guard's awareness.

He's standing behind me.

 

"I told you not to come inside. Why do you come and who are you?”

I turn around "As I've said I'm a lost tourist and I wanted to borrow your phone." 

"Do you think I'm going to believe that?"


 He attacks me with his foot right. Fortunately, I notice him and quickly duck my head to avoid his kick.
 

The guard knows Martial Arts. Pierre is running  inside the mansion. 

"Watch out!" He warns me. The guard's trying to plant his fist into my stomach.

"Go now and find Rose!" 

"Okay!"

I  never thought that I would use and practice everything that I have learned from Mr. Chevalier so suddenly and in a real fight.

I muster up force and then knock the guard down with unexpected fist over his neck.

 

"Is he dead?" Pierre shrieks as the guard falls onto the ground.

"Nope. He fainted. Have you found Rose?"

"I haven't, but I found these keys." 

"Good, we should split  now."

"Are you sure you're not going to take these keys with you?"

"I'm sure. Go ahead and search for her upstairs. I'm going to look for her here."

Unexplainable, I feel  Rose is standing behind the door  before me.  I grab the door handle. It's unlock.

Before I could open it, someone has already turned the door handle around.

"I've been wondering who made all those noises."

A woman is standing in front of me. I think I have met her before.
"Have we met? Your face seems so familiar, young man."

Rose is there, standing behind the woman whom I met couple of months ago. 

To Be Continued