Chapter 38

Samantha’s POV

“They’re gone. I don’t know how—” Annie’s voice cracked, but I was not listening anymore.

The words echoed in my head, pounding like a drum. Gone. My legs felt numb, but I pushed past her into the house. My eyes darted around frantically, looking for any sign of Devon or Diana. Their laughter, their little shoes in the hallway, anything. But there was none.

“Where are they?” I shouted, spinning to face Annie. She flinched, her hands wringing together as she tried to speak.

“I… I don’t know, Samantha. I was… I left for just a second. I swear. They were here. I don’t—”

Dominic spoke, cutting through her panicked rambling. “Where were you when they disappeared?”

I knew he was angry, I could hear it in his voice, but it was buried under his calm face. I could not say the same for myself. My chest heaved as I fought to keep breathing through the panic and anger.

“The backyard,” Annie stammered. “They were playing. I came inside to grab their snacks, and when I went back out—