Selected

After dinner I went to wait for Vox in his room. I thought it was my best chance to confront him. As soon as he walked in I was going to ask him why he was lying. This was the second time he had lied to me about having to work. At least to my knowledge. Granted, the first time he was buying me an engagement ring. However, after today I had my suspicions. That day he had left abruptly and then was gone all day. How long does it really take to buy a ring?

I had already planned on what I was going to say. I just needed him to walk through the door so I could start my interrogation. I looked at the clock, it was already half past ten. I sighed and tried to focus on my book. But it ended up being a fruitless effort. I couldn't focus on Jekyll or Hyde. My mind kept wondering to the situation at hand.

Vox was lying to me. Vox was sneaking off with Addeck to some place and lying to me about it. Why would he lie? What could he be hiding? My mind fluttered through a few excuses, things as innocent as going with his brother to a therapy session, to things as alarming as him being involved in some sort of gang. My mind even made the notion that his secretive behavior had some connection to Kootnz. I quickly shook that thought from my head. That thought was too dark for it to be plausible.

Vox was a good person. He was kind and sweet when we met, and has been nothing but ever since. He took me to the library, he taught me how to ride a horse, he even took me to see Koontz, he made sure to do whatever he could to make me happy. None of these things added up to his secret being anything more than a misunderstanding.

My eyes fluttered awake the next morning, the clock read 7:00. I must have fallen asleep waiting for Vox. I actually slept. For the first time in two days I had gotten sleep. It felt good to be able to wake up in the morning. It felt good to feel refreshed and ready for a new day. I smiled and rolled to look at Vox. But he wasn't there.

I thought that he may have risen early to go back to work, but the sheets weren't pulled back, the pillows hadn't been moved. Vox didn't come home last night. Worry overcame me. Why didn't he come home? Where was he? I bolted straight up. I rushed as I put on my clothes and left his room. I checked my room first before going downstairs.

No one was in the dining room. The house was silent. Mrs. Bly always had a platter of food waiting on the table for breakfast. Even as early as seven. Something felt wrong. I could hear someone descend the stairs.

Hal came up from behind me, "Where's breakfast?"

I shrugged, "I don't know. Vox didn't come home, so I thought someone else would know."

Hal shook her head, "This is weird. I'll check on Mother. You see if Addeck is upstairs."

I nodded and carried out my mission. As Hal opened her Mother's door quietly, I ran up the stairs and knocked on Addeck's door. I waited. Nothing happened. I knocked again and the door flung open.

"What?"

I took a step back from surprise. "Oh, sorry. Um, I was just making sure you were here."

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Vox didn't come home last night, and breakfast hasn't been served yet."

"Yeah, okay. Both of those things are red flags. I'll get dressed and be down in a second." He closed the door before I could respond. As I walked away I heard his voice muffled from behind the door.

I would have pressed my ear to the door to make out what he was saying, but Hal turned the corner, "Yeah, Mother isn't downstairs. Is Addeck here?"

I nodded, "Yeah, he's changing."

"I don't know where everyone is. I checked the kitchen, but it was completely devoid of staff. It's like an alien spaceship came and abducted people."