Let Me Love You

- Chapter Eleven -

I woke up to the sound of my sister calling my name.

Martha's voice broke through again, louder this time. "Chace! Wake up—she's gone!"

My heart stopped for a second, and I instinctively reached for Hazel, but all I felt was cold sheets.

The space where she had been just hours ago was empty. Panic surged through me, and before I knew it, I was out of bed, my legs moving faster than my mind could process.

I rushed through the house, my feet pounding against the hardwood floors as I tried to make sense of it. I ran downstairs, not thinking, just moving, hoping to find her somewhere—anywhere. But it wasn't long before Martha appeared behind me, her face full of concern.

"I thought she was leaving with you," she said softly. "I hugged her... I thought she was just heading out with you. But then you never came down."

I pulled out my phone, trying to make sense of everything, but the first thing I saw were missed calls from my soccer coach and a few unread messages from my dad. I scrolled through them, my mind barely processing until I saw one that made my heart stop.

Dad: Hazel went to visit us.

I stared at the message, my stomach flipping. I grabbed my shoes, my fingers fumbling as I tried to call her, but something felt wrong.

I looked around the room and saw her phone sitting on the dresser.

She'd left without it.

The knot in my stomach tightened. Without thinking, I rushed toward the door, my mind racing.

Martha appeared at the stairs, her face still full of concern. "Do you need anything? What's going on?"

"She's at our parent's house," I said, my voice tight with anxiety. "I need to go."

Martha nodded quickly, her hand already reaching for her keys. "Okay, take my car. Let me know if you two need anything."

I didn't waste any time. I grabbed the keys from her, muttering a quick thanks as I ran out the door.

The drive to my parents took forever, my thoughts racing the entire way. When I finally pulled up, I barely stopped the car before running to the door. My father was waiting for me, his face grim, and as soon as I saw him, the questions exploded out of me.

"Where's Hazel? What's going on?"

He motioned for me to calm down, but I was too wired up, too desperate for answers. 

"She just left, son. We talked about the situation," he said, his voice measured. "Chace, I believe her when she said she didn't know about the deal her father made."

I blinked, barely processing his words. My eyebrows furrowed. 

He sighed, rubbing his forehead like this was weighing on him, too. "She offered to help us find him," my dad continued, looking at me carefully as if to gauge my reaction.