Chapter Nineteen - Lost

Carl wasted no time in reporting Emily’s kidnapping to the hospital staff. He fought back the tears he knew were coming. He couldn’t face losing her again. “Excuse me!” he exclaimed at the front desk. A large, dark haired nurse turned to face him, bags under her eyes. “My friend Emily was taken from her room! You have to call the authorities!”

The nurse let out a slight snort. “What did you say her name was?” She moved slowly towards her computer.

“Emily Quigley!” he shouted at her, regretting he had down it by the fierce look she gave him.

“Look, young man, my job is hard enough without you shouting at me.” Carl nodded, looking away bashfully. “Quigley, Quigley... Mary Quigley did you say?”

“Emily,” he panted, losing his patience.

A frown came to the nurse’s face. “There’s no Emily on the system. Never was.” Carl stepped back in shock. “Sorry.”

“You have to be lying...” he muttered.

Emily...

***

Lisa could feel a struggle happening. Will was losing control. She sensed the connection getting weaker every minute. They wouldn’t hold out much longer. Lisa was worried that they had been discovered by the woman Will had told him about.

Will seemed to be screaming for help. She felt his presence pulsating towards her out of rhythm. Like it was trying to get away somewhere.

“Get away Lisa!”

She let out a gasp involuntarily. He was gone. Without a trace. She couldn’t find him anymore.

“Will!” she moaned.

Where are you?

***

There were no leads. No way of tracking her down. Edel had to give up. Naomi had gone missing. And with that Carl would never get Emily back. Edel had failed him. She had failed herself. She couldn’t even help one person. What did that say about her?

I have to tell him.

She let out a sigh. “Carl... I’m sorry. She’s gone.” She shook her head. “No that won’t do. Carl, I found her but she got away!” She banged her head off the table. “This is going to be harder than I thought.”

***

Daniel had vanished. Ciarán could find no other word for it. He had contacted all of their old friends. Not a single one had heard from him in two years, when he had left home after meeting with the madman Number One.

Ciarán remembered it well. His own discovery at having an ability. Daniel’s jealousy. How he had tried to show Ciarán that he was like him by going to Number One. He had spent days in a hospital bed. He had suffered, and survived. He had shown Ciarán that he was strong, faster too, than before. He had shown Ciarán the things he could do.

But Ciarán was not impressed. He was worried for Daniel’s sake.

In his hunt to be, what, equal? He forgot was he was. He forgot who he was. And he gave himself up.

And now he was gone. It was just like before. It was just like Daniel.

***

It seemed to teachers Anne and Jimmy that Horizon must have been very good at covering their steps in all things mutant related. They could find nothing more relating the men in the black suits to Horizon. Nothing to suggest they had lost an important member of their staff. Nothing at all really.

Except... there was one article. A man had lost his memory for a few days. A Horizon employee. He had been attacked, it seemed. By a mutant. That’s what he told people. A tall blonde woman. She had apparently taken his memory from him. Left him comatose. He had been the only person to have made such a claim.

“So that’s it, then?” Jimmy asked. “No more trouble at Horizon?”

“More burnt down buildings that any company of their size,” Anne pointed out. “Not a very good record to hold, is it? I certainly wouldn’t feel very safe in their hands.”

***

Carl stayed in the room the entire time, wishing silently for Emily’s impossible return. It was like she was dead. Gone forever. There was no way he could face the world like this. In a drunk-by-fatigue state, without sleep or company... Carl couldn’t handle it. He needed to talk to someone. He needed to sleep. He needed help finding Emily.

Edel... can you help me? Will you?

He didn’t know. He wasn’t sure he cared right now. He had to talk to someone. And if she couldn’t help him finding Emily she could at least give him a place to stay for the night.

Then he would chase after Emily.