Disappeared. Gone. Poof. Just like that.

       Not in a puff of smoke, or in a strike of lightning. Just gone. Right before our eyes.

       I felt my mouth gaping open, my eyes glued to the spot where the tall, thin man stood. My eyes felt like they were lagging and I couldn't comprehend what I had just witnessed. I blinked several times in hopes that he would reappear, but nothing. Not even the sound of crunching leaves to indicate that someone was running away.

       "I don't know what the fuck we just saw, but we need to get out of here," Charlie murmured, reaching up to tousle his dark hair before squeezing my hand tightly as he tugged me forwards.

       Nodding in agreement, my friends and I followed him up the small hill toward the cabin. With the sun beating down on us, it took little time before we trampled through the front door, Loki barking wildly as he jumped around our feet.

       Looking around the room I saw Penelope standing at the kitchen counter, strawberry blonde hair resting in a high ponytail. Her emerald eyes widened beneath her raised brows as she snickered, "Long night?"

       "We need to go." Roger rushed down the hall and into his room.

       A baffled look crossed Penelope's face, "Go? Go where?" She stared down the hall at Rogers' disappearing form and turned back to us, "Go home? Why? What's going on?" she asked, our negative energy finally corrupting her positive outlook.

       Loki sat at my feet, looking up at me expectantly while the rest of my friends headed to their rooms to gather their belongings. I could hear drawers slamming and closet doors being opened, everyone making haste.

       "Something's happened." I walked down the hall into the master bedroom, both Loki, and Penelope right on my heels.

       For once, she didn't even seem to notice Loki was there and whispered, "Something bad?"

       I nodded, determined not to meet her eyes. Not about to cry in front of you, I thought, closing my old trunk when she finally walked away. I picked up the backpack I was using for Loki, thinking, Thank god I didn't unpack this. I flipped off the light switch and carried my things out into the living room, satisfied to see everyone but Penelope ready to go.

       She came out from the bedroom a few minutes later, her suitcase banging against the walls and asked, "So... will someone tell me what the hell is going on?"

       "We'll talk about it in the car, let's go. We need to leave. Now." Roger said, opening the front door and ushering everyone out.

       I sighed and locked the door behind him while my eyes searched for my big white fluff. Finding him with Lucy, I walked down the porch steps to where my friends huddled in a circle.

       From the short time, it had taken us to collect our things, it had gotten much cooler outside; it was actually cold, cold and snowfall quiet. The sun had disappeared behind engulfing white-grey clouds while a chilly breeze blew up from the lakes shimmery surface, ruffling my already frizzy and tousled hair.

       I frowned, my mood worsening, "What the fuck," I groaned, "Looks like it's gonna fuckin' snow." I shivered, "Let's meet up at my place."

       I was agitated, I just didn't understand how it could have been so hot when we were returning to the cabin from the lake, and then it had gotten almost freezing as we were leaving. It didn't make sense and it was a thought that would bother me for days to come.

       My friends quickly agreed before entering the cars. I looked at Charlie, not surprised to see him already staring at me. "Be careful," he said, cupping my chin as he rubbed his thumb over my cheek. He swiftly bent, kissing my forehead momentarily before spinning around and taking the driver's seat in his car.

       I gave him a small wave and got into my little buggy, noticing both Lucy and Lucas smirking, despite our situation. I couldn't help it, but a small grin spread across my lips as I followed the Benz through the woods to the main road.

       They never said anything, or even asked me any questions. We rode in complete silence, apart from a few growled woofs from Loki.

       We were driving down a back road through the woods towards town when I saw a thin black shadow dart in front of me and cross the street. Intrigued, my eyes followed whatever they had seen and then I saw it.

       Him again, the tall man. He was standing among the trees, his unnaturally thin body towering almost as high as the treetops. I stared at him, dumbfounded. I couldn't tear my eyes away, I was horrified; he was faceless. Loki growled from the backseat, sensing – or seeing – something that wasn't right.

       I gasped simultaneously as my friends screamed my name. Turning my attention back to the road in front of me I screamed, too late to realize we were moments away from driving headfirst into a tree.

**********

       I awoke, hearing the distant sounds of someone yelling. I winced in pain, grabbing my head as the shouting became louder and then diminished completely. Another shot of pain rippled up my abdomen and into my chest and my eyes fluttered open. Ow.

       My entire body ached with every breath I took. What the hell happened? I thought of seeing the windshield. There was a single crack that sliced vertically up the entire length of the windshield, while several more cracks rippled out horizontally like spider legs away from the one vertical slice.

       "Loki!" I gasped as the memory of the accident came back to me, I struggled to turn around in my seat but finally managed to get a glimpse of my dog. He put his front paws on the center console, obstructing my view as he leaned towards me to lick my face.

       I sighed and checked myself; squeezing my toes and fingers, moving my other body parts to make sure everything still worked and was still attached. Apart from the whiplash and a searing headache, I appeared to be okay.

       I could feel the tears well up in my eyes as I looked next to me at Lucy; she was unconscious and had blood coming from a cut on her forehead, I saw the rise of her chest and knew she was, thankfully, alive.

       I shook her arm, "Lucy?" I whispered.

       No response.

       I looked behind myself again; my eyes searching the backseat for Lucas, who was nowhere to be seen.

       I couldn't believe my eyes, "Lucas!" I shouted, frantically trying to get the seat belt unhooked. Once freed, I spun around in my seat to get a better look, still empty. "Lucas!" I screamed again, louder this time.

       Tears were streaming down my cheeks as I shoved the car door open, getting out and looking in every possible direction for even just a glimpse of my dear friend. Loki squeezed himself between the seats and followed me out of the car, barking hysterically around my feet.

       I paced back and forth, repeatedly dragging my fingers through my messy dark hair. I looked to the side of the road where I had seen the faceless, tall man. What the fuck did I see?  My pace picking up slight speed as I became more anxious. "Who the fuck is that guy?" I thought out loud.

       Loki stared up at me, head cocked to the side with his tail wagging.

       "I'm scared, Loki," I murmured, glancing around myself. I suddenly felt as though I was being watched, a shiver creeping up my spine. I gulped and reached my hand out to Loki, urging him to come to me. He obeyed and I ran my fingers through his white fur, feeling somewhat calmed.

       Still feeling as though someone, somewhere, had their eyes on me, I called out, "Lucas?"

       Silence.

       "Lucas!" I shouted, desperate to see him pop out from behind a tree. I just wanted him to jump out, scare me, and tell me it was all just a joke ...

       Lucy finally came to after my screaming and I rushed back to her side, climbing back into the front seat.

       "Jane? Jane, what happened?" One of her hands flew to the side of her head and she pressed her fingers against her temple, grimacing in pain, "Are you okay?"

       "I- I don't know," I lied, biting my bottom lip, "And no. No, I'm not okay. I'm freaking out, Lucy." I told her, panic clear in my tone of voice as I continued, "Lucas. I can't find him. I woke up and he was just gone."

       "That doesn't make any sense," Lucy whispered, unlatching her seat belt, wriggling over the center console and out the driver side door behind me.

       I rolled my eyes, "No shit!"

       "Jane! Lucy!" A male voice shouted.

       I spun to face the approaching figure, "Lucas?" I asked, hopeful.

       Loki barked again as the figure closed in on us and I saw that it was Charlie, Roger, and Penelope not far behind him.

       He held open his arms, circling them around my waist as I collapsed in his strong grasp. I buried my face in his neck, whimpering.

       "Lucy, are you all right?" he asked, with me still in his arms.

       "Yes, I'm fine, but Lucas, he's gone," she said, her a voice a strained whisper.

       "That doesn't make any sense," he replied as Loki growled softly at the approach of Roger and Penelope.

       Ignoring the dog, Penelope pushed the bangs from her face, "What doesn't make any sense?"

       I pushed away from Charlies' chest, wrapping my arms around myself, "Lucas. He's gone."

       She placed her hands on her hips, "Excuse me? What do you mean he's gone?"

       Loki growled again by my side, sensing her tone; however,  before I could explain anything, Lucy interrupted.

       "It means he's not here, you fucking twat!" The wind whipping up as Lucy yelled in her face.

       I stared at Lucy, genuinely surprised, for only a moment before taking a deep breath to intercede, "Look, Penelope, I don't know what happened to him, but when I regained consciousness after the crash, I went to make sure he was okay and he wasn't there."

       She crossed her arms and narrowed her piercing emerald eyes, "Ever consider he has something to do with this?"

       I stared at her, completely bewildered, "You've got to be fucking kidding me, Penelope."

       "Penny, don't do this," Roger interjected, glancing nervously at me.

       Penelope glanced at Roger and then back at me, "No, it's true. Roger told me about what went down on the boat, Jane. That shit happens, and then he just disappears and you have no suspicion whatsoever?"

       "He wouldn't," I said. I looked at the rest of my friends as they murmured their opinions.

       I couldn't believe them, "Guys, he can be a jerk-off, but he wouldn't do something like this. You know that just as well as I do." I crossed my arms, disbelief clear on my face.

       "You're right," both Lucy and Charlie agreed simultaneously after only a brief moment of contemplation.

       Penelope rolled her eyes, "I just think it looks awfully fish-."

       I cut her off, "Penelope, you don't even know him, 'kay?" I snapped, "You're still angry because he called you out the other day about Loki, and you know what? He was right. You were being rude, but I brushed it off and still let you come with us," I took a deep breath, exhaling in a huge sigh and continued, "Now, if you could please quit seeing him in such a negative light because of one insignificant issue, it would be extremely helpful to us finding him." I stared her down until she finally broke eye contact, mumbling an apology.

       I shrugged, turning my attention back to everyone else who had been staring at me in surprise.

       "Don't look at me like that," I muttered, snapping my fingers for Loki to come.

       Charlie broke the silence, "Let's walk around the woods and see if we can find him." He slinked his hand into mine, pulling me past the edge of the trees to begin our search. 

**********

Authors Note

I  present to you... chapter 7  😄

Thank you to those of you who were patient with me while I got over the flu! And thank you so, so much for supporting myself and this book! I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it! Please let me know if you like it! Or hate it! I love to hear it all!

Also, as mentioned at the very beginning, this chapter is dedicated to my wonderful pal, El! (gonerogue13) For looking over the last, like, 3 or 4 chapters 😄 I think I edit my work fairly well, but it sure is nice to have that extra pair of eyes 👀 Thank you friend! For all that you do, and all you have done 😊🤘