Page 33 of Echoes From Within

“Black?” King suggests.

“No,” Cady says, her eyes going wide. “Huge. You’re really huge.”

King doesn’t respond but I know he doesn’t take offence.

“I stopped by to talk to Sophia,” I say. “Is she here today?”

This time, her smile completely goes away.

“She’s not,” she says, her brows creasing in concern. “Actually, I haven’t seen her for almost a week. She told us that she had some family business to take care of and that she would be back in a few days.”

“Do you have her number?” I ask.

I wait as Cady pulls out her cell and recites it.

“Thank you, Cady,” I say. “If I hear from her I will let you know. I need you to do the same for me, alright?”

I reach out and grab a pin from her desk and write my name and number on a sticky note.

“I will,” she says, voice filled with concern. “I probably shouldn’t say this but I don’t think she’s well.”

“Why?” I ask.

“I don’t know,” she shrugs. “I guess it’s more of a feeling. She’s always smiling and being so kind but her eyes look so sad. I’ve tried many times to get her to talk to me but in the end, I’m just a teenager and I know she probably doesn’t feel comfortable talking to me.”

“I doubt it has anything to do with your age, sweetheart,” I tell her. “She probably wants to appear strong for you because you both went through the same situation.”

“She doesn’t need to be strong for me,” she says, hands on her hips. “I know exactly what she went through. I mean, I wasn’t put in cellblock X as many times as she was, but we both went through the same thing. She should be able to talk to me considering I understand.”

“I agree,” I say gently. “Maybe when she returns, you can try again.”

She nods just as the office phone rings.

“I have to take this,” she says. “I’ll text you if I hear from her soon.”

“See ya, Cady.”

“UNITY, this is Cady speaking,” she answers the phone with a wave.

“I have her address,” King says as we make our way back to his truck.

“Let’s go,” I say.

Baby, this is Travis. How are you doing?

I send the text before securing my belt.

“I don’t have a very good feeling, Venom,”Miles says.

Neither do I. Every fiber of my being is screaming that something is wrong.

“King,” I say.

But he seems to understand. The truck speeds up as we listen to the GPS tell us where to go.

Chapter Ten

Sophia