One Year Ago

"Cara! Dinner's ready!"

The voice of my mum echoes through the walls,and I finish the last touches on my sketch I've been working on for the past two days before I place all the pencils I used in their according place.

"Coming!" I yell back so she knows I heard her, moving my hair out of my face and behind my ears like I always do. I slide back my red desk chair so I can fully stand, before I push it back.

I look at my dog, Bailey, who is sitting in her usual spot by the desk, her head snapping to my direction when I got up from my seat, accidentally waking her up.

"Come on Bailey. Let's go."I pet her head as an apology for waking her up, her identical blue eyes staring into mine.

I smile as she shoots up from her spot, her tail wiggling around like crazy while it hits the desk. I release a calm breath as my long fingers wrap around the dorknob, pushing it down to hear the click of the door opening. I let Bailey run out first, her soft paws carrying her down the steps and I follow.

As I walk down the stairs, I can hear the usual bickering of my brothers about who's winning the playstation game they bought yesterday, while my parents are putting the last plate on the table. Well, my mum to be exact.

My dad just sits on the chair at the end of the table, the big paper opened in front of his face that always writes about all things regarding conspiracy theories, aliens, anything stupid to be honest.

"I'm telling you they are planning something! It says it! Right here!" My dad takes off his glasses and leaves them on the table next to his plate as he shows my mother something on the newspaper while she rolls her eyes,not giving him any attention.

"Give it a rest dad." I chuckle at the sight of my dad cooking up another conspiracy theory in his head like he always does. "That newspaper is getting to your head again."

"Look at this Car." He extends the paper my way, a look of desparation in his eyes I find funny from how much he wants me to believe what he thinks is so important. I look at the paper for a second then at my mum before shifting my gaze back to what my dad wants to show me so badly,hesitating whether or not to take it.

I sigh and take the paper, my eyes roaming around page.

AREA 51 COOKING UP ANOTHER FREAK EXPERIMENT?!

I read the tittle, and I suppress the urge to laugh at my dad's foolishness, resulting in pressing my lips into a thin line. He has always been a fanatic of conspirasy theories, of mysteries and such. He was also one to be easily convinced by those things.

"Yeah Dad. Next thing we know, a man with wings and a tail comes banging on our door asking us to join the Illuminati." I leave the paper down with a flop nearly nocking down a glass, earning a glare from my mother. I hear my brothers laughing at my comments as my dad looks at me with a confused look on his face.

"The illuminati has nothing to do with Area 51."

"And neither do we. See my point?" I whisper and now my mom is the one that chuckles.

"Boys! Come on!" My mom yells at my twin brothers, and not long after, they walk through the kitchen's door before we all sit down on the table to eat our food.

I stare at my chicken with rice and vegetables and devide them into their usual sections, careful not to let any of the different food touch each other.

You see, when I eat, I have a plan. First, I'll eat the vegetables that I don't like that much to get them out of the way. Then, I'll eat the chicken with rice that I like, so that will be the last thing I eat.

While I'm busy doing that, my dad keeps going on and on about what he was talking about before, not giving our comments any attention.

"Say what you want to say but I know it's true. Something is going on that they aren't telling us. Yesterday, soldiers came by the hospital asking for the files of all the kids that were born in this millenia. Or-Or what about the weather huh? It's spiraling out of control."

"Yeah because we are taking such crappy care of the environment! Come on Dad tell me you don't think that they can control the weather?" I throw my hands in the air and chuckle as I talk, not believing what my father is trying to tell me. I mean he can't be serious.

My brother Jack chuckles, the lines next to his eyes on show when he smiles and fist bumps me while the rest of our dinner goes away in rather silence.

I look at Bailey below the table, nudging at my feet with her nose and adorable eyes. I know what she wants and even if everytime I tell myself I won't fall for her puppy eyes, I always give in. I secretly throw her a piece of my chicken, praying that no one noticed.But her loud chews earns me a grin from my twins and a suspicious look from my parents. I just throw them a big smile, hoping they wouldn't ask any questions.

I open up my mouth to quickly change the subject when a loud thunder echoes around the house making me jump. I push my chair back and get up running outside,followed by my family.

The loud thunders keep reaching our ears over and over again, the rain hitting my face as I turn to look up at the sky with squinting eyes, my hair sticking on my already wet shirt.

"How the hell is it raining? It's summer! And we're in Cali!" The older brother of the three, Connor, shouts to be heard over the deafening thunders and heavy rain.

A knot getd created in the bottom of my throat as I turn to look at my Dad who is standing behind me. He simply looks up at the sky and then back at me,but I quickly look away for some reason I don't know.

"Come on. Let's get inside before we all get sick." My mom rushes us inside quickly, ordering everyone to get our of the wet clothes and take a warm shower. I do as I'm told and when I'm done, I say goodnight to everyone before heading up to my room.

I'm ready to bury myself underneath the covers, when the tiny sound of the bell decorating Bailey's colar makes me turn around. She runs in the room, soaking wet. The droplets run down her wet fur and on my carpet, making me jump out of bed.

"Oh come on! Bailey!"

I sigh and get some towels, draining her coat before I blow dry her with great effort as she absolutely despises hot wind.

"All dried up and ready for bed." I smile to my self for my work and ruffle her hair as she tries to hide beneath my arms, scared of the loud thunders.

I change into some pyjamas and tug myself underneath my covers, trying my best to fall asleep but Bailey's cries and the thunders are keeping me wide awake.

"Oh come here baby." I pout at even when scared she looks adorable, and open my arms for Bailey to come.

She immediately runs and jumps on my bed as she tries to get as close to me as she can, her cries breaking my heart.

I sigh and pet her furr all night, until she finally falls asleep. I find my eyelids heavier than usual, like someone has pressed my sleep button and I am resisting it until I am sure my dog is asleep. Then, I give in to the urge and close my eyes until the morning comes.

__

Bailey's barks jerk me awake, my heart racing from the scare I just had. I clench the sheets underneath me as I take deep and quick breaths, before I let go of the sheets and place a heart above my heart.

"Bailey! Stop barking!" I shout, her barks still pounding on my skull like she's banging on the door of a deaf grandma. Instead of obeying what I told her, she just runs in my room biting the covers, resulting in them sliding off of me and down to the floor.

"H-Hey!" I protest and try to get them back on but she just keeps on barking at me, then dissapearing out of my room.

I sigh and get off the bed, picking up the covers and throwing them messily on the bed I leave unmade to see what Bailey has been barking so long about. I put my clothes on, my eyes skimming over the chaos I call bed, searching for my phone when my eyes land on the clock on the nightstand instead.

1:20 PM

"How long have I been asleep?" I gasp at my clock before I rush out of my room, relieved that my mother hasn't noticed for some reason I slept in, or else we would get into our usual argument. Although I seem to be asleep for way too long even for my standarts and there was no way she wouldn't notice. The house is filled with an unusual quiet, filling me with unease.

My house is never this quiet.

As I walk down the stairs, I can see the front door wide open,with only the sound of birds chirping accompanying me down the steps. Usually the chance to listen to the happy birds over my sibling's loud roars and yells over their game would be a blessing, but somehow this doesn't feel as a blessing at all.

"Mom? Dad?" I call out to my parents walking in the living room but I still can't find any of them.

My eyes immediately fall on the empty couch where my brothers would usually be seated on a Saturday morning. They would just wave two fingers at me like they are in the military, both at the same time, without even turning to look at me. Then their hands and minds would return to the controllers.

Bailey is walking beside me, her ears fallen down in alarm. I notice and bend my knees a little as I walk slower, to match Bailey's pace.

"It's okay girl. It's all okay." I pet her head slightly, but I don't even think my words have convinced myself.

"Jack? Connor? Anybody home?" I ask although my question is only cared for by the birds.

I sigh again and start walking out the door and outside of the house. The sun is so bright and hot, making me frown at how much the weather had changed since last night. Yesterday it was like the whole sky was having a mental breakdown but now? Now it's all back to being fine and dandy.

I decide to leave the weather matter to a later thought, finding my parents and siblings being more important. Maybe the neighbours know where they went. Maybe something came up and they didn't want to wake me up. Yeah maybe they went somewhere..

..On foot.

Next to the pavement, our blue Jeep is sitting like it usually does, untouched and unmoved from when we left it yesterday. The droplets from the rain are catching the sunlight in a variety of different colours in them as they run down, dropping on the ground with a tiny sound. Pools of water have been created underneath its tires, and a few here and there on the road, the ones that didn't get the chance to dry yet from the blazing sun.

My Nike shoes echoe around the quiet neighbourhood as I jogg across the street, nocking on the door of the young teacher living here.

"Ms.Griffin? It's me! Cara!" I knock louder in case she didn't hear me the first time but she still doesn't open the door. "Ms.Griffin! Hello?!" I nock as hard as I can, my nuckles turning red from my constant tries.

I groan in irritation and bang the door before I walk to the next house where Ms.Jenkins lives. I adore that little old lady. Every morning she sits on the steps of her house, waving at me before I go to school.

"Ms.Jenkins? Are you home?" Why am I even asking? Of course she has to be home. Were would someone like her go.

I nock once, bringing my fist to do it again. To my surprise, the door opens with a screach like this is some type of horror movie, making my hair stand on edge.

Bailey growls by my side but I quickly shush her, as my breath refuses to leave my throat in case someone heard her. Something has to have happened. Ms.Jenkins would never leave her door open like this. She would either be outside with the door fully open, or she would be inside with the door locked. There is no in between.

I walk further in the house, the old decor and furntiture collecting dust. I am left dissapointed at what I see. The house is completely untouched, and I look around carefully. On the dining room table, mid-finished food is lying in the white plate, waiting to be eaten by someone.

And that someone happens to be Bailey.

"Hey-Bailey!" I scold her walking towards her. She is already on the chair chewing and by the time I get to her she has already licked the plate clean.

"Jesus you're like I haven't fed you in years.." I mumble to myself looking around the house. I place my hands on my hips and sigh in defeat.

"Where is everyone.."

I'm about to walk outside the house when something on the floor catches my eye, the sunling of the window reflecting on the metal and into my eyes. I wince and kneel down to move the door matt just an inch to reveal a broken golden pendand shaped like a heart. I reach for it with shaking hands, opening it carefully.

A picture of a young man dressed in military uniniform is so tiny I have to squint my eyes to even see him, seeming to he smiling. It's a face I've seen before once or twice, but that doesn't give me any comfort.

It's Ms.Jenkin's son, who died in the battlefield four years ago. I know Ms.Jenkins would never take it off.

Not willingly at least.

I push it deep down my pocket, before I jogg outside taking a good look around me. This time my mind is more open at what I have in front of me, seeing something I previously didn't.

Several doors are open in many houses, while others are shut. Everything is dangerously quiet and untouched, like the people living in this neighbourhood just vanished into thin air.

I run from house to house, but none of them seem to give me what I'm looking for. My anxiety has turned to desperation about my family and friends as I walk back to my house. I grab my phone and quickly dial my mother's number, but no answer.I try calling her over five times while pacing around the house, but she still doesn't answer. I groan and hang up, dialing my father's number, then Jack's, then Connor's. But still nothing.

I turn my blue eyes at Bailey who stares at me with confusion and a cry leaves her mouth, this morning's behaviour coming into mind.

"What did you see girl." I whisper but of course I don't expect her to answer me.

The only one that might have a clue about what the hell is happening, is a dog. Great.

I sit around for hours, waiting in case a miracle happens and everyone appears like nothing ever happened, but I know that that's not going to be reality any time soon.

I'm not gonna sit around and wait any longer. I shoot up from the couch determined, catching Bailey by surprise. I slide the drawer of the small black living room table and take the keys out. My feet carry me over to the car, sinking the key deep in the keyhole. Then, I circle around to the passenger's seat, opening it for Bailey to jump in.

"Come on Bailey. Get in." I say and pat the door twice and she jumps in. Before I close the door I take a good look at her and she sticks her tongue out, like she waits for me to be ready to close the door.

I climb behind the wheel, bringing the engine to life as I drive through the empty streets. I drive around town for over three hours, driving through the streets over and over again, my eyes scanning for someone, anyone.

While Bailey just enjoys the wind as she sticks her head out the window, I can't take my mind off the burning question that suffocates me. Where the hell did everybody go? They can't just have decided to get up one night and dissapear from the face of the Earth. And I know that my parents or my brothers wouldn't leave without me and dissapear. So what happened?

I look everywhere, drive wherever they might be, but I come out with nothing. They're gone. And I don'r mean just my family. I mean everyone. There is not a single person in this town. I bet my life there isn't anyone in the next town, and the town after that one either.

I park outside my house with sigh and rest my head on the steering wheel, a shaking breath leaving my mouth. Bailey moves closer to me and places her head on my lap with a whimper and I pet her furr, defeated.

"What the hell happened Bailey?"

I know this question is more to myself. But I don't have the answer and it's killing me. So I'm pretending to ask the dog. I frown and pick up my cellphone, pressing the little button on top, the screen lighting up. No new messages. Great.

"You know what? We'll go look for everyone." I say, fed up with this bullshit. I look at Bailey and jump out of the car, holding the door open for her to follow.

"I'm not gonna sit around and wait."

The door to my house is still open like I left it, and my heart sinks a little. I knew there was no way they were back, but it still stings to know I'm right.

I walk into my room, and grab my backpack which is resting next to my bed, where I always leave it. I throw in my journal, some pencils and some other essentials from my room like extra clothes and an extra pair of shoes.

I jog down the stairs and into the kitchen, and shove some long lasting food and sweets in. I don't know for how long I'm gonna be out there. Which reminds me; dog treats and food. There's no way in hell I'm leaving Bailey behind.

Once I'm inside the car, I take a few items out of my backpack and throw them on the back seats of the Jeep to make my backpack lighter and easy to carry.

I shove the key in the keyhole, and swallow hard as I hear the engine roar when I realise I have no idea where I should look first.

I can't just drive around aimelessly and hope for the best. I have to have a plan, research points. That's what everyone would do right?

I look at Bailey who has gotten into a ball at the passenger's seat, patiently waiting for me to figure out this mess.

"Okay." I mumble to myself, gathering my hair into a messy ponytail. I reach out and open the small glove box in front of the passenger's seat, taking out all of its contents.

I roam through the papers of all kinds, from empty white pieces of paper to assurance papers until I finally find a map my dad always has stored and open it wide in front of me.

I take a deep breath and examine it, pretending I understand what I am suppose to do. My finger hovers above the map without a destination until I see the name of the familiar sunny town.

I'll go search for my uncle there. He's a scientist that works alongside a huge and highly important goverment organisation for environmental studies and more. If he's still there, he has to know what's going on.

I take a deep breath and release it slowly, licking my lips as I fold the map and throw it underneath my feet.

"Los Angeles it is."