Rory
Seventy-One
Hades had to work, and while I wanted her to be here with me, I knew she had to help people.
While I was alone, I decided I would start the process of looking for my sister.
I had no idea what to do, but I had to do something.
Her disappearance was related to me and my past, so I needed to dive into my past and remember.
That was the funny thing, though. I spent the last eight years trying to forget about my past. It worked because I forgot patches of things that involved another kid.
Jude didn’t have any more kids with me. I was his special princess. Fucking bastard.
I pulled out my iPad from my bag and Googled Jude Booker.
His name made my skin itch and my scars ache, but I needed to do this.
If there was a boy there or any other kids, then there should be reports somewhere.
It took several different searches before a news article popped up.
I clicked it and read through it. A teenage boy broke into a pharmacy looking for drugs; he had bruises and ripped clothes.
Officers said he was talking about a lost princess that he needed to find.
Princess.
The article didn’t have his name because he was a minor. That led me nowhere. Jude didn’t have a son. I Googled his obituary to confirm there was no mention of any children, only a grandmother in Vermont.
I looked at more articles, but I knew articles written by strangers trying to make a dollar wouldn’t give me the information I needed.
What I needed to get my hands on were the case files and reports from the detective in Nevada.
I could ask Melisa. Cinder told her a lot.
I needed to check on her, anyway. I still didn’t know if she and Cinder were screwing around or not, but they were friends for years, and not knowing if she was alive or not had to hurt her, too.
ME
Do you have files on my case with Jude?
MELISA
Why?
ME
I need to remember so I can find Cinder.
MELISA
Rory, how is remembering your trauma going to help?
I knew it sounded crazy to someone else, but it would help. If there was another person there and I could remember a name, we would be able to have a better lead to find Cinder.
ME
I know it sounds crazy, but if I can remember we can find her. Please. I’ll be okay. I have Izzy and the Vipers. It won't make me spiral.
MELISA
We’ll meet. When are you free?
ME
I’ll call you. I’m out of town currently.
She would talk to Vesper and Widow, because everyone thought I wouldn’t be able to handle it.
Or maybe Melisa didn’t have access to the files, and Widow did.
Cinder did trust Widow with everything but my heart, so it wouldn’t surprise me if Widow had case files and everything else.
I knew Cinder was also in contact with the detective from Nevada who was in charge of my case.
I needed to call her if Melisa wouldn’t give me anything. She would want to keep me safe because it was her job, but also because of Cinder. I would figure it out one way or another, even if I had to drive to Nevada and talk to the detective in person. Nothing would stop me from finding Cinder.
ME
Do you have the number for the detective in Nevada?
She sent me the number, and I took a deep breath.
I needed to gather my composure before I called this woman.
It would open a can of worms, and I was terrified of what I would remember because of it.
I needed to remember. My mental wellbeing didn’t matter if it meant remembering something that would help me find my sister.
I had Izzy, and I paid her good money to listen to my problems. A few extra sessions a week wouldn’t hurt me if it meant I could have Cinder back home.
My brain needed to stop protecting me. Now, I needed it to help me.
My phone vibrated once more with an Instagram notification, and I grimaced. I didn’t have any tattoos planned and cancelled any recent ones I had after everything happened. I hated doing it, but I needed to focus on my mental health, as well.
K.ARIEL
Hey! I hope you are well <3 My back is nice and healed. I am ready to get the process started for the rest of it!
I forgot we said three weeks at most. I knew I wasn’t in the right headspace now, but when I was home, it would be better. I needed another two to three weeks tops before I committed to doing her tattoo.
MISFITRORY
Hey! I’m so sorry but can you give me another three weeks? I’m dealing with a very close loss and I am not in a good headspace right now. I’ll definitely give you a discount for the delay and everything, but I want my best work put into your tattoo.
K.ARIEL
Oh no :( I’m so sorry. And I am totally fine with waiting. I am sending you the best vibes and thoughts.
I wanted things to go back to normal, but I had to find my sister. Cinder was alive, and she was waiting for me to find her. She saved me ten years ago, and now it was time for me to rescue her.