Gone

Sleep never came easily that night.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the black SUV parked across the street.

The text.

They're running out of time.

I kept telling myself it was some stupid prank.

It had to be.

Around midnight, thunder shook the house.

I sat up in bed and reached for the glass of water on my nightstand.

Then I heard it.

A car door.

I froze.

Slowly, I walked toward my window and carefully pulled the curtain aside.

The street was empty.

The SUV was gone.

I let out the breath I didn't realize I'd been holding.

Maybe it really was over.

Maybe—

A loud crash echoed from downstairs.

I jumped.

Another crash.

Then...

A scream.

"MOM!"

I threw my bedroom door open and ran into the hallway.

"Dad?" I shouted.

No answer.

The lights downstairs flickered before everything went dark.

My heartbeat thundered in my ears.

I reached the top of the staircase and stopped.

The front door hung open.

Rain blew inside.

Broken glass covered the floor.

"Dad?"

Silence.

My hands trembled as I took another step.

A shadow moved behind me.

Before I could turn around, a hand covered my mouth.

I screamed into it.

"Easy," a deep voice whispered. "Don't make this harder than it has to be."

I kicked and fought with everything I had.

My elbow hit someone's chest.

Another person grabbed my wrists.

"No!" I cried.

"Let me go!"

The man sighed.

"I'm sorry."

Something soft pressed over my nose.

A strange smell filled the air.

My vision blurred.

"No..."

The room spun.

The last thing I saw was the family photo hanging beside the staircase.

The last thing I heard...

...was my father's voice shouting my name.

Then...

Everything went black.