Chapter 2 - The Empty Bedroom
Three weeks earlier, Daisy had sat on the floor of her bedroom with a pink marker in her hand.
A handmade calendar was taped above her desk.
She had drawn palm trees around the date of the family vacation.
Lauren had promised there would be a pool.
Ethan had told Toby they would visit a theme park.
Daisy had saved eight dollars in a glass jar because she wanted to buy Grant a souvenir.
The night before the trip, Lauren entered Daisy’s room carrying a stack of folded clothes.
“You have a school project due Monday,” she said.
Daisy looked confused.
“Mrs. Parker said it isn’t due for two weeks.”
Lauren’s smile did not change.
“Your father and I decided you need structure.”
Daisy glanced at the suitcase beneath her bed.
“Are we still leaving tomorrow?”
Lauren placed the clothes in the dresser.
“We’ll talk about it in the morning.”
Daisy waited.
Morning came quietly.
No one woke her.
At first, she thought she had overslept.
Then she saw that Toby’s bedroom door was open.
His favorite blanket was gone.
The downstairs lights were off.
The garage was empty.
On the kitchen counter sat a bowl of cereal, one carton of milk, and a folded note.
Be good.
Mrs. Hall will check on you.
We will call tonight.
Daisy read it three times.
She did not cry immediately.
She checked the front window.
Then the garage.
Then every bedroom.
Only when she found the family photograph missing from the hallway table did she understand they had not forgotten the trip.
They had taken it with them.
Daisy called Lauren first.
No answer.
Then Ethan.
No answer.
She sent a message.
Did I do something bad?
The message showed as delivered.
No reply came.
By sunset, the milk was warm.
The cereal bowl remained untouched.
May you like
And Mrs. Hall had not appeared.
👉 Daisy had been told a neighbor was watching her—but the neighbor did not even know the family had left town.
