A Day In the Dark *Chapter 1 Out*

The Missing Mother

It was a warm Saturday evening in the middle of September here in Orrington Maine, and my sister Olivia and I were outside the house playing hopscotch. I check my watch, it was around six-thirty pm and it was time for dinner. Usually mom would've called us inside already so we could set the table before the food was served. Today was different though, because mom never called us.
I turn to my sister and say "Hey Olivia, don't you think it's weird that mom never called for us yet?" She took some time to think. "Yeah, you're right Jenny. By this time we would've already been eating." She responded. "I'm going to check inside, I'll be right back." I walk to the door and reach for the handle to open it, but to my surprise... It's locked!?
"That's weird, the door is never locked" I thought. "Uh Olivia, the door is locked." Her eyes widened "What!" she exclaims nearly as shocked as I am. She runs over quickly and tries to open the door herself. After a minute of no luck she goes, "Yep, it's locked" she says and sighs, sliding down onto the ground. "I just said that" I deadpanned. After a minute of thinking of what to do next, I spoke up "Well, let's go check if the car is in the driveway, maybe she left for the store and forgot to tell us." I reasoned. "Seems like a reasonable explanation, let's go!" Olivia exclaimed as she stood up brushing off whatever grass and dirt stuck to her pants.
Olivia and I started walking towards the driveway thinking that mom's car wouldn't be there. When we looked ahead, we saw the very familiar car our mom always drove. "Ok, so mom didn't leave the house, so the only other option is she is cooking and locked the door because she thought we were inside already."I say, disappointed.  "Yea, your right, maybe we can try knocking on the door and get her attention?" Olivia asked. "Only one way to find out..."
The girls then start knocking on the door as hard as they can yelling "mom let us in!" After a minute passes with no luck, the girls both sigh in defeat and sink to the ground in front of the door, hopeless. There is no other option, they don't have any house keys nor a phone to call their mother with.
"Well, what now?" Asked Olivia. "The store isn't too far away, we can walk and ask to use the phone and call home." I state. " "Eh, I guess it's worth a shot" Said Olivia already standing up.
The two girls start their 15 minute walk to the local store. When they reach they see the store owner standing outside. "Hey Brandon!" The man turns his head over to where the voice was coming from. "Jennifer, Olivia howdy!" The two girls run over to Brandon "What're you two doing over here at this hour? Shouldn't you be back at home having dinner?" Asked Brandon. "Well about that.. the door is locked and we can't get inside the house so, we came all the way over here to ask to use the phone to call mom."
"Well why didn't you say so earlier! Of course you can use the phone! I was about to head inside anyways so might as well join ya." "Alright!" Exclaimed the sisters. All three of them walked inside of the store and the familiar smell of the outdoors gets replaced by the delicious smell of fresh apple cider. "Oh wow, I never knew you made cider in store Brandon!" Jennifer said astonished to see the pot of cider sitting on the counter top. "Haha no, I don't make it here, I'm just storing it here for Pauline." Brandon chuckled. "She had asked me to put it in the store freezer as there is too many pots of cider in the bakery. I just have here on the counter until Pauline is ready for it." Brandon says chuckling.
"Oh yea! The fall festival is next week! I cant wait to have some of those tasty apple cider muffins again!" Olivia said with her mouth watering at the thought of the sweet dessert. "Yep! That's what all the pots of cider are for, plenty of apple flavored treats for everyone to enjoy, though nothing beats the muffins." Brandon says with a smirk.
"Well as much fun as it would be to talk about the muffins all day, we did come here for a reason." I cut in slightly irritated. "Oh right! The phone, here ya go! Knock yourself out." Brandon hands me the phone and I start typing in mom's number. "Its dialing, so keep it down." I mumble. After about 20 seconds of ringing it goes to voicemail. "Huh? That's weird, mom didn't pick up." Brandon shoots his head up with a clear confused look on his face. "You're trying to reach Josephine? Shouldn't she be in the house?" He asked. "Nope, that's why we are here. I thought i told you that already?." I stated. "Oh I guess you did tell me, my bad" "But, that's weird nonetheless. Neither of you have a spare house key or anything?" Brandon asks. "Nope, mom says we gotta wait until we are 15 for a key. So I got to wait another 6 months until then and Olivia's gotta wait another 2 years." I say."Well, there is one way you can get in." Brandon chips in. " I can go with you and pick the lock. Jo's probably sleeping and that's why she didn't hear you." Brandon reasons. "Ohhh, that does make sense. We didn't think about that" I say with a embarrassed chuckle scratching the back of my head. 
"Well off we go kiddos" Brandon announced heading off to the stores exit.
The group then walks all the way back to the house and stop when they reach the front door. "Now girls, what I'm about to do you should never replicate unless it's completely necessary like right now, is that understood?" "We hear you loud and clear!" Roared Olivia! "There's no need to shout Oli, now pay attention!" I scolded.  The girls watch in silence and Brandon pulls out a hairpin and starts unlocking the door with it. After a few tries the door successfully opens! "There you have it! An opened door!" Brandon beams clearly happy with his skills. "Yeah yeah, great, let's go inside now. I'd like to eat dinner." I say rushing through the door expecting to see mom by the dining room table, but quickly stopping in my tracks when I see the house is a complete disaster! "What in the world!" I shriek, eyes wide. Brandon and Olivia run inside the house to see what's going on. "Oh dear! Looks like a break in!" Brandon states. "Wait where's mom!" Olivia gasps. "Ok girls, stay here I'm going to head back to the store to call the police. Don't move, we'll find out what's going on." Brandon then leaves the house. 

"Hmm, something feels off, I'm gonna go look around." I state. "But Brandon said not to move!" "I know Olivia, but I feel off." I remark. "Well if i can't change your mind I might as well join you." Olivia sighs. "Then let's go." The two girls walk up the stairs and over to the door of the bedroom that belongs to their mom. On the door lies a note, a note addressed to them. "Huh what's this? A note, wonder what it says." I murmur.  "I'll read it!" Olivia yells. 

" To Jenifer and Olivia, By the time you girls read this, she'll be gone by now. Who's she you might ask? Well I'm sure you already have the answer for that. If you want to find out more information, head into the woods and look for the abandoned house. you won't miss it when you see it. Finally, go alone. Do not tell anyone about this note or there will be consequences. Bring this note with you Get here as soon as possible. Signed, PR." 

"PR? Who or what is that?" Olivia questions. "I have no idea, but maybe we should listen to them." I say glancing at my younger sister. "Alright, if you think that's best." Right as we head down to leave the house Brandon walks back in. "Alright girls, the police are on their way. In the meantime, I think you should stay with me and Pauline until we can find out what's going on." Brandon suggest with a kind smile. "I suppose so, though Olivia and I should grab some clothes before we leave." I announce "Well, alright just don't take too long." Brandon signs. "We won't, c'mon Liv let's go." I state walking up the stairs towards our shared room. When we reach Olivia closes the door and in a whisper asks "Jen, i thought we were gonna leave?" "We will, but let's just go with Brandon first so it doesn't seem as suspicious." I say while stuffing whatever clothes i find into a duffle bag "Oh, that's a smart idea. That gives us a bit of time to plan." "Just remember, not a word about the note to anyone else." I say, making it clear I'm listening to the note. We quickly finish packing our bags and go back downstairs to meet Brandon who is leaning on the doorframe. "Ok girls, let's go!"  The 3 head off once again, though this time the mood is darker, no one talking as they make it to their destination.