The Void Read online

  I wasn’t sure what was worse, knowing I was going to die, or knowing I had never truly lived.

  Chapter 36

  Ryan

  I was not a good flyer. I couldn’t understand people who found it exciting. What was so thrilling about being up in the air with only a thin layer between you and the sky? It made no sense to me. The man next to me didn’t think the same way. He was reading his book, flipping the pages with one hand while shoving chocolate into his mouth with the other. He seemed to take a bite with every flip and ate as noisily as if he were eating soup. I couldn’t see what he was reading—not for lack of trying—but whatever it was made him laugh at least every few minutes, sometimes a short chortle while other times a great big guffaw that was surprising for his small stature. I wished I could be as unaware of my environment as he was. People like him always fascinated me, and I was always left feeling jealous. Even if I was in the middle of a real shit storm, I’d still look around and wonder how I was coming across to everyone. I picked up the magazine in the pocket of the chair in front of me, and tried to find something to read, but the moment I settled on an article the plane rattled, and my stomach lurched. I put down the magazine, and closed my eyes, happy that the flight wasn’t too long.

  Going back to Brisbane had never been a part of my plan. In a whirlwind of excitement, I’d remembered the café Sarah worked at, and tried to call her. She wasn’t at work that day, or the day after, and her boss refused to give me her phone number. He got a little angry with me when I asked him where she stayed. When I asked him about Larry, he told me I had the wrong place. After that, he told me to stop harassing him. I had Sarah’s first name and place of work, but it wasn’t enough to bring back much from an internet search. I was left with only dead ends and frustration. It had been disheartening to feel so close to figuring something out and coming out with nothing. It was my mother who had suggested I hop on a plane and visit the café myself. By now Jon’s mother had heard about the whole TV show, and she was going out of her mind with worry. Unfortunately, as nice as she was, Jon’s mother was not the sort of person who could keep anything to herself. I knew it wouldn’t take long for everyone to know what was going on. It had taken a lot of convincing to her that I went to Brisbane alone, under the pretence that she should be home in case Jon turned up. Really, I just couldn’t stand to have her with me. I was already nervous on my own, and she’d only make things worse.

  “You okay, mate?”

  I opened my eyes and turned to the guy beside me who was now staring at me rather than his book. The concern on his face was obvious, and I noticed I was gripping the magazine on my lap so tightly I had scrunched up the cover.

  I released my grip. “Uh huh. Just not a fan of flying.”

  “Really? You know there are more accidents on the road from cars than from planes. You’re probably safer up here than you are down there.”

  I nodded. “I know. The statistics don’t help the way my stomach feels, though.”

  “Don’t worry. We’ll be there in no time. You from Brisbane?”

  “Sydney,” I said. “You?”

  “Brissie born and bred, mate. You going on holiday?”

  “Uh, not quite. Business, I guess.”

  The last thing I was going to do was get into a discussion about The Void and Larry and the missing guys with a stranger. My tone must’ve come across because he shrugged, wished me luck, and carried on reading. I inhaled deeply, closed my eyes again, and waited for this trip to be over. I wasn’t sure what I was more nervous about: the flight, or finally figuring out where my friends were.

  When the plane finally landed, I made my out to get a taxi. The guy who had been sitting next to me was also waiting for one, and I noticed the small smile on his face as he got in the car before me. I imagined him telling the driver all about the weird guy he sat next to. I didn’t have time to dwell on it, as a car pulled up in front of me, and I climbed in. I gave the guy the address, and he punched it into his navigation system and drove off without a word. I leaned back in my seat, relieved the guy wasn’t a talker. I watched as the landscape changed, and felt a familiar twinge the closer we got to Victoria Point. The last time I had been here I had been on my way to the park and excited to embark on an experience of a lifetime. I remembered the thoughts that had gone through my head that day, how nervous I had been, and how unsure I was about whether I was doing the right thing. There’d been a niggling sensation to turn around and go back home, but I’d put it down to pure nerves. I didn’t much believe in signs and coincidences, but perhaps something had been telling me this was all wrong. This time we didn’t go to the park, and the driver dropped me off right at the café. I thanked him, and got out, inhaling the warm air. Was Brisbane always this humid?

  Walking into the café was strange. The last time I had been there I’d been a bit of a mess, wallowing in self-pity after my exit of shame from the pod. The smell of coffee had been welcoming, and Sarah’s smile had momentarily made me forget my problems. I looked around for her now, but didn’t see her. A young man approached me, and the small bounce in his step made me wonder if everyone who worked here turned into a Winnie the Pooh character.

  “Table for one?” he asked with a broad smile.

  “Actually, I’m looking for Sarah. Is she here today?”

  “Oh, she’s off this week,” he said.

  “Ah damn. Uh, you don’t by any chance know how I can get hold of her do you?”

  “Sure, let me get you her phone number,” he said and whipped out his phone. I prayed the boss wouldn’t come in and catch us. This young guy had no issue with handing out Sarah’s phone number to a complete stranger, but his boss wouldn’t be so kind. I punched in her number, ordered a coffee to go, and headed off down the road to give her a call.

  Sarah answered within seconds, her voice as sweet and bright as I remember it being, as if she was right out of a cartoon. Even though she was distinctly Australian, if she told me she’d spent time in the U.S, I wouldn’t be surprised. She had that charming southern drawl to her tone.

  “Uh, hi,” I said, the opposite of charming. Where was I supposed to begin? “This is Ryan. I, uh, I met you about two weeks ago. A bit less. You convinced me to take two brownies, and…” Shit, this was awkward.

  “Ryan?”

  “Oh, I was one of the guys you saw at the park with Larry.”

  “Oh yes, Ryan. Of course. I remember ya. Wow, this is a surprise. Wait, is everything okay? Is Larry okay? Did he give ya my number?”

  “I was wondering if we could meet. I have a few questions. It’s a little weird to ask you this over the phone.”

  “Well sure. Now?”

  “Now would be perfect. Want to meet at the café?”

  “It’s my day off, how about we meet at Steamers?”

  “Steamers? Uh, I’m actually not from around here. I don’t know this area at all. Can I walk? I’m standing near your café now.” I looked around but couldn’t see any other café.

  “Mentioned it the last time, didn’t ya? The Sydney boy. I remember thinking you would suit Brissie, but I can’t remember why now. So, if you’re at my work, just carry on down the road, toward the roundabout, then turn left. It’s on that road, so you won’t miss it. I’ll be there in, say, ten minutes?”

  “Perfect. I appreciate it.”

  Steamers was a little more like cafés I was used to hanging out in, and a part of me was disappointed. I liked the old-fashioned style of the café Sarah worked in, and the way it made me feel as if nobody was taking any notice of me. This place seemed a little too pretentious, so I scanned the room for the most secluded table and took a seat.

  “Uh, a coffee please,” I asked the young man dressed entirely in black.

  “What kind?”

  “Just a coffee.” What had happened to me?

  He pointed to the menu where the coffee list was as long as the lunch list. “We’ve got quite a range.”

  I grimaced as he told
me about their new turmeric coffee, and I shook my head. “Just a coffee.”

  “Tall black?”

  “Sure. With some milk please.”

  I had thought of ordering for Sarah but I didn’t know her well enough, and she arrived just as the waiter came back with my order.

  “One of those, please,” she said to him, and then smiled as I stood up awkwardly to greet her. I was about to hold out my hand when she wrapped her arms around me and pulled me in for a hug. I wasn’t used to people like her, and I liked it. “Ryan, it’s good to see ya again. Wow, are you on a diet or something?”

  “Diet? No?”

  “You’re so skinny. We should order cake, too.”

  “Uh, before we do, I really need to talk to you.”

  She sat down, her eyes wide as she tried to read my face. “What’s going on? Ya seem nervous. Y’alright?”

  “What exactly do you know about Larry?”

  “Larry? Somethin’s happened to him, hasn’t it? Oh no, what’s wrong? Is he okay?” Sarah’s pale face had turned even whiter, but as I was about to explain the waiter came over with her coffee.

  “Can I get you anything else?” he asked in the same sort of cheery way Sarah had once asked me.

  “No!” we both said curtly at the same time, and the poor guy hurried off as if we’d stung him. I looked after him with regret but then turned my attention back to Sarah. There were more important things to worry about right now.

  “Is Larry okay?” she asked.

  I sighed. “I’m not sure, but I need to know how to find him.”

  She narrowed her eyes at me. “Why? What do you want with him? What’s going on?”

  I told Sarah the whole story, keeping it as truncated as possible while still finding a way to get all the details out. Telling the story to her felt different to when I had told my parents, because I no longer cared about my role in it. Who cared that I hadn’t lasted the full two weeks when my friends were missing? The waiter came by once, and Sarah waved him away, and even though our coffees were now cold we didn’t ask for more.

  “And,” I concluded, “that’s why I came to see you. Because you’re the only link to Larry I can think of. And I need your help. Is there any way he could’ve done something bad?”

  “I... No... I mean... I don’t know. I’d like to think I knew him well. He came to the café every day without fail. He ordered the same thing every time. He was so rigid in his order, and so... Well... Sweet. A nice man...

  “But how well did you know him?”

  Her eyes clouded over at the question. “I guess I didn’t know him at all. But…this doesn’t make sense. If he was a bad guy he wouldn’t have let you and that Elton guy go.”

  “That’s the part I don’t understand either. So, you haven’t seen him lately?”

  She shook her head. “No, I haven’t seen him since that day with you.” She took a sip of her coffee, then grimaced and put it down. “What if something happened to him? What if that’s the reason you can’t get hold of him?”

  “That’s what I thought too, but it still doesn’t make sense. What about the rest of the crew. Why didn’t they let Jon and Keri out?”

  “That’s true. That doesn’t seem right either. Shit, Ryan…” I got the impression by the way she said the word that she didn’t swear easily. “What are we going to do?”

  “I don’t know.” I was grateful she’d said we and not you. I didn’t want to do this on my own. “I was hoping you’d know where he was. Do you know where he lives?”

  “He lives in the area, but I’m not sure exactly where. He walked to the café every day so it can’t be far. Should we just go knocking on all the doors? I don’t even know what street he’s on. What about the pods you were in? Where was that?”

  “I wish I knew. Going in we went straight through the garage, and leaving I didn’t take any notice of where I was. Maybe I’d know it if I saw it, but I’m honestly not sure if I would.”

  “And that Elton guy? Doesn’t he know?”

  “He doesn’t know, but he also doesn’t care.” I had considered contacting him again, but it didn’t seem worth it.

  “Charming.” She grimaced. “Come on, let’s go.” She stood up, and scraped her chair back loudly.

  “Where?”

  “To the police.”

  “Trust me, they don’t care. I already called them.” Although it had been a few days since my last phone call with them, I wondered if they would take me seriously now.

  “Then you haven’t spoken to the right person.” She turned to me and I was surprised by the look of steely determination on her face. “My uncle works in the police force. He’ll help us.”

  Relief washed over me, and I hurried out to follow her. The moment we stepped outside, she ran back in, and I stood there looking after her in confusion. Was I meant to follow her?

  “We forgot to pay the waiter,” she said when she returned.

  “You paid? I’m so sorry. Hang on, let me get some cash.”

  “Don’t worry.” She waved away my wallet. “It’s fine. We’ll have to come back here sometime and make it up to the guy. He must’ve hated us. I think I’m just sensitive because I do the same thing he does, and I hate people like us. Now I know to cut them some slack. You never know what’s going on in someone’s life. Anyway, enough about that, we have more important things to think about. The police office is down the road. Let’s hope he’s there. If not, it’s an hour’s drive to his house.”

  “Thanks for helping, Sarah,” I said as we hurried off.

  “We’re going to find your friends,” Sarah said with conviction. Her words floated toward me and wrapped around me like a security blanket.

  “Thank you.” I had no idea what was going to happen, or where Jon and Keri could be, but it felt good to finally be doing something about it.

  “We’re here,” Sarah said. I might not believe in destiny, but if I did then meeting her would’ve definitely fallen into that realm of magic.

  Chapter 37

  Jon

  Keri and I moved between being awake and asleep, as if we were riding the ocean’s waves. When we dipped, we slept; when we rose, we woke. We seemed to move seamlessly from one to the next, and everything felt more and more like a dream. A dream we never woke from. After another sleep of who knows how long, the first person I thought of when my eyes opened was Ryan. A strange sound escaped me, as if I’d swallowed a frog. It was a half choke, half cry that was so odd it woke Keri. She sat up quickly.

  “What happened?” she said as she reached for my hand. Her gaze moved fast from one point of the room to another, and I squeezed her hand to tell her everything was okay.

  “Nothing happened. I just made a funny sound. I’m sorry I woke you.”

  “Did you have a bad dream?” She frowned, then reached out to wipe a rogue tear that was falling down my face. So much for trying to stay in control. Ever since I’d cried the other day (yesterday, three days ago, a week), I had found myself more and more emotional. It was as if I was making up for years of not crying.

  “I can’t stop thinking about Ryan.”

  “Ryan? What about him?”

  “He’s all alone in his pod. I know things haven’t been easy for us, but at least we’ve had each other. We’ve still got each other. He’s been alone from the beginning. What must he be thinking now? He must be so scared. I was so horrible to him.” I was shivering now, even though it wasn’t cold. Not too hot, not too cold, just perfect. The words I’d first uttered came back to haunt me. There was nothing perfect about this scenario. Keri wrapped the duvet over me, and curled up against me. The warmth of her body against mine seemed to help, but also reminded me of how lucky I was not to be alone in all this.

  “You weren’t horrible to him,” she said. “You were just being you. He was just being him. It’s how the two of you are with one another. Don’t beat yourself up about it. He knows you care about him.”

  “No, I was horrible to hi
m. Do you want to know why I told him about this whole show?”

  “So there’d be more of a chance of us walking out with the money? So I could finally get that camera I’ve wanted for so long?” I could tell by the way she was saying the words that she was urging me to go along with what she was saying. Those were the reasons I had given her, and she wanted to believe I was a good person, even if she knew I’d only be fooling myself.

  “No, I told him about it because I didn’t think he would make the full two weeks. I wanted him to fail so I would feel better about myself.”

  “That’s not true, Jon. I know that’s not true.”

  “You do know it’s true. Thank you for trying to believe otherwise, but you know as well as I do I’m not a nice guy. Ryan is though. He’s one of the best out there, and because of me he’s going to die alone.” My body was no longer shaking. It was vibrating.