It was early the next morning when Cassandra and I were woken up by a loud conversation. Somewhere deeper in the house, we could hear tense voices.
“What are they going on about?” Cassandra asked, rolling over sleepily.
“I already checked everywhere in the house!” Mrs. Hopely was saying. “And the pool and the backyard.”
“Did you call the Dearlings?” Mr. Hopely asked, voice rising. “Maybe she’s over there?”
The sound of his voice made me shudder, reliving what had happened the night before, but Cassandra didn’t notice. She was listening to her parents intently, trying to figure out who they were talking about. Her entire body was still.
“I already did,” Mrs. Hopely snapped. “She’s not there. They broke up last night.”
“Oh … Well, what about her other friends?”
“I already called them all. She’s not with them. Her car is still here, Gary. So is her phone. And her bed is still made. Why would she leave without her phone?”
“She snuck out last night.” That voice belonged to Victoria. “I saw her leave.”
“Excuse me?” Mr. Hopely’s voice was a roar. “And you let her?”
“We were fighting,” Victoria said. “I told her I wouldn’t cover for her. But I thought she’d come home.”
“What time was this?” Mr. Hopely roared again.
“I don’t know. Eleven? Midnight?”
“Where was she going?”
“I didn’t ask. Maybe to see Will?”
“I’m telling you, she didn’t make it home,” Mrs. Hopely insisted. “I don’t think she slept here!”
Gary went silent and then said, “Victoria, go wake up the girls.”
A second later, Cassandra’s door swung open and Victoria’s pale face appeared in the doorway.
“Get up,” she said quickly, clearly tense. “Alex is missing. Mom and Dad can’t find her anywhere.”
The next few minutes passed like seconds. Cassandra and I pulled on shoes and jackets and headed outside with the rest of the family, screaming Alex’s name. Mr. and Mrs. Hopely argued about what they should do next, and I tried very hard to avoid Mr. Hopely. I couldn’t focus on my own pain or shame, not right now. Not when Alexandria was missing. And while I knew it was like her to sneak out from time to time to see Will, she wasalwaysback in bed by morning. She knew how strict her father was. She would never risk getting caught. Something was definitely up.
Sam grabbed me roughly by the shoulder as Cassandra and I looked in the side yard. “Rosie, go home and get your parents. We’ll need help looking.” She said this just as Mrs. Hopely said, “I’m going to call the police.”
I didn’t wait. I saw Mr. Hopely’s eyes narrow at me, watching as I took off into the woods, running down the familiar path that led to my own backyard.
I stopped at the edge of our patio, bent over and trying to catch my breath. I had a stitch in my side from the run. Too many things were weighing on me: Alex was missing, and Mr. Hopely had assaulted me.
I knew which was more pressing. I pulled myself up and realized I had left my keys in my bag in Cassandra’s room, but when I yanked on our back door,it was unlocked. That seemed a little weird, but I had enough to worry about. The door made the usual chirping alarm noise as I opened it, filling the silent, darkened house.
I have been assaulted.I couldn’t shake the thought as I stumbled back into the safety of my own home.Mr. Hopely forced me over the sink and touched me.
I felt tainted. Only yesterday, everything had been fine, and now I felt broken, used, and discarded. But I couldn’t do anything about that right now.
Will was in the kitchen with my mother, both of them speaking quickly and loudly, panic written across their faces.
“Did they find her?” he asked me as I walked into the room. “Her parents called. They said they think she left the house last night and didn’t come home.”
I shook my head, unable to find the words.
“What the hell is going on?” my father asked as he came down the hallway. Tommy followed behind him. They both rubbed sleepily at their eyes.
