Chapter 24 Wren #2
The clock on the bedside table reads seven, so it's a little early for the detectives to start questioning us all again. I'm sure she would have woken me up for that.
Sitting up still palming the sheets, unease punches my gut and I've always been one to trust my initial instincts, so despite feeling groggy I rise from the bed and quickly throw on an oversized t-shirt, shorts, socks with my trainers and a very worn hoodie that I wear on travel days. It may be summer, but I can see the layer of mist in the air through the window, meaning it could be cold if I get dragged outside. I don’t relieve myself or check my appearance before I swipe my room key and leave, my stomach twisted in knots because something doesn't feel right.
My blood chills when I twist the door handle and it's not locked.
I'd double checked last night before joining her in bed, so that meant she crept out of the room and left.
Left me.
The corridor is quiet but I can hear the faint buzz of noise from behind some of the guest doors, people starting to rise and talk.
My paranoia was starting to reach a new high as I rounded corner after corner, slowing to listen by each door in case I heard her voice.
The relief never comes, because I’m rounding the final corner to her hotel room where I stop in my tracks at the open door.
Closing my eyes, I exhale extendedly. She won’t be in there, her lock had been battered and I was sure the door wouldn’t even shut with the shards of wood sticking out.
I don’t know what propels me forward, but I need to see for myself that she’s not in the room.
Making it only a couple of feet away from the door, nothing seems off, but a dark feeling sinks into my stomach as I notice marks on the walls and a deep colored splatter on the carpet beneath my feet.
Dipping my head to examine the marks which look like light scratches, I strain down onto my knees to look closer at the floor.
Is that…blood?
Fear like I’ve never known slams into my body and I start to feel irrational panic.
In one fluid motion I fling myself forward until I’m running into her shadowed room, switching on the overlights and confirming she’s nowhere to be found.
I pull open the empty wardrobe for good measure, unable to breathe because it feels like a hand sized vice is wrapped around my lungs. Where the fuck is she?
Storming from the room, I don’t recognise my own voice as I start to shout and pound on guest doors as I practically run down the corridors.
Empty or occupied, I rasp my knuckles on every door, making my way to Phoenix’s room.
I’m vaguely aware of doors opening, but the roar of blood in my ears is so loud I think I might pass out.
I’m not just suffering with the loss of her presence, this soul gripping fear is because I know she wouldn’t just sneak out of my room after the evening we shared together.
I don’t stop banging and scratching at his door handle until I hear movement behind it—the lock jiggles before the door opens to reveal Merle.
He looks rung out, tired and right now fed up with seeing me.
“Wren? What is going on? Your bestie isn’t here.”
“Is Robin in there with you? I can’t find her.”
He frowns, inching out of his room to study the corridor. “No, of course she’s not.”
Cardinal appears behind him, arms tightly crossed. “What do you mean you can’t find her?”
Gritting my teeth, I’ll accept help from anyone right now, even this brooding asshole. “It’s that simple, I can’t find her. She was asleep next to me all night, then when I woke up she’s gone. Her room door is still wide open and she’s not in there either.”
Stepping around Merle, his glower deepens. “Are you kidding me? You didn’t even wake up when she got out of bed?”
Pushing down my annoyance, I mirror his stance and cross my arms. “Obviously not or else I would know where she is, wouldn’t I.”
“Who is where?” A curious feminine voice asks behind me and I turn to find the girls, minus Robin. Lily looks exhausted which is a new look for her. Both Willow and Mavis too look like they haven’t slept a wink. “Who are you looking for?”
“I can’t find Robin. Did she come to any of your rooms this morning?”
Three frowns appear and they each shake their heads. We’re not exactly close, but Willow looks sincerely worried and her posture becomes tense.
“Where's Phin?” I ask, staring at his sister, who points in the direction of her room.
“Still asleep, I’ll go wake him up and we’ll start looking for her.”
Cardinal pushes past me unapologetically, surprising us all by grabbing Willow’s hand and starts to drag her down the corridor with him. “I’m going to find the detectives–this ends fucking now. We’re all leaving and I don’t care if we have to swim through dirty waters.”
My head snaps to Merle as he starts bristling in the doorway, grabbing his jacket from a hook beside the door. “C’mon, the hotel should be locked up but we need to check all the doors and make sure she’s inside. Have you checked downstairs?”
I shake my head. “Not yet, I can’t–” my throat constricts and I have to rub at my chest. It feels like someone’s pouring acid down my throat, burning my eyes when I look at him. “I don’t know what to do.” I admit.
Seeming to put his differences aside, he gives my shoulder a shake and turns me around. “Let’s go find her.”
“Fuck. Wren?” Cardinal’s voice booms from down the corridor, to which the four of us pick up our pace to meet them at the top of the stairs. Willow crouches down, hands fluttering over more dark marks on the carpet.
“There’s blood and it trails down the stairs.” She rasps.
Pushing through the group, I lean down next to her—the markings turning into grazes against the carpet like something was dragged.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
“Find her now.” I say with no room for arguments, taking the steps two at a time till I’m flying onto the marble floor.
There’s no noise coming from down here, apart from everyone following me and we begin searching every room.
Shouts come from every direction as each guest tells me the rooms are clear.
“Where the fuck is she?” I bellow, just as Detective Starling appears through the double doors in a casual black t-shirt and cargo trousers. He has a slight sheen to his skin.
“Mr Hastings, what are you shouting about? What is going on?” He raises his voice, holding his palms up to me.
“Robin is missing, she’s not in the hotel.” I know in my soul she’s not in this house.
He raises an eyebrow and his stupid fucking mustache moves with it. “What do you mean she’s not in the hotel? Could she be in one of the bedrooms?”
I can’t help but slam my palm against the doorframe. “She’s not in the fucking hotel.” I yell, probably not my smartest move with someone in law enforcement.
He grabs me by the collar of my hoodie. “I suggest you calm down. You’re all meant to be in your rooms, so I will go collect DS Goldie and we will search the hotel.”
I push his hand off me, giving zero fucks at this point. “I thought it was DC? Whatever–we need to find her now and then I’m taking her out of this hotel.”
The glare he gives me is borderline unprofessional, but before he can object, Cardinal leads Willow and Mavis into the lobby.
“She’s not on the ground floor. Lily was getting Phin so they can unlock and check every guest room upstairs.”
Footsteps echo down the stairs as Detective Goldie joins us, pointing back behind him. “Your drummer is locked in his room. No one is to let him out.” He says to me, but I’m completely over this bullshit.
“Whatever, let’s just find her.” The air is starting to become stifling, pressing down into me with the weighing severity of the situation.
I’m made to repeat the story of how I woke up alone this morning and couldn’t find her, the blood on the carpet and the weird scratches.
Bristling the entire time they ask me questions, my skin feels tight and buzzes with needing to move. I need to find her.
“The back conservatory door was unlocked.” Merle barks, rushing to meet our group from the direction of the dining room. His face is grave, a light mist dampening his clothes and hair. “It’s still raining a little, but the door was wide open.”
In an instant I’m running, physically pushing my body to its limit without the coffee it craves this early to function.
Now probably isn’t the time to enquire about cutting down; all my thoughts zone in on the sheer anger because I fear someone’s taken her from the hotel.
She’d have no reason to leave, no means to go outside alone and leave without breathing a word.
Mum had needed me so many times and I’d let her down, either being in another country or away at school.
She’d needed me right until the end and I’d barely been able to break away from my responsibilities to care for her like I should have.
This time I wasn’t letting anyone down. I was going to find her.
Cold engulfs me as I hurl myself outside, the heavy door propped open with a large plant pot.
Ignoring the damp that seeps into both my clothes and skin, I rounded the side of the house, moving past the wrap around orangery and deciding on the direction of the back gardens purely on instinct.
Something feels right checking this way first, my feet moving from pebbles to slabs of stone.
Everything is silent apart from the light rain meeting the tree tops, no animal sounds or movement, so hearing the other guest's footsteps behind me echoed out into the morning air.
“Check fucking everywhere. I’ll look in the woods, Willow check the greenhouse. Wren make your way down to the lake. Everyone else check the outer buildings, we need to cover the entire property.” Cardinal snaps, a natural born leader not showing one sign of distress.