Vanished: What Would You Do If The Love Of Your Life Disappeared Without A Trace? (Nadine's quest to unravel the truth Book 1)

by D. D. Goordin

  I start to question the purpose of this nightmare. I can feel that it’s troubling me .I cannot even remember when was the last time I had a decent nights kip. I feel so disorientated. I give myself a firm mental telling off, to snap out of it. I tell myself it’s only a dream. It surely cannot mean anything. I run the water to have a soak in my bath. I need to find a way to relax. I bask in the feeling of relaxing. It sure has calmed my nerves. I rinse the bath and wrap my dressing gown around me. I contemplate on what needs to be done as tomorrow I will be back to work on my early shift. I decide on going out, I need fresh air to help clear my mind. I grab my jeans with a polo t-shirt and team it with my flats. I grab my phone whilst making my way downstairs. I see one message from Chrissie which reads: I have reached. Will give you a call tomorrow. Love c. x. The other message was from the company Chrissie and I work for, finest jewels. It’s a small boutique that sells jewellery of high calibre. It was a reminder that both Chrissie and I would be opening up the shop, promptly at 5am. I decide on having a cup of coffee before I set out to have a stroll wherever my feet may take me. I grab my jacket, phone and bag with my keys and head out.

  I decided on stopping at my local library. Maybe I may find answers as to why people have reoccurring dreams. I enter my library on Sunday at 10am and head straight to different sections of books. I know have to determine would dreams be considered as a spiritual experience or psychological. I scroll through the genre of books. Finally I have found a few, but they are called the book of dreams and meanings. I am very sceptical whether I would find answers and end up scanning the books. There is nothing on re-occurring dreams. I put that one particular book away and found another, but I ended up not finding anything that would help. I stayed in the library reading up on anything other but dreams. After an hour or two, I decide to make my way to go to a grocery store. I need to stock up on food. I end up going to Sainsbury’s. Trolley in tow, I buy all the necessities I need; milk, break, butter, eggs, sugar and additional items that may come into handy when I am starving. As I am making my way to the check out, I thought I might have seen that mystery guy again, but when I looked closer, it was not him. My mind was playing tricks. I really ought to snap out of it. I paid for everything I had purchased, bagged all the items and was on my way back home. It took 30 minutes until I was back on my road. I could hear my phone ringing in my bag. Whoever it was would have to wait until I was in doors. Once in doors, I took all the bags into my kitchen and put the items away in there designated area. I checked my phone. The missed call was from none other than my partner in crime, Chrissie. I called her back.

  “Christina, how are you this morning?”

  “Nadine, I feel so out of it, how many drinks did we have?”

  “Too much Chrissie, but I thought you can handle it?”

  “I may have lost my touch. What have you been up to?”

  “Well put it this way I woke up again to that nightmare for the ninth time, it’s becoming bothersome, I know I should not worry, as it’s only a dream but how can I make it stop? I ended up in the library trying to research about it but to no avail. Then I remembered I need to stock up on my grocery. How was your night? Bet it was eventful!” I giggle.

  “Nadz seriously! You cannot control your dreams no matter how much you would want to. I get that it is concerning you but remember it’s a figment of your imagination. Did you watch any horror shows? Maybe that would explain it. Oh do you really want to know about my night?”

  “Chrissie how could I have watched anything scary? I was out with you remember? Yes do spill. Everything in your life has been eventful from the get go.”

  I hear her groan, trying not to get into hysterics, I wait for her response.

  “Well, I woke up thinking what in the world had happened. We ended up getting intimate before we reached my flat.”

  “Wait, what are you trying to say? You had done it in the back of a cab?” I was in shrieks of laughter.

  “I was so drunk and off my head, I just went with it.”

  “Didn't the cab driver say anything? Did he not protest?”

  “Well we didn't exactly do it, there was a bit of foreplay, his jacket was very handy,”

  “Oh, so what you’re saying is that he got you off in the back of a cab?” I couldn't stop giggling.

  “All I have to say is, is that he is skilled with his fingers”

  “You make it sound like he was playing an instrument or something.”

  I was absolutely in stitches. My stomach was hurting from Chrissie’s antics.

  “By the way, did you find out his name before you told him to sling his hook?”

  “I was so drunk, but somehow managed to see him out and completely dozed off to sleep”

  “You're so classy, Chrissie! By the way did you receive that message? We have to open up finest jewels promptly at 5am?”

  “Yeah I just received it, got to shoot off now but will see you first thing in the morning! Love you nadz”

  “Love you too Chrissie. See you tomorrow and make sure you get your butt to work, bang on time. If I can make it there well before the time so can you.”

  I decide to cook something basic to eat. I rustle up a Spanish omelette whilst flicking through the channels. I've kept it on comedy central, I am a huge friends fan as there's a marathon of it throughout the whole day. I have my omelette with some bread which I devour in less than 10 minutes. I wash the dishes. It’s nearly 5pm. I know that I would need to get to sleep early. I have to be up at 2:30am. I decide to call it a night at 7pm. After watching a few episodes of friends. I drop Chrissie a text message to make sure she is there on time. As I make my way upstairs, I get into my pyjamas and get into bed. It takes a while for me to sleep, I look up endlessly at my ceiling, thinking of what tomorrow will bring. I slowly start to dose off, in the back of mind hoping that I can have a blissful dream.

  I am shaking uncontrollably. My clothes are wet. I feel like a ton of bricks. Something is weighing me down. I cannot move. All the feelings in my limps have become numb. I am willing myself to move, but afraid to. Tears are stinging my eyes. A sensation of loss is tearing through me. My heart is racing. I am crying for help .Screaming as loud as I can. I hear my scream as high pitched echoing in my room. I have managed to wake myself up from this nightmare and soaked in sweat yet again. I feel nauseated, sick to my stomach. The feeling of unease remains deep in my mind. The sensation of loss is hard to ignore. This dream was much different. I gather my thoughts still in bed. I glance at the clock it’s nearing on 2:15am wishing that these nightmares would end.

  I decide to get out of bed, shower and wash my hair. I decide to wear whatever blouse I can get my hands on, it’s a shade of purple, the finest of silks. A skirt or trousers? I contemplate; I choose the skirt, specifically a pencil skirt matched with killer black suede heels; to complete the look. Whilst heading downstairs, I drop a text message to Chrissie to wake her up. I straighten my hair and apply minimal make up. I call my regular cab, which always picks me up at around the same time 3:30am. I have a bowl of cereal with a cup of tea. Whilst I am waiting for my cab, I watch the news with the local weather forecast. Until my phone rings. I answer knowing it’s my cab to take me to work. I lock up everywhere. Turn the TV off. Grab my jacket, my bag, my flats which I put into my bag and my phone and most importantly my keys and head out.

  As I step outside my house, the roads are a blanket of fog. It reminds me of a ghost town. I jump into my regular cab, thankful that the driver has warmed his car. I try not to drift off to sleep, worried that this nightmare may continue. The journey does not take long to get to work as there is hardly any traffic on the roads. He makes small talk as always. I am grateful for it. I reached Gatwick at 4:45am. I thanked the cab driver and handed his money. I briskly walked inside of Gatwick airport to south terminal. It was very quiet, only a few people were there but were fast asleep. I make my way through to security as finest jewels are located on airside. Once through security, I head str
aight to our office which is on the side of where the boutique is located. Both Chrissie and I have a key, that’s if we were to ever have to work on opposites shifts which rarely happened. I turned on the lights in our office, it was very compact. There were a few amenities such as a kettle, microwave, TV, table with a few stools. I needed another coffee before I had to open the store. Just then Chrissie walked in. I greeted her with a hug.

  “Look what the cat dragged in” I joked.

  “I just want to get the day over and done with.”

  “Same here, I have hardly slept that much. I am sure you can figure out why.”

  “Oh not again. The same exact dream or has it slightly changed?”

  “This dream was not the same, it felt much more intense. I can't describe it.” I peek at Chrissie, she looks exhausted.

  “Want a cup of coffee?”

  “Please, I could murder one right about now.”

  We both downed our coffees.

  “Time to get this day over and done with. What do you say?”

  “Amen to that.”

  At approximately 4:50am, I take the keys and open the boutique. The key automatically opens the shutters. Normally at the start of the shift both Chrissie and I do till checks, check which latest product is on promotion and makes sure we sell as much as we can. Chrissie then joins me and we get started on doing the tills checks. The float has to be £150 which is spot on. Costa coffee is right opposite us. They open well before us. The staffs within the airport are beyond friendly. Sometimes when Chrissie and I are beyond tired, we sometimes get coffees on discount or for free which rarely happens.

  “Chrissie, you like you could do with another coffee. Why don't you go and get two from Costa's, I'll pay you back. ”

  “You know you don't need to pay me back, what drink do you want?”

  “One cappuccino please with 4 sugars.”

  Whilst Chrissie went to get the coffees, I decided to check the stock and complete the stock count and turned on the music player in our boutique. I had turned up the volume to wake myself up. Chrissie made her way back with the two cups of coffee and a sheepish grin on her face. What on earth was she beaming at? Especially at this time in the morning. Only a couple of minutes ago she looked like she had been suffering from a hangover.

  “How is it that a couple of minutes ago you looked like you were suffering from a hangover and now your grinning? You look like a cat that has just got the cream.”

  “You know me nadz. Remember the guy from last night? Somehow he dropped me a text message and is keen to go for round 2 for later on tonight.”

  “Oh! So will you be seeing him tonight? What was even his name? Do you even remember? Or were you so drunk out of your head that you couldn't put a sentence together?”

  “Well he was skilled with his fingers. Honestly I was drunk out my head, he didn't mention his name but hopefully by tonight I'll be screaming it. Then I can tell you what his name was Nadine.”

  I couldn't help but laugh out loud. We both downed our second coffees in the day. It gave both of us an energy rush.

  “Seriously, the things you come out with Chrissie. It’s so unexpected.”

  “Me and my wild stories eh. Glad to know I can always make you laugh despite my tits up experiences.”

  Passengers started entering air side as the first flight would be departing at 5am. The terminal had many shops such as Accessorize which sold jewellery, handbags and scarves. Boots which was a pharmacy. Books which sell novels. Dixons which sell gadgets. Goldsmiths is our main competitor. Hmv selling DVDs and cds. La senza sells lingerie. World duty free sells anything from confectionary, liquor and cosmetics. Gatwick is the only airport that has fast food outlets: Mc Donald’s and Burger king.

  A few passengers enter our boutique; they scan the items that we have which are fairly overpriced. But we know the customers that do come in our store are more browsers than buyers. The time where the boutique gets busy is mainly on our late shifts and just before we finish on the early shift. I end up cleaning a few of the display shelves to maintain the standards of the boutique, whilst Chrissie serves the customers. It’s nearing on 7am. It has been fairly quiet. There have only been a few European customers who have window shopped, and one out of 4 made a purchase on one of our watches.

  The boutique is empty, my stomach starts to growl. Knowing that I had a bowl of cereal at 3am and now its 7am. I feel hungry.

  “Chrissie, do you want to have your first break now or later?

  “Nadz, you always go on your break at around the same time, on all the early shifts. Shoot off will you? I can manage for an hour. We both know that no one will come till after midday.”

  “Thanks Chrissie.”

  I need to get some money so I head straight to the office. I take my purse and ponder on what I should eat. I decide on having krispy kremes doughnuts. The finest doughnuts you will ever taste. I walk past our boutique and Chrissie wolf whistles at me. I scoot off even faster. I hate attracting attention as a few onlookers are glancing at me. People would probably get the wrong impression. I make my way to krispy kremes outlet and order three original glazed doughnuts with a hot chocolate to go. I quickly walk back to the office, walking briskly past the boutique. I can see that Christina looks preoccupied. Two male passengers are animatedly talking to her, god knows what about. I am thankful that they are there otherwise she probably would have tried to embarrass me. Once I'm back in the office, I turn all the heaters on as it’s slightly cold. I sit in the lounger and eat my two doughnuts, leaving one for Christina. This should give me another energy burst. I turn on the TV, a yawn escapes from my lips and I feel my eyes slowly closing. I can barely hear the TV. I snuggle up on the lounge in a comfortable position and drift off to sleep.

  Chapter 3

  I am walking. The roads are silent. It is so still that you could hear a pin drop. I can hear my heels on the pavement, clacking away. I hear a sound in the distant. I stop. I try to listen to see if I can hear it again. I think it’s my mind working over time. I shake my head at myself for freaking out over nothing. There's the noise again. I stop. It sounded like a ruffle or was it a shuffling a few metres behind me. I stop and look back. The road is empty. I feel like I'm being watched. Or that someone will come out of nowhere. I quicken up my pace. Now I can hear footsteps. Not my own but of someone else's. The sensation of wanting to run overwhelms me. I break out into a run. I am running fearful of looking back. The pavements are uneven and my heels get trapped that I feel myself tumbling down. I'm on the floor. Adrenaline is coursing through me. I try to get up but again something is weighing me down. I start to panic. I can't breathe. Whoever was behind me is closing in on me. I am screaming for help. For someone to help me. I am screaming so loud, loud enough that I wake myself. I don't know where I am. I feel confused, disorientated.

  My eyes are open and realise that I am in Gatwick, in the office. I am at work. My throat feels dry. I check the time it’s nearly 8am. I'm in need of water. I take huge gulps of water. I felt like I had been running a marathon. Thankful that I manage to get myself out of the nightmare and that no one had to witness the state that I am in. I look in the mirror and can see that I have been sweating. I get a few tissues and tab it away, trying not to ruin whatever make up I have left. I pull myself together. It’s just another dream I tell myself, trying to reassure myself.

  I head out of the office to get back to the shop floor. I need to relieve Chrissie as she was due for her break. As I enter, Chrissie looks at me. She knows something is off.

  “Nadz you look so pale, are you alright?”

  “The usual, I dozed off and had another nightmare. I don't know whether I should talk to someone about it or what. I have not been able to have a decent night’s sleep since. By the way there's an original glazed Krispy Kream doughnut in the office with your name on it.”

  “Maybe you should consider seeing someone but I wouldn't suggest it. I have read somewhere that dreams can be a premonition
but then again don't quote me on it. You want to know what I think. Dreams are a figment of your imagination. Please Nadine; don't give it too much thought.”

  “I won't. You best go and have your hour break.”

  “See you in an hour.”

  Chrissie left the shop floor, it was 8am. More people were entering air side. Instead of staying inside the boutique, I walked where the entrance was. I had to try and be proactive & find a way to entice customers to come in. There were leaflets that had most of our offers and discounts. I had the leaflets in my hand, handing them out to those who were walking past me. I kept myself busy for the whole hour until I saw Chrissie making her way back.

  “How was your break?” I asked.

  “My hour break went far too quick. Thank you for the Krispy kream doughnut. I ended up lazing about on the lounge. Did it get busy whilst I was away?”

  “Can't you tell? I was rushed off my feet. Honestly when have you ever known it to get busy at this time?”

  “Today feels like its dragging, don’t you agree nadz?”

  “It sure does. I have been finding ways to keep myself busy, by handing out these promotions leaflets.”

  “I think its best we find ways to keep ourselves preoccupied. We have 5 more hours remaining until we finish.”

  Both Chrissie and I, take it in turns to hand out leaflets at the front of the boutique. I end up doing the stock count again. I am aware that I may have to alter some of the displays and what products need to be taken off. Every month there is a certain promotion on one of the items. I will definitely focus on doing that tomorrow. The boutique has been fairly quiet. More people are entering the boutique; Chrissie is serving a customer so I approach the last customer who’s just entered. I greet her politely. Full of questions regarding the item that's on offer. I answer all her questions and she decides to buy 4 of the watches for each grandchild she has. I ask her questions in regards to where she's flying out and make small talk. I wish her well on her holidays. It’s nearing 1 pm. Chrissie and I need to do the till checks. Waiting for Chrissie to finish serving the last customer, I wait for her. The passenger who Chrissie served did not seem to want to leave. I overheard Chrissie saying that we always work here and if ever they wanted to see her again, make sure to fly out of Gatwick. I shake my head at her behaviour. There's nothing that she wouldn't do. I doubt she has any boundaries. She joins me where my till is located. I crack on with the till checks and finish just before 1:30. I have got one last till to check. I completed it just at 1:45pm.