She Was A Minor
When the manager realized that the girl could possibly be a minor, his mind began racing. He’d heard so many stories of children facing all kinds of dangerous and horrible things. He was beginning to panic.
But he’d also heard so many stories of kids causing a good bit of trouble around the neighborhood. He just hoped the kid before him didn’t fall into either of those categories. But he had no idea what he was getting himself into.
Store Manager
As soon as Hunter got the news that he was being promoted to store manager at his local convenience store, he couldn’t help but pat himself on the back. It filled him with a sense of pride and fulfillment.
For an entire year, he worked behind the counter while trying to juggle work, his small family, and school. He was only twenty-four years old, and he was proud of himself for making such strides. But he had no idea what mystery and terror he would soon face.
A Predictable Routine
His life had always followed a predictable routine. Early in the mornings, he would spend time with his girlfriend, who was a training nurse, and their little, one-year-old daughter. He would then drive to school, where he would be until noon.
Once that was out of the way, he’d report to work, overseeing cashiers and store clerks until it was dark out. He would then head back home and relax with his gorgeous family. He thought his life was pretty perfect, but soon, everything would change.
Out Of Nowhere
The incident that changed his life seemed to come out of nowhere. As part of his duties as store manager, Hunter would often have to walk around the store to ensure that everything was still in order.
After doing this for a while, he’d formed a route he adhered to. He made sure to help everyone along this routine, whether they were staff or a customer. On one of these walks, he had a one-in-a-million encounter with a young girl.
A Peaceful Day
This day began peacefully for Hunter. He enjoyed breakfast with his family before running off to college. By the time noon came around, he’d already clocked in at work.
But although his day started off on a light note, it would end in a doomy and gloomy mess. He’d never been a superstitious person, but on this particular day, he could sense that something was about to go terribly wrong.
Aligning His Schedule
Hunter prepared himself for his patrol around the store. He had a smile on his face after a few fun back-and-forths between himself and his workmates, he then checked the day’s schedule before aligning it with his daily itinerary.
Once everything was set, he started making his usual rounds. But not even fifteen minutes into his patrol, he spotted something that made him freeze in place.
The Girl
He noticed a girl standing in a dairy aisle right by one of the cashiers. He instantly noted the fact that she seemed a little out of place. She was dressed in worn-out jeans, her head barely visible as it was hidden inside a hoodie. But he knew that he couldn’t judge the girl just based on what she looked like.
He was still close to his office, so he decided to turn around and walk back to check the day’s footage. But what he saw on the cameras made his jaw drop.
Odd Behavior
When he checked the footage, he saw that the girl had been walking around the store for nearly two hours at this point. She seemed completely and utterly confused by everything around her, and eventually, she stopped right by the cartons of milk. She was looking around suspiciously, almost like she was doing something she shouldn’t have been doing.
Hunter feared that she might be trying to stir up a bit of trouble, so he decided to approach her. But when he reached her, he realized that the girl, although seemingly an adult, was younger up close. He knew he'd have to be careful with her.
Hoping For The Best
When Hunter realized that the girl could possibly be a minor, his mind began racing. He’d heard so many stories of children facing all kinds of dangerous and horrible things. He was beginning to panic.
But he’d also heard so many stories of kids causing a good bit of trouble around the neighborhood. He just hoped the kid before him didn’t fall into either of those categories. But he had no idea what he was getting himself into.
She Saw Him
He hurried back to the girl and noticed that she was wearing a filled backpack over her shoulder. She ran her hand along the many cartons of milk before picking one up, but she didn’t place it in her basket.
She looked around herself, and when her eyes landed on Hunter, she froze in her tracks. When she noticed him approaching her, she slowly placed the milk back on the shelf.
She’s Uneasy
The girl stepped away from the shelf, turning around as fast as possible. But Hunter dashed to her before she walked away, asking her to stop.
The girl turned around, looking up at Hunter with interest. He didn't want to ask her what was in her bag, but he knew he had no choice. If someone acted suspiciously in the store, it fell to him to get to the root of it. Maybe they were in danger – or the danger themselves.
Checking The Bag
Hunter introduced himself to the girl, asking her to accompany him to his office. He hoped to at least search her bag in private, so the public wouldn't harass her with cameras and the like.
The girl agreed to the offer, but instead of following Hunter, she opened her bag before him. What he saw inside made his brows furrow. Was it a joke?
What’s In The Backpack?
The girl held her bag up to Hunter. Inside, there were several tattered textbooks. There were notebooks and pens as well.
But as Hunter returned the bag, smiling as he was glad the girl wasn't engaging in any illegal
activities, she asked him something that set the alarm bells right off again.
Help Her
"I need help," the girl said, her voice a whisper as if she wasn't sure if talking to Hunter was the right thing to do. "What is it?" Hunter asked as he walked the girl away from the aisle.
He could see the worry in her eyes. She slung her backpack off her shoulder, opened a side pocket with shaking fingers, and pulled out a worn and folded piece of cardboard.
The Note
The girl slipped Hunter the note, turned around, and walked away. Hunter’s eyes widened when he saw a cardboard cutout of a photo with the words ‘Call 911’ and an address written on the back.
Hunter spun around to ask her what was going on, but she was already gone. A fleeting thought passed through his mind as he thought that this must be some kind of practical joke. But then, he saw it.