Chapter 4 No One Home

"Do you think Theodora is eating well? She's alone, so maybe we should get her delivery?"

"Forget about her." Clement tossed the lobster's shell onto the table. "Dad left her money. She will eat if she wants to. Besides, she was so nasty to us before we left. It's all because we spoiled her too much."

My mother opened up WhatsApp. "I'll need to ask her if she's dealt with the basement's water. Don't want the stuff to be soaked. She opened up the group chat, and her finger froze. "Wait, she left the group."

Dad raised his head from his beer. "Left the group? What's she up to this time?"

Clement snickered and took his phone out. "She's probably upset we posted the VIP room photo. Ignore her. Give her the cold shoulder for a bit, and she'll fall in line. She still cooks and waits for us every time she's mad anyway."

"True." My mother put her phone down and kept filling Claire's plate with food. "She's getting pettier. It's just a trip to Syldan. I can't believe she'd leave the group chat because of this. I'll need to have a long talk with her when we get home."

The fireworks rose into the sky above the beach. Claire cheered and ran toward the balcony, happily taking photos.

My father happily took a sip of his cold beer. He had no idea that, far away at the northwestern base, my personal profile was locked in a steel case protected by a passcode.

My file had a red stamp on it that read "Top Secret".

"Serial number: Project X904 Core Research Member."

"Status: Total Enclosure."

"Duration: Four Years."

Syldan was met with a downpour on the fourth night. Claire was bored in the hotel, so she dragged Clement to the duty-free shop for her bag. When it was time to pay, he opened up WhatsApp and was about to ask me for 2,000.

After he texted me, he froze. "Theodora blocked me, Mom!"

My mother was in the middle of her skincare routine, but she sat up. "Really? Call her."

Clement did, but all he got was a disembodied voice that answered, "The number you have dialed isn't in service."

"Isn't in service?" Clement looked at the screen. "Impossible! She's been using this number for five years, and it's linked to our utility bill!"

My father called me as well, but he got the same answer. Claire was holding the bag she'd chosen and looked at Clement with unease swirling in her eyes. "Did something happen to Theodora?"

"As if. She's an adult in her own home!" The frustrated Clement tossed his phone on the couch. "She just changed her number, and she's trying to make us go home early so she can get our attention! Well, dream on!"

"Ignore her." My father handed his card to the cashier. "She can throw her tantrum all she wants. We'll change the lock and have her stay out overnight once we go home next week. That'll set her straight."

They filled their suitcases with things they bought and spent three extra days in Syldan. It was the seventh day's afternoon that they took the morning flight back.

After they landed, Clement started barking orders in the group chat like usual. It took him a few minutes before he remembered that I had left the group chat.

"Dammit, I have to get our ride myself." Clement dragged the heaviest boxes, cursing, "When we get home, I'll kick her black and blue if she doesn't have a feast waiting for us!"

The cab stopped under the apartment complex, and the family of four walked into the elevator carrying all their stuff.

They came to their house and unlocked the security door, but what answered them was silence. There was no aroma of food. Instead, there was the scent of dust that proved it'd been empty for a while.

Clement kicked the shoe cabinet. "Get out here and help us with our stuff, Theodora!"

He got no answer.

My mother changed into her slippers and came to the dining table, but it was empty, save for the keys and the money they'd left me.