The clock ticked relentlessly, each second a hammer blow against Andy's heart. The sofa creaked under her weight as she pressed the redial button for the hundredth time, her hand trembling. Her eyes darted to the clock, the ticking a relentless reminder of the passing time. It was already 11:55 PM. Anna should have been home an hour ago.
The living room was a symphony of silence, broken only by Tomas's restless footfalls as he paced the length of the room. Each step echoed, a silent plea for Anna's safe return. He had never seen her stay out this late without calling, and his gut twisted with an icy dread.
Earlier that night, Anna had called, her voice a mix of excitement and youthful defiance. "I'm going out with my friends, Mom and Dad. Don't worry, I'll be back soon." But she didn't mention where she was going, and she didn't mention the dangerous shortcut through the abandoned houses on the way home.
"Tomas, this is dangerous," Andy finally said, her voice tight with fear. "Anna has never been late this hour. I can feel it. Something has happened."
Tomas sighed, his forehead creased with worry. He remembered the unsettling call from Anna earlier that night. He remembered the unsettling call from Anna earlier that night. "I'm going out with my friends, Mom and Dad. Don't worry, I'll be back soon." But he didn't mention where she was going, and he didn't mention the dangerous shortcut through the abandoned houses on the way home.
"What could happen to our daughter, Andy? Maybe... did that man..." He trailed off, his gaze meeting hers, knowing she understood his unspoken fear. The man who had haunted their lives for years, the one who had threatened them after the disappearance of other children in the neighborhood.
"Tomas, we can't just sit here," Andy said, her voice breaking slightly. She reached out, placing a hand on his shoulder. He slumped into a chair, his fingers digging into his hair. "The police... they're our only hope."
"Andy, what are you talking about?" Tomas groaned, his voice laced with despair. "If the police could help, those missing kids would be home by now. I'm afraid that man... if he's back..." He couldn't finish the sentence. The image of the man, his face hidden behind a black mask, flashed in his mind. Andy's face paled.
"Are you saying our daughter's been kidnapped?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"What else could it be, Andy?" Tomas's voice was a harsh whisper. "She was walking that dangerous road... something terrible must have happened."
"No, my daughter!" Andy cried, tears welling in her eyes. "She can't be gone. Please, Tomas, just call the police. They have to help us."
Tomas stood, his shoulders slumped with despair. "They won't find her. They'll say we need to wait forty-eight hours. It's not even twenty-four yet."
Andy's sobs wracked her body. "Please, Tomas. Just bring Anna back. Please."
Tomas knelt beside her, pulling her into a tight embrace. "I promise I will bring our daughter back," he whispered, his voice heavy with a sorrow that mirrored the darkness that had fallen over their home. The clock ticked on, a mocking reminder of the time they were losing.
The silence returned, heavier than before, as they faced the stark reality of their daughter's disappearance. The man, the danger, the looming threat - it was all too real, and they were powerless to stop it.