Chapter 11
Back at Evermont Base, Graham wasted no time pulling every string he could.
He called the Northwyn Republic’s Railway Authority directly, his voice cold and unyielding as he demanded a sweep of every passenger record leaving Evermont, searching for Evelyn’s name.
He leaned on a contact in the Aviation Bureau to keep watch for her. He even mobilized the base’s communications unit, tapping into specialized channels in hopes of catching the faintest lead.
For days, the command center was a haze of cigarette smoke, filled with the constant shrill of ringing phones and Graham’s hoarse outbursts.
“Keep digging! Every train, every station–leave nothing unchecked!”
“No record? She’s flesh and blood, not a ghost! How does she just disappear?”
“Widen the net! Sweep every city in the region!”
He was like a lion pacing a cage, restless and on edge, eyes bloodshot, jaw rough with stubble, his whole body wound tight with desperate energy.
But no matter how far the search spread, every report came back the same: no trace of Evelyn leaving Evermont.
It was as if she had been swallowed by the earth.
The loss of control gnawed at him, twisting his gut. Sleepless nights piled up. Cigarettes burned down one after another, the ashtray in his office filling faster than it could be emptied.
And still, he stubbornly blamed it on her being reckless–childishly playing some game of hide–and–seek. He convinced himself she was tucked away somewhere he hadn’t looked yet, just waiting for him to find her and coax her home.
During those days, Sophie kept calling the command center.
“Graham, have you found Evelyn yet? It’s so dangerous for her to be out there alone… This is all my fault. If it weren’t for me-”
“Graham, don’t wear yourself out. You need to take care of your health. I made some chicken soup -want me to bring it over?”
Her voice was always soft, dripping with concern, but she slipped in hints that cut like glass: “She’s young, you know… maybe she met someone and got carried away?”
Once, Graham might have let her “concern” sway him.
Chapter 11
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But the mounting frustration of his fruitless search had burned away any patience he had left.
When Sophie called again, repeating the same tired lines, Graham finally snapped, his voice a low growl through the receiver:
“I don’t have time for this. Don’t call the command center again unless it’s urgent.
The line went dead silent, broken only by Sophie’s uneven breathing.
It was the first time he had ever shown her such raw irritation.
The massive search had yielded nothing, forcing Graham to stop–at least for now.
Exhausted, he dragged himself back to the house that once buzzed with warmth but now felt cold
and hollow.
The moment he pushed open the door, a stale, lifeless scent hit him.
His eyes flicked instinctively to the living room couch–empty. No small figure curled up there, dozing as she waited for him.
He stepped into the bedroom.
The closet door hung half open. Her bright, simple clothes were gone, leaving only his dull
uniforms and casual wear behind.
On the dresser, the scented cream she’d saved up to buy had vanished. The quirky animal–shaped mug she always used for her coffee was missing. Even the handmade curtains with their uneven
stitches had been taken down.
She had wiped away every trace of herself–gone with a finality that cut to the bone.
Chapter 11
