Chapter 7 – Two Days Later
CHIARA
TWO DAYS LATER
Mom is gone, but I’m still here. Dom is gone too. Everyone is gone but me. And I want to be where they are, but I’m not and I can’t be.
It’s been two days since my father’s lie: that my mother abandoned me. Four full days without her. I could barely go to school yesterday. My eyes have been puffy and red since the day I realized I’ll probably never see her again.
All the kids stared at me as I passed the halls. But none have bothered to ask if I’m okay. No one cares. Even the girls who’d be a little friendly with me in class, didn’t bother with me.
I’ve called Mom every hour since I got my phone back, and hers goes to voicemail now. I’ve left so many messages, the robot voice says her voicemail is now full.
And to make things even worse, I don’t know where Dom is either. He didn’t show up at school for a third day now. How could they both abandon me? I’ve called his cell, leaving messages, begging for him to call me, but it’s dead like my mother’s.
I decide to skip school today as soon as I saw he wasn’t here. Our lockers are right next to each other’s, and we always head to class together.
Worrying my father’s goons will spot me while they stalk me at his command, I make my escape from the back of the building and head for the bakery, a quick walk from school. I know that the one place Dom would be is there, and if he isn’t, someone from his family will be.
But as I get there, a chill rolls down my spine.
I’m wrong. So wrong.
My heartbeats echo in my ears while I stare into the dark emptiness, no longer a place filled with so much life.
They’re all gone.
Silent tears spring into my eyes, falling, drifting into nothing.
Why is everyone I love disappearing?
Where can Dom be? Why would he leave without telling me? He’d never do that. He’d never hurt me like this.
“Hey, Chiara,” says a man behind me.
I turn around, finding a short, older man with gray hair. I recognize him as Gerard, the one who owns the candy shop next door.
“You speak to Dom today?” He scratches his thick, gray hair. “I’ve started to worry.”
“No.” I shake my head with a tremble. “When were they here last?”
His brows tug gently, and he places a finger on his temple, staring absently.
“Well, Friday, I saw Francesco all day, but then Dom stopped by Saturday afternoon looking for him, but the shop was closed. The boy seemed as concerned as you do right now.” He squints, looking inquisitively at me. “What’s going on?”
The weekend is their busiest time. I remember Dom telling me that. Unless there’s an emergency, his father would never close.
Wait…
My heart races while I freak out.
Saturday is when Mom disappeared, the day my dad took my phone. Did he do something to Dom’s dad?
A shiver runs down both my arms, leaving thick prickles.
No. It can’t be.
But, I wouldn’t put it past him. He hated Mom, and he hated Dom’s family. What if he decided to hurt them all? What if…
I can’t even think those thoughts. I can’t imagine a world where Mom and Dom are not in it.
“Did you speak to them the last few days at all?” Gerard interrupts my thoughts.
“No,” I speak over the ball of anxiety in my throat. “Dom won’t answer his phone.” The words shudder from my lips. “It doesn’t seem to be…on.”
“Oh, goodness.” He exhales sharply. “I don’t have Francesco’s number. I’ll have to call the police.”
Police? Oh my God.
“Okay,” I mouth with a barely there whisper as he walks away.
Glancing back at the bakery one last time, I run out of there with tears raining down my face, unable to handle another second of staring at my own reflection.