Read Inzomnia :: 4: She’s Gone

From the moment Kai stepped out of his room, he knew something was off. Most of the people who had gone out were back, but something was different. Glancing at the reception area, he spotted Emily speaking frantically to someone at the desk while she fidgeted with her ginger pigtails.

When she finally noticed him staring in confusion, she froze before turning to him, her face full of worry.

“Oh, Kai! Have you seen her?”

"Seen... who?” He was almost scared to ask, but then again, she would probably tell him anyway.

“Theresa!” Emily reiterated, clearly agitated. “She’s been gone for hours. She went to get some samples for our experiments, and she hasn’t returned. She should have been back by now.”

Pondering for a moment, Kai answered, shaking his head. “No, sorry Em.” Upon seeing the look of distraught on his friend’s face, he quickly added, “Uh, maybe Greg has seen her? Or Louis. He went to look around in the pharmacy... again. He might have seen her while he was out.”

Emily relaxed slightly, a glimmer of hope in her emerald green eyes.

Suddenly, they were both interrupted by one of the newer survivors, a former nurse-in-training, sprinting down the hall.

“She’s gone!” She huffed as she skidded to a stop, out of breath.

“Who?” Emily asked, facing her.

“That-That girl Kai and the others brought back!” She stammered.

“What?” Kai stared, confused. “She was out cold when we got her here.”

“I don’t know! She’s not in her room anymore. She must have woken up while we were gone. Her camera is gone, a-and that crystal thing. And-and-“ she rambled, wobbling a bit.

“Woah, hey, slow down.” Kai interjected, grabbing her shoulders to stabilize her. “Don’t worry about it. Me and Greg will go look for her.”

The nurse nodded with a faint smile, calming down a little.

Kai’s gaze drifted to the main door, then to the hanger where he had hung his coat. “...Where’s my jacket?”

“Oh, I... I guess she took it when she left.” The nurse said slowly, rubbing her arm nervously.

Kai let out a sigh, slightly irritated. “Okay, whatever. It’s hardly raining anyway. But mark my words, I will get my jacket back.” And with that, he went to find Greg.

“I’m sorry about this. I should have stayed to watch her.” The nurse apologized earnestly to Emily, who patted her shoulder reassuringly.

“It’s alright, Mara. If anyone can find her, it’s Kai. If not for her, then for his jacket. He loves that thing.”