We called the police. They arrived quickly and escorted us out of the apartment. They said we needed to come down to the station to give a statement, answer some questions, and provide a description of Shelly.
Honestly, I can't remember much from that night. It all blurred together, question after question: when we saw her last, what she said, what she drank, what she wore, what she ate.
I knew the answers, but eventually I couldn't even form words anymore. It was like my brain just... stopped understanding.
We were there for so long, but honestly even if they'd let me go home earlier. I wouldn't have been able to sleep. Shelly was missing.
Her apartment was destroyed. And her cat, her sweet little cat, had been murdered in the most vicious way. I don't think I'll ever look at a bathtub the same way again.
When morning finally came, they released us with only thirty minutes left before our shifts started. Since I lived further away, we both went to Carol's house to freshen up and change. Thankfully, she and I wear the same size, so I was able to borrow some clothes.
Neither of us got much work done that day.
After work, we went our separate ways and headed back to our apartments.
When I arrived at the parking garage under my building, I had a weird feeling, like something wasn't right. I stayed in my car a little longer and waited until I saw the garage security guard making his rounds.
As soon as he came into view, I got out quickly and headed for the elevator, making sure I was in his line of sight and no one else was around.
Once I got to my floor, I rushed to my apartment and unlocked the door. As soon as I was inside, I turned and locked both the deadbolt and the chain. Only then did I let myself exhale.
I slid down the door and sat on the floor, heart still pounding. Straight ahead was my living room. But something was... off.
That's when I saw it, someone lying on the floor in front of the couch. I could see an arm, and part of her hair.
My blood ran cold.
Someone was in my apartment.
And not just anyone, it was a woman. She had a bracelet on her wrist. That bracelet... I knew it. It was Shelly's.
It was Shelly.
How the hell did she get into my apartment? Why was she lying on my floor?
I jumped up and sprinted to her side. I dropped to my knees and shook her gently.
"Shelly?! Shelly, wake up!"
There was blood on her head, dried into her hair and smeared down one temple. As I reached for her, a strong smell hit me, cigarette smoke.
Suddenly, a puff of smoke blew into my face from behind.
I choked and coughed violently.
"What the hell?" I gasped, wheezing through the bitter scent.
I spun around and came face to face with a man crouching behind me.
He was tall, even in that position, with long black hair and sharp eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses. Two more men stood behind him, both wearing dark suits and military-style haircuts. They looked like soldiers dressed up for a funeral.
"Who are you?" I shouted. "How did you get into my apartment? What did you do to Shelly?!"
The crouching man grinned, his teeth like wolves', too clean, too sharp.
"Nothing much," he said, casually. "We just had a little fun with her. She didn't feel like giving us what we wanted, so we helped ourselves. Blew off a little steam."
His hand shot out and grabbed my chin, lifting my face to meet his cold gaze.
"So what about you?" he said.
My voice shook. "What... what are you talking about? What do you want?"
"Don't play dumb," he snapped. "You know damn well what we want. Hand it over, or we'll do the same thing to you."
"I... I don't know what you're talking about. Please... just don't hurt me. I'll—"
His phone rang.
He let go of my face, stood up, and turned to the two men behind him.
"Watch her."
Then he walked out, disappearing into the other room to answer the call.
I stared after him, frozen.
"Oh god," I whispered. "What's going on?"
My breath caught in my throat.
"What's going to happen to me?"