Closer - A Connections Sequel [Ongoing]

Thirty one

Carter P.O.V.

I slid my key in the lock and opened the door, a smile lingering on my face as I couldn't wait to see Val and spend some quality time with her for dinner tonight.

The smile soon fell and morphed into a frown however, as I noticed the house was dark, empty and dead silent inside. That was extremely unusual. Valerie would usually be humming along to music as she bopped in the kitchen whipping up some food. I switched on the lights and noticed balloons hung up in the living room. Huh... what is she planning?

"Valerie?" I called loudly. Hearing no reply, my frown deepened as I ducked my head into the kitchen. She wasn't there either. I quickly ran upstairs, calling out for her again. I checked our bedroom and the bathrooms, and all the other extra rooms. She was no where to be found. That was incredibly odd. She couldn't have gone off somewhere? I saw her car parked in the garage.

I pulled out my phone as I tapped on her contact to call her. As I slowly walked down the stairs, my stomach dropped upon hearing the ringtone going off within the vicinity. I raced towards the living room and snatched her phone off the dining table, ending the call.

Where is she?

She wouldn't leave without her phone. My worry began to surge as I glanced around me. There was some bottles of paint and ribbon sitting on the table, alongside a few used paintbrushes.

Maybe she's outside? I burst with a little hope as I strode quickly towards our back door. That's when I noticed that it was slightly ajar. She must have gone out here. But alas, that hope quickly dissipated as I noticed our small yard was completely empty, bar a banner that was crumpled on the ground and a few pots that had been tipped over. The banner read "we're moving!" On it. My mind swirled with a million thoughts at once. We got the house? She was planning a surprise for me? But where the hell is she? It's like she just up and disappeared, leaving everything behind as it was.

I began panicking now. I backtracked my steps from the front door- nothing seemed to be wrong with it, it wasn't broken or anything when I walked in. I went back to the kitchen and that's when I noticed that she'd left some food out but hadn't started cooking. This is wrong. This doesn't feel right. Running an anxious hand through my hair, I grabbed my phone to give Ellana a quick call, and sent a text to our friends group chat, plus another one to Will and Olivia, enquiring if they knew her whereabouts. Someone could have picked her up for an emergency and she'd forgotten to take her phone and clean up.

I cursed under my breath as Ellana didn't pick up until the second time I called.

"Ellana! Hey!" I said rushedly once she answered and the dial tone stopped.

She chuckled. "Hey Carter, you alright?"

"No, no!" I said nervously. "Is Val with you? She's not here, and she left her phone behind."

"No..." Ellana said slowly. "She's not with me."

"What?" I gulped. "Wh- How- oh my god. Where could she be?!"

"Hey..." Ellana called softly. "Calm down. Did she not mention anything to you? Do you remember? Did you guys have a fight or...?"

My phone pinged and I quickly scanned through the influx of text messages from all her closest friends and family. They weren't with her.

"No! Nothing. We're fine! We're supposed to be having dinner together right now." I said, panic bubbling up in my stomach.

"Oh," Ellana said. "God, um I have no idea Carter."

"Fuck. I'm so worried Ell." I gripped my hair tightly, pacing back and forth. "I don't feel good about this... her phone's here, her car's here, she was in the middle of doing things... but there didn't look like there was a break in or anything at any of the doors. It's just like... like she was plucked right out of our house."