Chapter 7
Ansley
Something is wrong. Something is seriously wrong.
“Come on, Daisy. Answer the phone. Please!” I mutter as I listen to it ring until her voicemail picks up. “Damn it!”
I’m at work. Hiding in the break room, calling Daisy over-and-over again.
Daisy was supposed to send me a text after her date last night.
She didn’t. Now, she won’t respond to me at all.
All of my calls are going to voicemail. None of my texts to her have been read.
I scroll through them again, just to make sure.
Ansley: Hey, you didn’t text me last night like you said you would. How did things go with Xander?
Ansley: Daisy?
Ansley: Are you okay?
Ansley: Hey, I just got to work. Still haven’t heard from you. I’m getting worried…
Ansley: Just let me know you’re alive. Please?
Ansley: Answer your phone!
They’ve all been delivered, but none have been read. My phone is working perfectly fine. I’ve gotten texts from other people this morning.
“Okay, I have to call her mom,” I sigh, scrolling through my phone. It rings a few times before she picks up.
“Hello? Is this Ansley?” Daisy’s mom asks, a hint of excitement in her voice. “It’s been forever!”
“Hey, yeah, it’s me,” I reply. “Sorry I haven’t had to chance to come see you since I got back to Chicago. Um, have you heard from Daisy? She was supposed to text me last night, but she hasn’t. All the calls are going to voicemail.”
“No, I haven’t heard from her in a few days, but that’s normal,” Daisy’s mom says, some of the excitement diminishing. “Was she on a date?”
“Yes,” I admit.
“That explains it,” Daisy’s mom laughs. “Either it went well, and that’s why she’s not checking her phone, or it didn’t go well, and she’s ignoring everyone.”
“You’re probably right,” I relent. “Hey, if you hear from her, will you let her know I called?”
“Of course!” Daisy’s mom chirps. “And don’t be a stranger, Ansley! I miss you!”
“Miss you too,” I reply sincerely, then end the call.
Daisy’s mom isn’t concerned. Maybe I shouldn’t be either.
But even when Daisy is ignoring her mom, she doesn’t ignore me.
She never ignores me. She will drop everything to respond to a text.
If a date goes horribly wrong, I’m usually the first person she calls.
If it goes well, she’ll at least send me a text, even if she’s … otherwise occupied.
“Maybe Xander turned out to be Mr. Right instead of Mr. Right Now,” I mumble, concern continuing to twist my stomach in a knot. I should think positive. Daisy can handle herself. She keeps a taser in her purse for a reason, just like I do.
I continue mumbling to myself for a few minutes while I text and call Daisy, but then my boss walks into the break room.
“Ah, Ansley. There you are. Everything okay? You’ve been away from your desk for a while,” he says.
I quickly put my phone in my purse and turn to face him. “Yes, I’m fine, Mr. Fleming. I’m sorry. I was on my way back.”
I’m worried about Daisy, but I can’t get fired. I swallow my concerns, rush back to my desk, and start working on the reports my boss is expecting. I did the one for Ms. Frost before I went crazy over Daisy’s silence, so the most important one has already been turned in.
I check my phone compulsively, even though it’s on vibrate and right by me on my desk.
Another hour passes. Then another. Still no word from Daisy.
I’m beyond worried now. Even if it was a late night and she slept in, she should be up.
She should have seen my text messages. She should have called back.
Unless she can’t. The thought sends an icy chill through my veins. I shove it away, but it keeps coming back.
“I’ll call the bar. Maybe she’s working and her phone died or something,” I sigh, talking to myself again. It’s become quite a habit and brought me embarrassment on more than one occasion when someone has overheard my one-sided dialogue.
I wait until my boss is in a meeting before I dart into the break room. I look up the number for Fletcher’s Bar and make the call.
“Fletcher’s Bar. We don’t make deliveries because it’s illegal!” A gruff voice chuckles. “How can I help?”
“Hi, um, is this Mac?” I ask.
“It is!” he chuckles. “And who is this? You sound pretty.”
“Oh, uh, I’m Daisy’s friend, Ansley. I’ve been by the bar a few times and—” I say, but he quickly interrupts.
“Ansley! Yeah, I remember you. Feels like I know you even though we’ve never had a conversation, lass,” he says. “Daisy talks about you all the time!”
“Daisy, yeah, we’ve been best friends since middle school. Is she working today?” I ask.
“Today? Naw, it’s her day off,” he answers, pausing for a moment. “She alright? You sound worried.”
“I don’t know,” I admit. “Probably. I hope so, but she’s not answering her phone. You haven’t heard from her at all?”
“Nah, sorry, lass. I haven’t heard a peep, but I rarely do when she has the day off,” he replies. “Want me to tell her you’re looking for her if I do?”
“Yes, please,” I sigh. “Thank you.”
Another dead end. Nobody has heard from Daisy.
I peek out of the break room and see that Mr. Fleming is still in a meeting.
I can see him through the glass conference room door, gesturing at a PowerPoint.
I’ve got a little more time, so I call a few mutual friends.
It’s a longshot, but I’m grasping at straws.
I call Jessica. No answer, so I have to leave a voicemail. I call Marcus. He saw Daisy a few days ago when he stopped by the bar. Nothing since. I call Brittany. She hasn’t talked with Daisy in over a week. Just to be safe, I send Jessica a text, but don’t get an immediate reply.
“Ugh, Daisy. Where are you?” I sigh, rushing back to my desk.
I continue working on my reports, but my head is a mess.
I stare at the computer screen. The spreadsheet blurs.
I realize I haven’t made a single update in nearly twenty minutes.
I glance at the clock. It’s almost lunchtime.
I haven’t taken a lunch break since I started working here.
I normally just eat at my desk. Not today.
I stand up and lean around the cubicle until I confirm my co-worker is at his desk. “Hey, Darren. I’m going to take my lunch break. Can you let Mr. Fleming know if he comes looking for me?”
“Sure thing,” Darren replies, not looking away from his computer.
“Thanks,” I say, then I grab my purse.
Food is the last thing on my mind. I type Daisy’s address into the Uber app and request a car.
It’s waiting when I get outside. Traffic is heavier than usual, so it takes half my allotted time for lunch to get to Daisy’s apartment.
That doesn’t leave me much time to look around.
Thankfully, she gave me a key. I have one for her, too, whenever she finally visits my new place.
I hurry into her apartment building, take the elevator to her floor, and let myself into her apartment.
I don’t have to look around much to know she didn’t come home last night because her cat comes running, purring frantically while weaving between my legs.
Caddo only does that when he’s starving.
If he isn’t hungry, he barely acknowledges you.
“You don’t know where she is either, huh, Caddo?” I sigh, putting my purse down. “Give me a minute. I’ll feed you.”
I take a quick peek around Daisy’s apartment. Her bed isn’t made, but that doesn’t tell me anything. There are a few outfits on the chair by her closet. They could be from yesterday. Could be from today. Nothing enlightening about the mess she left behind.
Caddo stays under my feet the entire time, purring and rubbing himself against me. He nearly causes me to trip, but even that doesn’t send him skittering away. He’s definitely hungry.
“Alright, chill,” I mutter, walking into the kitchen.
I open the pantry, scan it and my heart sinks. Empty. The cat food container is completely empty.
“Seriously? She’s out of cat food!?” I throw my head back in frustration.
Now I’ve got a missing best friend and a hungry cat. A hungry cat that seems to be getting more desperate the longer it takes me to magically produce his breakfast, which is already overdue.
“I’ll be back. I promise!” I say, grabbing my purse and hurrying to the door.
I can’t make it to the store and back here before my lunch break is over.
I’m already going to be late. As much as I hate it, Caddo will have to wait a few more hours.
But what do I do about Daisy? It seems like it’s too soon to file a police report.
Her mother isn’t even worried yet. I think I’m the only one losing my mind over it right now.
I bottle my frustrations and return to work.
I feel helpless. Helpless and guilty, because I can still hear Caddo’s cries in my head.
The afternoon passes like molasses. As soon as the clock ticks four-thirty, I shut down my computer and beat all of my co-workers out of the building.
Not the best impression to make for someone who is brand new, but I don’t have a choice today.
As soon as I step outside, the strange sensation returns. Like I’m being watched. I quickly look around, my attention drawn to the building across from York Financial. For a second, it looks like a shadow moves, but I can’t be sure.
“I don’t have time for this,” I mutter, shaking my head as I feel the rush of arousal and heat in my core. I have to find Daisy.
I walk to the closest gas station, the sensation lingering, shadows continuing to move to my left, but every time I glance over, there’s nothing. I’m losing my mind. What’s left of it, after worrying about Daisy all day.
Thankfully, the gas station has cat food. Not Caddo’s brand, but I don’t think he’ll care at this point. I buy enough for a week and order an Uber.
When I make it back to Daisy’s apartment, Caddo just sits in the hallway and cries while I make his food. He comes running when I put the bowl down.
“One problem solved,” I sigh, looking around the apartment again. “Now, what do I do about Daisy?”
I sit down and start making calls. Her mom still hasn’t heard anything, but now that she realizes I haven’t heard from Daisy all day, she’s beginning to worry. Mac still hasn’t heard anything, and his voice echoes with similar concerns. It’s the same thing when I call our mutual friends.
“Okay,” I say, my hand trembling. “It’s time to call the cops. Something is seriously wrong.”
I’m not sure if I should look up the number for the police station or dial 911. This seems like a 911 situation. It is to me, at least.
I start to dial and the strange sensation returns. Except this time, it’s different. It doesn’t feel like someone is watching me. It feels… like Daisy is in danger.
I lose the feeling in my arms and drop my phone. I try to stand, but my legs won’t work. I slump against the couch, and my eyes roll back in my head.
White, blinding light appears. I try to speak, but my lips won’t move.
I can’t move anything. My vision slowly comes into focus and I see a cathedral.
Gothic spires reaching towards a cloudy sky.
Stained glass windows, mostly shattered, a few intact.
They depict angels and demons engaged in some sort of battle.
The stone is old, crumbling. Cracked gargoyles perch on the corner, mouths open in silent screams.
The doors are massive, wooden, rotten. One hangs crooked on its hinges.
Then I remember it. St. Michael’s Cathedral.
I’ve passed it a dozen times. Not recently, but Daisy and I used to drive through that part of town when we escaped the suburbs on a Friday night.
That place has been abandoned for decades.
But the only thing that matters is the sensation. The sensation that tells me Daisy is inside.
The vision shatters. I’m back in Daisy’s apartment, gasping for air. How long was I out? I can’t tell. Caddo hisses, his fur standing on end.
“What the hell was that?” I question, my hands shaking as the feeling returns, my heart pounding as I try to get up from the couch.
I try to stand. My legs shake. My head pounds. Whatever just happened—vision, hallucination, breakdown—t took something out of me. Enough to leave me unsettled and terrified.
But beneath the terror, I know. St. Michael’s Cathedral. South side. Daisy is there and she needs me.
I don’t call the police. I don’t call anyone.
I just pick up my phone, grab my purse, and run.