I Have To Protect Them - Cleofis Drisen

Chapter Three: Where Are They? Part 1

Everyone started chattering and I quickly put my book back into my backpack. We all got off the bus to see the empty Green. Suddenly the buses took off from the curb, and Greg pulled out his phone. He pulled the phone away from his ear with a questionable look and he dialed again. A couple of students around us were doing the same thing. "Hi mom, Cleo and I were dropped back off at the Green. Rock slides blocked the road so the buses brought us back. You're probably sleeping so we'll walk home. See you soon" he hung up and sighed. "She's not answering. She must be asleep" he said as he glanced around and I shrugged thing he must be right. I looked around again as a gust of wind made me shiver. Greg noticed and wrapped an arm around me. "Come on, let's get you home" he said as I nodded again and he led me over to the pile of bags by the curb. He picked up our carry-on's and pulled the handles up. I noticed some people starting to walk off, and I assumed they were all going home. Greg and I walked home in silence because I think we knew something weird was going on and we both just really wanted to get home to be with my aunt. As we walked I noticed how quiet it was and how all of the houses were dark except for the porch lights. The town was really eerie and it creeped me out. As we approached the house we noticed it was completely dark like the others we'd just passed. 

Greg fumbled for his keys and opened the door. We dropped out bags off at the door and I turned on the lights to the entry way and the stairs. He ran up the stairs yelling for his mom and I went around the main level of the house, turning on the lights as I went. We met back at the bottom of the stairs and Greg had a worried expression. "She's not upstairs. Is she down here?" he asked as he tried to hide the panic in his voice. "No," I whispered and felt my own panic rising. "Hey, you're okay. I'm here and I'm sure there is a reasonable explanation" Greg said as he put his hand on my shoulder. I nodded, and I really hoped he was right. I walked to the kitchen and filled a glass with water. Greg followed behind me, and just before we sat down our phones began to ping with text notifications. I pulled out my phone from my pocket and noticed that there was a group text that had everyone texting each other. I scrolled through the messages, and it appeared that no one's parents were home. Then a text from Cassandra popped up saying "everyone meet at the Green in 20 minutes." I could hear her bossy tone in my head as I read the text. I looked at Greg and he was blankly staring at his phone. I out my glass of water down on the counter as I spoke "let's go and find out what's going on." I walked to the front door to get my backpack. I took out my book and extra medication and left them on the table next to the door. 

Greg opened the door and we started walking to the Green. As we walked, I started thing out loud. "Where did they all go? Did they abandon us?" I whispered, and I thought he couldn't hear me. He stopped in his tracks and his hand grabbed my forearm. He turned me to face him and placed his other hand on my cheek. "I don't know where they are, but I promise you that everything is going to be alright. I'm going to be with you the whole time until we are back with my mom." His voice was soothing and I knew that he had only my best interests at heart. He was trying to abate my panic because we both knew that if I panic, or have a panic attack...I'll have a breathing attack. I can usually control my breathing, but with a breathing attack there is no control and it can be deadly. I shook those thoughts from my head as we started walking again and Greg came up beside me. He wrapped his arm around me and we walked the rest of the way to the Green in silence.