Sarah's POV


Maybe it was the intoxicating wine I had been sipping, or the various hands that had been gripping and groping my waist all night to blame; but as the air whipped around me, blowing loose strands of brown locks into the night sky, my ruby red heels bent inwardly, and I lost my footing. In the process of regaining my balance, I felt the presence of another creep up behind me. My wandering eyes traveled to the Corolla at my left, and I noticed the black tinted windows being rolled down to the point where I could see the stranger's face.

A crooked smirk took the shape of the man's lips as he opened his mouth to say, "What are you doing out here all alone, sweetheart?"

Due to my drunken state, I found myself more inclined to answer his question than I would under different circumstances. Without giving my actions much thought, I shuffled a little closer to his car, my left hand slightly playing with the hem of my dress.

"Well, I'm not alone now that you're here." I smiled sweetly, twirling a strip of my hair.

Once the old street lamp flickered on, I noticed his facial features underneath the light's glow: a sharp jawline, plump pink lips, and green eyes I could spot from miles away; sure enough, he was handsome, but looks can be deceiving.

"Need a lift?" he offered, his thick Australian accent showing.
I averted my gaze toward the empty road ahead, biting my lip. An awkward pause filled the air as I switched from standing on my right leg to my left. Another moment passed, and I heard the faint clearing of his throat. Shaking my head, I pulled out my phone and began dialing my sister's number.

"No thank you. I think I'm going to call and ask Liz if she can pick me up."

As I brought the phone up to my ear, I saw him nodding out of the corner of my eye. After three rings, Elizabeth finally picked up her cell but didn't sound too pleased to hear from me at this hour. I asked her if she could give me a ride home, but she told me to call a cabbie because she wasn't driving me back. Why didn't she want to help me? The more we bickered, the more my eyes began to swell up with tears. She called me an irresponsible young adult who didn't know how to make proper decisions. I couldn't listen to her anymore. Just when Liz shouted no for the final time in my ear, I slammed my phone against the concrete slab in anger, but that was a stupid move on my part.

"Bloody hell. What have I done?" I whispered to myself after seeing the repercussion of my actions. I ran a hand through my hair in distress. Without my phone I had nothing.

"Miss, are you sure you don't need a ride home?" The stranger asked me again. I almost forgot he was there.
I snapped my head up to meet his emerald eyes and swallowed the biggest lump in my throat before releasing a soft sigh. "W-will you drive me straight there?" I questioned.

"Hop in. I'll take you anywhere you want to go, babe." I remember him saying as I entered the vehicle.

I buckled my seatbelt and folded my hands in my lap as he started the car and drove off into the night. Little did I know that would be the last time I ever walked the streets of Doncaster.


Elizabeth's POV


That phone call was the last time I heard anything from my little sister. The sound of her words slurring together as she tried to pinpoint her exact location after leaving some college party. She was lost, and I should have been there to help her, but I chose not to. It was late, I was sleep-deprived, and ended up scolding her for not being the responsible young adult I knew she was perfectly capable of being. Not a day goes by where I don't regret that decision not to go pick her up; two summers have past, but my guilt for her kidnapping has yet to deplete.

The world hasn't been the same without Sarah Tate. Ever since the police closed the case, no one speaks of her anymore. Not even my parents who loved her dearly. Life went on for the two of them after they accepted the fact that the chances of their daughter being alive were slim to none --something I still refuse to believe to this very day. I know my sister is out there somewhere, waiting to be rescued and brought back home. I won't rest until she's safe and sound. I owe it to her and to myself to keep searching for leads.


May 21st, 2014


"Ms. Tate? Ms. Tate, Mr. Grey will see you now," The receptionist informed me from her desk. I set down the morning paper on the coffee table before rising to my feet.

"Jennifer, how many times have I told you to call me Elizabeth? You don't have to use formalities with me," I explained to her for the fifth time as I approached her cubicle.

"Sorry Ms. Elizabeth, it's just protocol. Mr. Grey instructed me to send you straight into his office. He has another meeting at three," She told me before continuing to type away on her computer.

I nodded my head as I walked further down the hall to the only office on my left. As always I knocked twice before entering and shutting the door closed behind me. Mr. Grey was just wrapping up his conversation with some executive director on the phone while I sat down in one of his leather chairs.

I couldn't help but bite my lip out of nervousness. He's never called me into his office during the day before, so I didn't know what to expect. Once the duration of the call ended, an awkward silence filled the air. Neither one of us knew what to say, but it was Alexander who broke the quiet first.

"I've thought a lot about what you said last night, and I have my answer. It's been two years, Lizzie. Don't you think it's time to bury the hatchet?" My boss said softly. I shook my head and gripped the armrests of my chair for support.

"No, no, no. She's out there somewhere. We can't lose hope," I insisted.

"Doll face, you've got no leads. All the roads you've ever driven down have led to dead ends, literally. You need a better story. Your future at The Star depends on it," He cautiously warned me.

"Just give me two more months. If I don't have anything by then, I'll gladly deliver my letter of resignation to you myself," I promised.

"I'm only giving you 30 days, Ms. Tate. Until then I want you to cover the bribery scandal going on at the local police department," Mr. Grey said to me while escorting me out of his office.

With my head hung low, I released a frustrated sigh as I walked back to my cubicle. How am I going to find evidence connected to my sister's kidnapping in just 30 days? That's not even enough time to sell a bloody house.

Notes

So another new story here. I'm writing this with two lovely ladies (yellowdiamonds, XxKayleigh57xX).

I also wrote this with yellowdiamonds! Comment feedback, it's always appreciated xx