I startled awake, and it took me several moments before I remembered where I was—trapped in a library. The book I had picked out to read rested open on my lap and my head had flopped onto the armrest of the chair. My neck screamed at me as I sat up. I rubbed at the knot there. A clock on the wall above the checkout desk read two fifteen.
Why wasn’t anyone worried about me? Searching for me? Maybe they were. In the wrong places. Had they all thought I went to the bonfire? That I decided to go home from there?
My parents were going to kill me. It was never easy talking them into letting me spend the weekend up at the cabin with the girls. I’d had to negotiate hard. My mom was a lawyer and way too good at making me see things her way, so I always went to my dad first. Plus, he worked from home (Creating the perfect tagline or jingle for your business. His words, not mine.) so he was the one available to take requests. Once I had him on my side we could normally convince my mom together. The negotiation had gone something like this:
“Dad, can I go up to Lisa’s cabin this weekend?”
He spun his desk chair around to face me. “Which one sounds better? ‘Tommy’s, because every day is a donut day.’”
“Ooh. Every day is a donut day. I haven’t had mine today yet.”
He held up his finger. “Or. ‘Tommy’s, they’re hot and fresh.’”
“Who’s hot and fresh? That sounds like you’re talking about a house full of frat boys or something.”
“You’re right. I need the word donuts in there, don’t I?” He spun back around in his chair and typed something in his computer.
“So? Can I go this weekend?”
“Go where?”
“Lisa’s cabin.”
“No.”
I wrapped my arms around him and laid my head on his shoulder. “Please. Her parents will be there, and I’ve done it before.”
“The whole weekend seems a bit long for you.”
I gave him a smile while putting on my best pleading face. “I’ll be fine. I promise. I won’t go out at all next weekend. I’ll stay in and help around the house.”
I could tell he was softening, but I hadn’t quite got him. “And I’ll hang out with Owen next time he’s in town.”
“You like to hang out with your brother, Autumn.”
I laughed. “Or do I?”
“Your mom’s firm has a work dinner in a couple of weeks. If you can handle a weekend at a cabin, you should be able to handle that.”
Nothing could have sounded worse to me. But that’s what compromise was—giving up something for another thing you wanted more. “Okay.”
“Okay,” he said.
“I can go?”
“I’ll have to double-check with your mom, but I’m sure it will be fine. Be safe. Take your phone. Your rules for the weekend: no drinking, no drugs, and call us every night.”
I kissed his cheek. “Those first two might be hard, but I can definitely handle the third.”
“Funny,” he said.
Call them every night. I hadn’t called them tonight. I wouldn’t call them tonight. That would put him in full dad mode. He’d call my friends. If they hadn’t understood why I wasn’t there before, they’d understand that somewhere along the way I’d gotten left behind. Someone would put two and two together. Sure, my parents would never let me leave the house after this again, but at least someone would find me.
My head ached, so I found my way to the drinking fountain outside the restroom. At least I had water. And nothing else. Nothing else. I shook my head. Those were the wrong thoughts. Someone was going to find me soon. If not tonight, then in the morning, when the library opened. I couldn’t remember what time the library opened on Saturday mornings. Ten? Eight more hours. Easy.
It was getting colder in the building. I found a thermostat box on the wall, but it was locked. This place sure seemed overzealous about their security.
In the distance I could barely make out a steady beat. There was music coming from somewhere. I ran to the front door and saw a group of people walking by on the sidewalk, laughing. They held a phone or iPod or something that was glowing in the darkness and playing music loud enough for me to hear. I banged on the glass and yelled. Not one of them turned or paused. Not one of them looked around like they even heard the hint of a noise. I banged again and yelled louder. Nothing.
“Listening to music too loud damages your hearing,” I said, resting my forehead against the glass. That’s when I saw a white paper below me, taped to the window. I peeled it off and read the front. The library will be closed starting Saturday, January 14, through Monday, January 16, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.