Darkmist

Part 6

Y/N leaves early the next morning.

Because of this, Alvah is not waiting to greet her. She did not expect him to be – based on their previous conversation, Y/N holds little hope for a relationship between them. Alvah was nice to talk to, but there is not much more she can ask.

Unlike Yoongi – Y/N's teeth grit – who somehow manages to get under her skin every time.

Walking fast down the lane, her cloak brushes the ground. The moon has sunk below the horizon, which means the rising of dawn cannot be far off. Rubbing her arms, Y/N fights to keep herself warm.

At the next bend in the road, her feet falter beneath her.

Something is wrong.

The door to Owen's home is ajar, left standing open to his front yard. Slowly, Y/N resumes walking and glances side to side. No one else on this street is awake yet, so no one else has noticed the disturbance.

As Y/N draws near, she becomes certain in her assessment. The front gate is unlocked, as though forgotten, or disregarded. Gently, Y/N pushes this open.

"Hello?" she calls, peering into the mist.

No one answers and Y/N is just considering leaving when Owen emerges from around the house. His appearance is off – apron half-tied and hair all askew. He looks past Y/N for a moment, before zeroing in on her face.

"Y/N." Jerking to life, he rushes across the yard.

"Own?" Y/N frowns and pushes open the gate. "What's wrong?"

"I – Gwen," he pants, coming to a stop. "I can't find Gwen."

"What do you mean?" Y/N glances around, as though Gwen might pop up any moment. "That doesn't make sense."

"I know," says Owen, frantically wringing his hands. "I can't find her anywhere. She's not in her bed, nor the kitchen, nor the forge. I – I looked everywhere I can think of, Y/N."

"Alright." Y/N steps forward. "Alright, we'll find her. Perhaps she went out this morning? Did you need bread, or water?"

Owen simply looks at her, dazed. "No, no. Gwen never leaves before I start work."

Y/N does not know how to respond. The best-case scenario is Gwen did leave on her own – otherwise, the possibilities take a darker turn. "Let me help you look," she insists. "Maybe you missed her."

Slowly, Owen nods and follows meekly behind when Y/N enters the yard.

The two search the house from top to bottom, the yard from back to front, but find nothing. Owen is correct – Gwen is gone and what is worse; her bed remains unmade. It does not seem she slept here last night. This has Owen beside himself, not understanding how he misplaced her.

Y/N assures him this is not his fault – perhaps Gwen left to meet friends. It would not be kind of Gwen to do so, to make her father worry like this. Indeed, it would not be like Gwen at all, but at least in this scenario, she would be safe.

Returning to the front yard, Y/N glances up at the house. "There weren't signs of a break-in."

Owen nods slowly. "A good thing."

In a way. It means Gwen knew the intruder – it does not mean she is safe.

"We'll find her," Y/N exhales. "Maybe she went to the next village. Or, a friend's house? Is there any place she might have stayed the night?"

Owen's gaze sharpens. The implication in her question is clear – Gwen is young, beautiful and has many admirers. She might have run away on purpose.