“Now, we wait.”
As the professor began preparations for the exam, everyone gave nervous smiles to one another and waited for the instructions and exam to come through on their laptops.
Willa looked around the room, giving a nod to all of her classmates. She noticed that Morris wasn’t even looking in her direction. Instead, his head was down and he had such a look of anguish and fear on his face, she wondered what could be wrong.
Then she noticed something. Ara wasn’t in the room. She turned to speak to Samantha.
“Where is your sister?” she asked.
“I’m not sure. She said she was going to come in early but I haven’t seen her. I texted her but she didn’t answer.”
“Was she sick?” asked Willa. Samantha shook her head, biting her lower lip.
“Samantha, is your sister coming?” asked the professor.
“She was supposed to be here before me. I’m trying to reach her now,” she said.
“I can’t wait. I’ll allow her to come in a little late but no more than fifteen minutes.” Samantha nodded and looked at Willa.
Willa didn’t like that at all. She waited until the last possible second and when the professor closed the door, she quickly shot the guys a text.
Ara isn’t here. Samanta said she was supposed to come in early.
Finn stared at the message and then at his brothers.
“We can’t all leave,” said Finn.
“Stay where you are,”said AJ.“We’ve got Tanner and Mo in the area for something else. They’re going to check on her house.”
It was the longest two hours of their life. But when Willa walked out of the building, a look of relief on her face, they knew the exam had gone well. She waved at a few of her classmates but noticed that Morris moved quickly, as if to avoid everyone.
“How did it go?” asked Finn.
“Good. I think. I mean, I felt like I knew all the answers and my practical part of the test went well. I’ll know in a few hours. What about Ara?”
“You guys will need to get to their house. Maybe send someone with the sister.”
This was not going to be good news. Quinn jumped out, jogging toward Samantha.
“Hi, Samantha. Remember me? I’m Quinn, Finn’s brother.”
“I remember,” she said distractedly checking her phone. “Sorry. My sister didn’t show for her exam and I can’t reach her.”
“Samantha, Willa sent us a message that she wasn’t in class and we sent some people to check on your house. They’ve asked us to bring you home.”
“No,” she said staring at him. “No. What’s wrong? Where’s my sister?”
“I don’t know anything right now. Please. Let me drive you to your house.”
Samantha looked up and spotted Willa who nodded at her. A few minutes later she was in the passenger seat of her own car making their way to her home.
When they turned the corner of her street, she gasped seeing all the first responder vehicles. Police, fire, EMS, and even some city utility trucks.
“Wh-what’s happening?” asked Samantha.
“I don’t know, honey,” said Quinn.
They parked a few houses down and Samantha took off before they could get to her. By the time Willa was standing beside her, the scream tore her body to pieces.
