No One Came Chapter 04
Some people said three days.
Some said a week.
Others said it depended on when the neighbors smelled something and called the police.
At the time, I’d thought that would never happen to me.
I had parents. I had a younger brother.
No matter what, they would find me.
Now I knew better.
They wouldn’t find me.
They’d just think I was sulking, throwing a tantrum, faking it.
Even when I was dead, they wouldn’t believe it at first.
The next morning, Mom got up to make breakfast.
The sizzle of bacon in a hot pan drifted from the kitchen.
The smell filled the hall.
It used to be my favorite smell.
“Adriana, get up. The school bus is almost here.”
Mom called from the kitchen.
No answer.
“Adriana!”
Still no answer.
“For heaven’s sake. It’s something new every day.”
Mom came out of the kitchen carrying a plate of eggs and bacon. She glanced down the hall but didn’t come over.
“Nico, go wake your sister.”
Nico wandered out of his room. “Why?” he said, completely indifferent. “She’ll get up on her own.”
“Go call her.”
“I’m not going.”
He didn’t even glance toward my room.
Mom stood by the dining table, looked at my empty chair, and picked up her phone to send me a text.
“Are you getting up or not? If you’re late, that’s on you.”
The message showed as delivered, but not read.