RESIDENTS

The doorbell's melodic chime hung in the air like a mournful sigh, a stark contrast to the turmoil that churned within Ron Ramon.

Mrs. Avalon's gracious smile welcomed him, but his face betrayed the depths of his despair, a map of worry and fear etched across his charming features.

The bouquet of red roses in his hand seemed a futile attempt to mask the darkness that had taken up residence in his heart.

"Good day, young one," Mrs. Avalon's voice was a gentle zephyr, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she smiled.

"Is... uh... is Annie home?" Ron's words tumbled out in a rush, laced with desperation.

"Annie?

Oh, Annabelle! Mrs. Avalon's laughter was like music, her eyes sparkling with mirth, identically to her daughter's.

"You kids and your shortened names.

Are you her boyfriend? You must be the one she talked about the other day.

You're definitely her speck.

"My daughter's been in college for weeks.

I haven't set my eyes on her for.. God knows how long," Mrs Avalon retorted, her words, a gentle probing.

But Ron's mind was elsewhere, his thoughts consumed by the abyss of uncertainty opening up before him.

"You haven't seen the news, have you?" his words, a hesitant probe, his voice barely above a whisper.

Mrs. Avalon's expression faltered, her brow furrowing in concern.

"News?

I've been busy in the kitchen all day.

My husband's expecting clients, and I haven't had a chance to catch up on the world outside these walls."

Ron struggled to find the words to convey the horror that had befallen Abby, yet, Mrs. Avalon's smile never wavered, though her eyes began to cloud with worry.

"Speaking of kitchens, I've prepared a sumptuous delicacy; jellof rice and barbecue chicken.

Would you like to come in?" Her words were a warm invitation, but Ron's heart was heavy with foreboding.

...

And then, in a voice that was barely audible, Ron narrated the tragedy that would shatter the world of the Avalons.

"And... I couldn't find her."

The cutlery clinked, the fruit juices trickled, but all sound seemed to fade into the background as the faces of Mr. and Mrs. Avalon crumpled, their palms clasped over their lips, bursting into tears.

"It can't be," Annabelle's father, Jodrell Avalon croaked, his voice cracking with emotion.

He was a slender engineer with auburn hair, drawing roots from Australia.

"But I.. spoke with her only.. yesterday. I'd congratulated her on a successful graduation, Mate.

How...?"

Ron's eyes stung as he struggled to hold back tears, his appetite lost, his food barely touched.

"She's out there! I'm sure of it.

If somehow, I managed to survive, then she's alive, restrained in a hospital somewhere, faraway.

I've searched through every medical facility on the block, yet, found no leads.

But I'm optimistic," Ron insisted, his faith wavering.

After a lengthy conversation with the Avalons, he departed the residence, the weight of their grief hanging heavy on his shoulders.

He slid into his intricately upgraded automobile, a surreal oasis amidst the chaos that had upended his world.

The absurdity of finding his car unscathed in the ruins of the nightclub wasn't lost on him, but it was a small consolation.

Ron let out a piercing scream of frustration, his fist smacking the steering wheel, the soundproof windows a merciful barrier between his anguish and the outside world.

The pedestrians nearby winced at the cacophony of honking horns, but Ron didn't care.

He panted, struggling to compose himself, his mind reeling with the possibilities.

And then, a soft knock on the window, a gentle touch that seemed to soothe the savage beast within him.

"I thought I'd find you here," Cassie's voice was a balm to his soul, a gentle reminder that he wasn't alone in his despair.

"Oh my God, Cassie," Ron's voice cracked as the frizzy-haired tomboy slid into the passenger seat beside him.

"I'm just glad you're okay," she whispered, arms wrapped around him in a warm hug. "Had me worried sick."

"I can't find Annie," Ron's words were a despairing whisper, the tears streaming down his face like autumn rain.

"We'll find her, dear," Cassie's voice was a gentle promise. "We'll find her."

Ron drove away from the curb, the city streets seeming to stretch out before him like an endless maze, but with Cassie by his side, he felt a glimmer of hope, rekindling in his heart like a dim ember.

Together, they would navigate the twists and turns, driven by their determination to find their friend and unravel the mystery that had consumed their lives.