"Damn it! Those idiots were no help!" I exclaim as Levi and I, exited the college's security office.
"They did all they could Ren. It's not their fault the cameras can't catch the thief's face because they wear a mask and a hoodie."
"Face mask or not, a group of trained security officers shouldn't be this incompetent. They've been dealing with this for a week, how haven't they figured anything out?!"
"That's why we're here. To help them do that. But the lack of information doesn't give us a lot to go off of. Maybe we should go home and get rest for tomorrow."
"I'm not going back. Not without her."
He sighs and crosses his arms. "Ok, I'm not sure how much good it will do. But if that's what you want…"
"We'll find something." We have to, because I don't know what'll happen if we don't.
Levi and I walk the campus grounds, digging for any trace of where the thief could be. I think we must've circled the same building six times at this point. Or maybe it was four separate buildings, everything is so mixed together. Interviewing students, interrupting classes, anything I could think of. Every minute we spend looking, the more panic starts to take over my mind.
My first day and being a Curator has taken everything I have! Why can't someone else take this job!? I've seen Curators handle bigger issues than this on the news! Issues that threatened cities!
They should be able to handle this! So why am I the one who has to do it!? Just looking at these kids knowing one of them stole my wallet makes me want to interrogate them all! I don't care if I have to sift through the entire campus and every student inside it, there has to be someone who can help get her back!
"Ren" Levi started, "we've been searching for five hours. I don't think staying here any longer will do any good." I looked down at my phone and it was already two. We've been searching for five hours and still nothing!
"You go back if you want, I said earlier that I'm not leaving without that wallet and I meant it!"
"And do what?" He challenged. "What are you going to do?"
"Keep looking for anything that sticks out. You were the one who said we'd 'do a little digging'!"
"That was back when I thought there was any digging to be done. We can't maintain this search."
"I'll maintain it until I find her!"
"How long then? Until the middle of the night? The only college students out past nine aren't going to want to sit down and talk to you about this."
I can't think of anything to counter with. He's right but I can't leave her.
"And I don't know what emotional significance your wallet has to you," The bluntness in his voice softens to sympathize with my distress. "but if you stay out here all night you won't be ready when the culprit comes again."
Damn it he's right again. But I can't help feeling so… useless! I wasn't there when Catherine needed me most and now, I can't even get a simple picture of her back! What good am I if I'm never around for her!?
Levi's hand rests on my shoulder, and through his iron face an air of sympathy leaks through.
I think… I think I just miss her.
And I appreciate Levi, but his collected nature reminds me so much of her and everything I don't have. I wish it were her comforting me through this rather than Levi. Tenderly holding my hand instead of my shoulder, putting her head on my chest, assuring me everything would be alright. With her, I felt invincible.
"Are you alright Ren?"
I hadn't noticed I was zoned out. "Damn it," I blurted, as I compose myself to stop the tears ready to drip from my eyes. "I'm fine. And you're right Levi. Crying today won't get her back any faster tomorrow."
"I'm glad you've come to your senses. Now let's get home before Victoria leaves you stranded at Headquarters."
As the name implies, the University of DC isn't too far from Headquarters. Not that it matters, because Ghislain can propel us back to the Headquarters in an instant anyways.
"How'd the mission go!?" Ghislain cheerfully inquires as we enter from the courtyard.
"I don't want to talk about it" I respond.
"Ren got his wallet stolen by our target and we couldn't catch the thief who stole it." Levi clarifies.
"Didn't I just say I didn't want to talk about it?"
"I'm sorry to hear that Ren. But it's your first mission, and it's not an easy one. Don't feel too down about it!" Your overly optimistic nature isn't helping right now Ghislain.
"Uuuuggghhh!" Behind me, something violently swings into a wall and a monstrous noise erupts from the same direction. Turning around, Victoria trudges toward us with an exhausted look on her face.
"And how was your day Vic?" Ghislain asks.
"Not in the mood." she snaps.
"I take it that means accounting wasn't good," Levi said.
"It's the most boring thing imaginable. I had to write up 40 different checks, and mail them because someone leveled an entire apartment complex! Who even mails things anymore!?"
"We're the government, we have to mail things."
"Plus, The Chief says you're spectacular at it!" Ghislain cheered.
"I'm good at everything I do and yet my checks don't break seven figures. I feel like I'm being brutally underpaid!"
"If you did make seven figures that would mean you'd get paid more than The Chief, Victoria," Levi said.
"And I'd deserve it too! I work the hardest job in the world!"
"If that's how you feel I won't argue against it," Levi said, surrendering the unwinnable struggle that is getting Victoria to be a reasonable person. "See you tomorrow, Ren." Levi slowly meanders his way out the front door.
"Come on Ren! We're going too, I need a drink."
"I'll pass. I'm- I'm trying to cut down on drinking."
"Oh yeah, you're an addict! More for me then!"
We step through the front door and Victoria's already cracked open one of the many beers she'd been hiding in the fridge. She offers me some a few times, but I wave the offer away, drowning in ideas of what to do tomorrow.
Soon nighttime breaks through and the moon is confidently ruling over the house. I spent most of the day walking aimlessly in the sun. And yet I can't sleep. My body feels hollow and lifeless... like my heart was stolen with my wallet.
Every time I close my eyes I can see her, but not really. It's like an outline of a person, a shadow of a face. Someone important I'd be able to remember if I just had a picture to guide me.
And that thought of forgetting her face for even a second terrifies me. So I open my eyes again, seeing her along the shadowy walls and piles of garbage. I see her everywhere when my eyes are open but I can't put her face together with them shut.
I shouldn't, but I can't live like this. It'll help me fall asleep. And if I don't fall asleep I won't be at my best tomorrow.
So against my better judgment, I walk past Victoria who's snoring atop a pile of newspapers, over to her tile kitchen floor. The smell of alcohol still rides on her breath, telling me she has no chance of waking up. While the kitchen is just as messy as the living room, the refrigerator is kept uncharacteristically clean, and inside its dim glow stands five cases of beer that she was too full to finish.
I snatch a chilled case and plant it on the only free section of her cluttered countertop. I really shouldn't… but I need to.
After weeks of drinking only this in my apartment, each can goes down like water. Before I know it, I nearly finish two of Victoria's cases and wobble my way to my special place on the floor.
But even with my mind dulled I still can't go straight to sleep. The swirling in my head doesn't erase her outline. It just muddles it, magnifying the problem. So, I just lay lifeless on Victoria's crusted carpet until the darkness of the room turns into the darkness of my closed eyes.