"The thing is," Mia took a breath and explained, "I'm not around here. I'm only staying with family for a bit then heading home.
Every year I meet my friend in town. We made some plans over the phone. After that she stopped sending messages. Once here I waited at the meeting spot but she never showed. I sent more messages but didn't get any response. And I haven't since."
The more she spoke the more her voice shook. Anyone could tell that she'd been worrying about this for a while.
"I went to the meeting place everyday and checked around town but no one had seen her. Most didn't even know who she was.
I checked the orphanage where she lived and asked around. The advisors said I was worrying for nothing. That it happens all the time. I went straight to the police but they said the same thing. I managed to get them searching but they found nothing so they stopped.
Said she was a type. Reason to believe she ran away or something stupid. I don't know…
I'm supposed to leave soon and no one is taking me seriously. She's never liked being away from home too long and we had plans. It doesn't make sense for her to randomly leave like that. Even if she had a reason to run discreetly she would have left me some kind of message. That's just who she is."
Mia was already in tears at this point but she wiped them away and continued anyway, "You know this dog was hers. She was taking care of him at least. One of the last things we discussed was how she was looking forward to raising him. I only found him looking for her."
Mia brushed the sleeping puppy in her lap with her hand. "All she wanted was a place of her own for them both. Now she's missing, and I'm leaving soon, and he's all alone, and I can't take him with me and I just– I don't know what I'm supposed to be doing."
She was starting to ramble. Taylor tapped her shoulder, "It's okay," he spoke with a comforting tone. "You don't have to worry about the puppy. I'll make sure it's cared for after you're gone."
Mia took a moment to gather herself while Taylor considered the situation. "About your friend," he said carefully, "they aren't wrong, kids like us do go missing sometimes."
Mia was quiet and let him continue.
"However since you're friends I'll be trusting your judgement here. I've got time and means to help. I'll continue to look around and find the answers you need. Can you tell me when you're leaving? If it's too soon I'm not confident I'll get proper results in time."
Taylor's relaxed tone made Mia feel more at ease. He sounded so sure of himself. He knew exactly what he could and couldn't do and this request was easily within his wheelhouse.
"Thank you." She steadied herself and answered, "I'll be gone within two days. I've been looking this whole time so I'm not expecting an answer within the next few days. I also know I might never know. Or learn too late. Or not like the answer. I've basically already drawn every possible bad conclusion. But still I love her too much to give up because some useless adults said so."
"I agree. I'll do what I can."
"Honestly just knowing that someone will keep an eye out really means a lot. That said if it turns out the truth is too risky I'd prefer you didn't look into it. There's too many reasons for a person to disappear. None of them great."
"Thanks for the concern but I accepted knowing the situation. Whatever the circumstances I'd like to know as well. I would prefer it if the kids around me didn't go missing suddenly."
The girl nodded in agreement. Her head had finally cleared. For whatever reason she honestly felt like she could trust Taylor to find something. If only the adults she'd met were as attentive as this boy. Maybe she wouldn't have been missing for so long.
The two discussed how to make contact with each other. Taylor suggested that if he doesn't respond in a month she should then go to the authorities again. It was a scary thought but she was the one who asked and he had already agreed so they could only toughen their resolve and hope for the best. After sorting a few more details they made to leave.
As they were about to part ways Mia could see the determined look in the boy's eyes. She felt slightly relieved but also a little guilty. After all, there was a chance that they would never see each other again. She would be safe far away from this place but he would be right in the line of fire.
If something really did happen wouldn't it have been her fault?
Who even was he?
Did he have someone that would be heartbroken by his disappearance?
Is she by requesting this, cursing someone else to feel the same heartache that she currently felt?
She thought these things but she couldn't waver. This was her only chance to find out the truth. She didn't have the heart to be kind.
Taylor looked at her as if he could read her mind. "I have someone at home that I promised to take care of. If something were to ever happen to him because I let this slide I would never forgive myself. I wouldn't even give myself the chance."
Taylor pet the sleeping pup goodbye. "You want to find your person and I wish to protect mine. To turn a blind eye now would make us no different from the adults we loathe." He stood up and met Mia's gaze. "I can tell just from talking to you. If somebody had warned you I know you'd have risked your life to protect your friend. What I'm doing is just that."
Mia didn't know what to say. He was absolutely right. If she'd been here she would have never let her friend go. She would have risked it all to keep her safe. But still..
Mia smiled faintly, "You're right, I missed my chance. Even still I would have preferred that she not be left in the dark. I would hate to imagine her going crazy forever wondering why I did what I did. She was like that. Never fully able to comprehend the lengths I'd go for her. After all, how much can you really love a person you rarely see?"
Taylor thought for a moment and slowly nodded. He knew what she was referring to. He found a piece of paper and a pencil in his bag and set them on the bench. He wrote for a minute, paused then wrote again. He didn't even bother to sit down. He knew exactly what he'd say and quickly filled the page. Once finished he folded the paper and turned back to Mia.
"It would be better if you didn't have to send this." Taylor said as he handed it to her.
The moment it was in her hands Mia held it like her life depended on it. Most of their plans of action involved keeping the information going forward between themselves. This would be a letter to Taylor's person left behind should something happen.
Mia agreed, "I think so too. What is their name?"
Taylor tilted his head and let out a slight smile, "His name is Joseph. We all attend the same school and orphanage so you should recognize his uniform. He might be a little taller than myself but he's younger. He has dark hair and eyes to match."
Mia listened carefully, not daring to miss a single detail. There was an obvious fondness in his tone. Just discussing him was enough to bring a smile to his usual calm expression.
Taylor continued, "He's like you. He puts all his heart into his relationships. But that also means his pain is greater. I'm confident that he'd also do whatever it takes to find me if I disappeared. The pain you have now will only get worse before it gets better. If you do end up having to find him, you'll be able to recognize his suffering the second you see his face."
Mia felt gloomy just thinking about it and sighed. "Alright. I only hope that we never need to meet".
"If only it were that easy."
After a few more words the two finally parted ways. Mia, like she said, was forced to leave town the next day while Taylor got to work. He continued to live as usual with Joseph but he stopped taking requests in his free time to look into the missing girl.
Mia was right to ask Taylor. He truly was good at finding things. In less than a week he already picked up the missing friends trail. After two more days he had developed suspicions about what happened. Just like he thought her reason for vanishing wasn't good at all. Closing in on how to reach her he was confronted with a dilemma.
The request was to find Mia's friend. Which he believes he did although he can't get to her. Not on his own at least. He couldn't get the police involved without evidence. So if his goal was to get rid of the problem with their help he needed proof. But the chances of him obtaining that only rises with the level of danger he puts himself in.
Another option would be to deal with it himself so nobody else gets hurt from then on. It would be on his own terms without the need of physical evidence. Doing so would be a lot less dangerous, if done correctly, but runs the risk of never completing the request as asked.
Sure they'd all be safer for it. Especially if the other adults refuse to do anything. But what Mia really wanted was to find her friend and learn what happened. Not protect future victims. Although it would be a bonus.
Taylor didn't want to choose the safer option over actually trying to complete the request. After all, he promised he'd do his best first and foremost. Protecting himself is a given while he accomplished his goals.
What he needed was the suspect to be questioned. Without the police he could only get the answers himself. He needed to talk one on one. To let himself get caught. Not only would he be exposed but his chances of survival would have to be so low that the other is willing to talk.
Taylor already considered all other options. In the end choosing the one with the highest chance of getting the results he wanted. Getting the enemy dealt with and getting the enemy to talk. He mulled over his decision a hundred times then accepted it and created a plan.
Taylor never said a word about it all to Joseph since the start. Or about his plans going forward. He was a lot better than Joseph at keeping secrets and it showed. Even with his life or death plan getting closer to completion he never acted the slightest bit off.
Not to say Joseph wasn't paying him attention. Taylor was just too good. Too used to feeling unaffected by anyone or anything. Like this was any random request that really meant nothing to him.
Only a few days before the set day did he let his emotions show a little. He thought it would be better to get it out of his system now. That would give Joseph some time to forget about it in case something happened.
———
Sixth day of May.
After finishing their usual jobs together Taylor brought Joseph to the edge of town to hang out. Beside one of the buildings was a small makeshift dog house. Inside was a small white dog with bowls of food and water.
Joseph was pleasantly surprised and asked, "Have you been feeding it?"
"That's right". Taylor nodded and beckoned the pup out of the door. "I came across him a while ago. Since I can't bring him home I drop by to check on him every once in a while."
Joseph helped refill the water bowl. "It's really cute and kind of quiet. Despite living outside like this his fur is still so white and soft." Joseph pet the resting dog. " I hope it continues to grow well."
Taylor smiled. "I do too. So make sure to check on him when I'm busy, okay?"
Joseph nodded happily. They spent their afternoon break there.
On the way home that night Taylor figured this was his last chance.
"Hey Joey." He finally spoke. "I've been getting busier and I hope you know that I'd never forget about you or purposely leave you behind."
Joseph stopped walking and laughed. "Well that got serious." He continued forward. "I know that already you tell me all the time. It's us against the world."
Joseph playfully bumped Taylor's shoulder as he walked past. "You don't need to worry about me so much. You already taught me how to take care of myself. Just because you're gone for a bit doesn't mean I won't survive."
Taylor looked at his goofy smile. He really liked this smile too much.
"That's true. It's just that I'd be upset if something happened while I wasn't around."
For the first time this month Joseph felt like something was slightly different with Taylor's expression. But then he blinked and everything was back to normal.
Still feeling that something was off Joseph walked over and hugged him. "You're so short but your heart is way bigger than mine. Even if I can take care of myself, emotionally I'm better off seeing you every day. So don't get so busy that you can't keep protecting me. Got it?"
Taylor hugged him back and said, "I'll do my best."
Where Joseph couldn't see Taylor's calm expression finally broke. If he didn't hate turning a blind eye to others he would have been content giving up right now. He'd take Joseph's arm and already be running away as fast and far as possible. But that would never work. The world was full of dangers. They'd be running forever.
He should handle this one dangerous person before he has the chance to hurt Joseph. To succeed in this would mean they get to stay safe and together.
After a long hug Joseph let go while Taylor held on a few more moments. When he finally let go his expression was as still as ever so Joseph assumed he was feeling better and didn't think much of it. They continued home as usual and went to bed. After two days Taylor parted ways with Joseph like normal and made his way towards his prey.