The Roots Beneath

Chapter 13: Behind Closed Doors

It had been four days since anyone had seen Elijah at school.

At first, Seren thought nothing of it. People skipped school all the time for various reasons—sickness, family emergencies, or even just the occasional mental health day. But by the second day, a quiet worry had begun to gnaw at her. Elijah wasn't the type to just disappear, especially without saying anything.

By the fourth day, his absence felt almost suffocating. It wasn't just her noticing anymore—people around school were whispering about it, and Emily had mentioned how odd it was that no one had heard a word from him. No texts, no social media updates. Nothing. It was as if Elijah had simply vanished.

Seren sat at her usual table in the cafeteria, pushing the food around on her tray without any real intention of eating it. Across from her, Emily was rambling about some pop quiz in chemistry, but Seren's thoughts were elsewhere.

"He'll probably show up next week," Emily said, her tone nonchalant as she stabbed at her salad with a fork. "I bet he's just sick. You know how guys are—big babies when they get a cold."

Seren forced a small smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Yeah, maybe."

But the nagging feeling in her gut said otherwise.

"Have you texted him?" Emily asked, eyeing her suspiciously.

Seren shrugged. "A couple times, but he hasn't replied. I'm trying not to seem pushy."

Emily tilted her head, considering. "It's weird though, right? He doesn't seem like the type to just vanish like that."

Seren nodded, but before she could respond, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She quickly pulled it out, hoping it was Elijah, but her heart sank when she saw it was just her mom reminding her about a family dinner that evening.

"You know," Emily said, lowering her voice, "if you're really that worried, you could just stop by his house after school."

"How could we do that?" Seren sighed dismissively.

"we just tell the teachers that he needs his homework, and bingo they give us his address!"

Seren blinked, her stomach flipping at the suggestion. The idea of showing up at Elijah's house unannounced seemed both tempting and terrifying. What if he didn't want to see her? What if he was just avoiding school for personal reasons? But the longer he was gone, the more her concern overrode her hesitation.

"I guess I could," Seren murmured, staring down at her phone.

Emily grinned, her eyes lighting up with mischief. "See? Problem solved. Just swing by and casually check on him. Worst case, he's home, sick in bed, and you bring him soup like some kind of hero."

Seren rolled her eyes but couldn't help laughing. "I'm not bringing him soup."

"Fine, bring him Gatorade. Whatever. The point is, you'll know what's going on."

The rest of the day dragged by slowly, the weight of Elijah's absence hanging over Seren like a cloud. By the time the final bell rang, she had made up her mind. She was going to go to his house, no matter how awkward it felt.

She shoved her books into her locker and slung her bag over her shoulder, her heart pounding with anticipation. As she walked through the parking lot, she couldn't stop thinking about Elijah—where he was, why he hadn't reached out, and why it all felt so off.

Elijah's house wasn't far, just a short walk from school, tucked away at the edge of town near the woods.

Seren stood at the edge of Elijah's driveway, clutching a small stack of papers in her hand. Her excuse was simple: she was dropping off the notes he missed while he was out of school. It wasn't a complete lie—she had jotted down a few things in class—but it was more of a cover for her growing concern. Elijah had been missing for four days, and her worry gnawed at her.

Taking a deep breath, she walked up the stone path to the front door of the modest two-story house. It had a homely, inviting charm, with flower pots on the porch and a bike tossed carelessly in the yard. She remembered Elijah mentioning his younger brothers once—twin boys who were always full of energy.

Seren hesitated briefly before pressing the doorbell, the sound echoing through the house. A moment later, the clamor of voices and the unmistakable sound of children's feet running across hardwood floors met her ears. The door opened, and a flustered but friendly-looking woman stood there, smiling warmly. She had Elijah's dark hair, though hers was tied up in a hurried bun with loose strands framing her face. Her eyes sparkled with the same intensity as Elijah's, even if they seemed a bit more tired.

"Oh, hello!" the woman said, balancing one of the twins on her hip while the other boy tugged at her apron. "You must be one of Elijah's friends. Come on in, please!"

Seren smiled nervously, stepping inside as the woman—whom she assumed was Elijah's mom—welcomed her into the warm and bustling home. The living room was cozy but cluttered, with toys strewn across the floor and a faint scent of cookies baking in the air.

"I'm Rachel," the woman said, extending a flour-dusted hand. "Sorry for the mess. It's always a bit crazy after school with these two." She gestured to the twin boys who were now chasing each other around the couch.

Seren shook her hand and smiled. "It's no problem at all. I, uh, brought some notes for Elijah. He's been out for a few days, and I thought he might need them."

Rachel's eyes softened with a knowing look. "That's very kind of you, Seren. He's mentioned you."

Seren blinked in surprise. "He has?"

Rachel nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth, but before she could say more, one of the boys tugged on her apron again, asking for a snack. She gave him a quick, playful pat on the head and turned to Seren.

"He'll be back any moment now. He and his dad are just out running errands," she explained, then glanced toward the kitchen. "Feel free to sit down if you like. Would you like some cookies? They just came out of the oven."

"Oh, no, I'm okay. Thank you," Seren replied, sitting down gingerly on the edge of the couch as the twins continued their game of chase. The house had a warmth that reminded her of simpler times, before things had become strained with her own family.

A few minutes passed, and Seren's heart began to race when she heard the sound of a car pulling into the driveway. Moments later, the door opened, and Elijah stepped inside, followed by a man who must have been his father. His dad was tall and broad-shouldered, with the same dark hair as Elijah, though his expression was far more reserved—almost cold.

"Seren," Elijah said, surprise flickering in his eyes when he saw her. "What are you doing here?"

"I—I brought you some notes," Seren stammered, holding up the papers as Elijah's gaze softened. His usually calm and collected demeanor was still there, but his eyes held a glimmer of something she couldn't quite place. Relief, maybe? Or something deeper?

Elijah's father, however, remained distant, his sharp gaze sweeping over Seren with a cold intensity. He didn't say anything, but his presence was stifling, as though he was silently assessing her.

Rachel clapped her hands together, cutting through the tension. "Elijah, why don't you walk Seren out? I'm sure she didn't come just to hang around with us all evening."

Elijah's father didn't say a word, but his eyes lingered on Seren as if he knew something she didn't—something important. It made her uneasy, though she couldn't explain why.

Elijah grabbed his jacket from the hook by the door. "I'll walk you home," he said softly, his voice low but kind. There was an unspoken urgency in his tone, like he needed to get her out of the house before something was revealed—something she wasn't supposed to know.

As they stepped out onto the porch, the tension finally broke, and Seren exhaled a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

"Elijah," she said after a long moment, "is everything okay? Your dad..."

"He's just... protective," Elijah replied, rubbing the back of his neck. "Don't mind him."

Seren nodded, though the cryptic feeling lingered, as if there were things being said without words—things she wasn't yet privy to.