Shadows In Durango

My father was determined to finish his dinner, unbothered by the events that had taken place, and so | left him

to it, taking the moment to attempt to contact Sofia - never receiving an answer.

"Well now my girl is pissed off withtoo!" Reid complains, having dropped Emma hsince she had

demanded space from him tonight too.

She quickly figured out that Reid also knew about the idea of marriage and contacting Sofia's father behind her

back and she didn't approve of it in the slightest...

All I had to go off of right now was that Emma had spoke to Sofia and that she was safe. She wanted talone

to process and although | had sent her text after text, | knew that she wouldn't be answeringany tsoon. |

had fucked up majorly...

Reid slumps down into one of the leather chairs, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "Emma's barely

said two words tosince | got back too. I'm lucky she even letdrive her home. Not that she spoke much in

the car either, she's annoyed at all of us for keeping Sofia in the dark with this." He informs me, not making me

feel any better on the matter.

| grunt in response, pacing faster as my mind races. | can't stop thinking about Sofia - her face, the hurt in her

eyes when everything cout. It's all replaying in my head, over and over again like a bad movie.

| knew from the start that this whole plan was risky, but | never imagined that it would blow up like this.

"What the fuck was Daryl's problem too? He was such a rat to you tonight! Even your Dad called him out on it

and that's saying something!" Reid states the facts, as | instantly agree.

He was right. Daryl was way out of line and certainly didn't act like a true friend of mine tonight. | was somewhat

impressed that my father seemed to be on my side with it all - scolding both my mother and him for how they

had acted. "He's upset one, because of the possible marriage thing and two, because | told him that Sofia

admitted to likingyesterday... she choseover him and he can't handle it... crying over not being picked

for the first tin his fucking life!" | state, as Reid sniggers at my words.

But it was true.

Daryl had been annoyed all because Sofia didn't want him, although I didn't think she even wantedanymore

now either...

"He crossed a line. | couldn't actually believe that he joined in on outing you like that. All over a girl too!" Reid

rolls his eyes.

"It's been boiling between him and | for weeks now. It was only days ago that he tried to attackover taking

her withon that trip! He's a jealous prick!" I remind him of our previous dispute as he nods along and rubs at

his chin. Daryl had lost his mind and had proven himself to have a darker side as opposed to always being the

fucking 'good guy’.

"He can collect his shit tomorrow and move back hfor all | care." | shrug, fed up of discussing him at this

point as Reid sighs heavily at my words.

| would cut Daryl out of my life if | felt it was necessary and | didn't care if | had known him since kindergarten -

he was acting like a different person, one that I didn't like.

If manage to make things right with Sofia, despite the hopes of that happening being extremely slim right now,

| feared that Daryl wouldn't be able to be around our relationship. Maybe he would caround eventually?

Apologise even? But | don't know if an apology will even be enough forat this point...

"| just want to know that she's safe," | mutter under my breath, but it's more to myself than to Reid.

My phone buzzes again, as | quickly lift it to see, but of course, it's not her. Another useless message from

somebody that didn't matter at this moment in time. "Maybe we should just leave them alone for now, to calm

down." Reid says, but there's a hesitation in his voice. Even he doesn't believe his own words.

Before | can answer, Reid's phone starts vibrating loudly on the desk. He glances at the screen, then stiffens, his

eyes darting back to me.

"It's Emma," he says quietly, his tone shifting as | almost laugh at how ironic it was of her to call after he offered

to give them space.

He stands up and answers it immediately, putting the phone up to his ear as | watch him. "Hey... what's going

on, how are you feeling?" He tests.

The room falls silent, and | stop pacing, my eyes locked on Reid. His expression changes almost instantly, from

curiosity to deep concern.

He glances atagain, and at that point, | know that something's not right...

"What do you mean, so she hasn't shown up?" Reid asks, his voice louder now, alarm creeping up into his tone.

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Who are they talking about? Sofia?

It has to be...

He listens for a few more seconds before his face goes pale, his grip tightening on the phone.

| take a step closer, my chest tightening with dread. "What is it?" | demand, the words barely contained. "What's

Emma saying?"

Reid pulls the phone away from his ear and hands it toquickly, his voice low and tense. "She said Sofia was

supposed to spend the night at her place... but she never showed up and now Emma can't get through to her.

Sofia's not answering any calls or texts, and she thinks her phone's been switched off." He rabbles, as my heart

sinks more and more at his words.

A cold wave of fear crashes overas | grab the phone from Reid's hand. "Emma?" | bark into the phone.

"Vincent, | wasn't going to tell you that she was staying at my place tonight..." Emma starts, as | cut in.

"| figured she would be anyhow..." | tell her, to ease her guilt of ratting out where Sofia would be, before she

sighs and continues:

"But she hasn't shown up! She said she was on her way, but now she's just... gone. I've tried calling her over and

over, and at first it would ring, but now it just keeps going straight to voicemail as if her phones off. I'm really

worried, Vincent... what if she's left town or something's happened to her? What do we do?" Emma's voice is

frantic, and every word she says sends my pulse racing.

For a second, | can't breathe. Sofia wouldn't just disappear without saying something... would she?

No.

She's mad at me, yes, but running off like this especially after telling Emma she would be at hers? Something's

wrong.

"I'm coming to your place," | say firmly into the phone. "Stay where you are. I'll figure this out."

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"My parents are out tonight so the doors open - just cin. I'll call back if | hear anything before you get here!"

She quickly states.

I hang up, my thoughts already spinning out of control as | move to grab my things with Reid at my heels.

The room feels like it's closing in around me, the pressure building in my chest becoming unbearable.

"We need to find her. Now," | say to Reid, my voice hard, no room for argument.

Reid nods, already moving towards the door. "We'll take my car. | don't trust you driving in this state. Should we

call Daryl?" Reid questions, as | shoot my father a text to say that I'll be out for a while. | grab my jacket on the

way to the door, my mind racing with all the worst-case scenarios.

"Nah fuck him!" | finstantly as soon as he mentions involving Daryl.

"He's already out, he might be able to look around town for her at least?" Reid quickly explains his reasoning as

he unlocks the car for us to climb in.

Thinking on it, maybe he was right. Right now, | hated Daryl, but if it gives us an extra person for the search then

so be it.

With a stiff nod, Reid sighs and begins typing out a text to Daryl to explain the situation and to ask if he can

drive around town for a bit to look out for her. With that, he puts the car in to drive and we set off towards

Emma's house.

What if she was hurt?

Maybe she just decided to hop on a bus out of town? But that was unlikely...

All | know is that | need to find her, no matter what.

| need to make this shit right!