Beware [COMPLETED]

5. Escape or Fade

The morning breeze brought specks of the smell of rain with it. The sun took comfort in the blanket of the clouds while the birds chirped their melodic songs.

After a restless night, Autumn got up from her bed and walked over to the window. Her mind flashed back to the moment she saw the message she hoped was a figment of her imagination. She slowly traced her forefinger where the message had been present the previous night and shuddered. 

What happened? She couldn't help but think.

It was early in the day when she walked down the stairs. Everyone was sound asleep in their rooms. There was not a single sign of life in the house and a deafening silence was draped over it.

Autumn entered the kitchen and made herself some coffee. After all, she needed it to stay awake for the rest of the day. Taking her coffee in one hand after some time, she took her place on one of the chairs, her mind going to all the possibilities of the recent events.

When she was on her last sip of coffee, she heard shuffling around the house. After a while, the door of the kitchen opened and Raymond made his presence known.

"Good morning," he greeted.

"Morning," Autumn replied distractedly.

Her best friend did not miss her tone. "What's wrong?"

Autumn shook her head. She did not want to worry her friends with something that could just be a dream. "Couldn't sleep last night," she settled on.

Raymond nodded, not believing her, but he did not ask any further questions.

A moment later, the engaged couple entered the kitchen as well. Adam had his arm wrapped around his fiancée while Kaylee still looked half asleep. With their presence, the preparation of breakfast started and they all awaited the last member of their group to wake up.

Half an hour passed and Talia still didn't show up.

Worried glances were passed around the room along with an exchange of words and Autumn stood up from the chair. There was only one thought in her mind, and she hoped she was wrong.

"I'd go check on her," she said. She was out of the room and on her way up the stairs before anyone could even say a word of agreement or protest.

She knocked on the door and waited, but there was no answer. Autumn knocked again, thinking that her sister might still be asleep. Still, there was no answer. Having no other choice, she turned the door knob and opened the door. 

There was no one inside. The room was devoid of the presence of her sister, or anyone else for that matter. The backpack was gone. The duffel bag was gone. Her sister was gone.

Without any second thought, Autumn went back to the lower level and walked to the front of the mansion. She opened the door and stood on the porch, looking ahead.

"Autie? Where's Talia?"

Hearing the question, Autumn turned back around and faced her friends. "She left."

"Wait, what? She actually left?" Raymond asked incredulously.

Autumn nodded.

Silence engulfed them as they all pondered over their mind.

Finally, Kaylee broke it, "Are you sure she's- "

Autumn cut her off with a nod, "Yeah. Her car's gone."

Kaylee's mouth turned down in a frown.

The group then moved to the living room, taking their worries and thoughts with them. Minutes that seemed like hours passed by and no one spoke anything. Not being able to wait any longer, Autumn took out her mobile phone and dialed up her sister's number. She then scowled as she remembered that there were no signals.