Chapter 2 The Night She Didn't Come Home

Steven and John continued drinking long after Alice had left. They talked, laughed, complained-completely unaware that the woman they had spent eighteen months "teaching" had walked out of their lives. Steven checked his watch. 4:18 p.m. "Where is she?" he muttered. John shrugged. "Hospital visit, wasn't it?" Steven dismissed the concern. Alice always returned. She had nowhere else to go. Hours passed. The house remained quiet. Dinner wasn't prepared. The kitchen was dark. "Call her," John said. Steven tried. Voicemail. Again. Voicemail. By nine, irritation replaced indifference. "She's being childish," John muttered. Steven didn't answer. Something felt off. They went out for dinner. Steven barely touched his food. He kept calling her. No response. When he returned at midnight, the house felt wrong. Too still. Too empty. Alice's room was dark. Her slippers were neatly placed. Her phone lay untouched. Her presence was missing. Steven opened the wardrobe. Her clothes were gone. Her bag was gone. She was gone. A strange discomfort crept into his chest-something he didn't want to name. The next morning, John arrived looking annoyed. "Any sign?" Steven shook his head. "Nothing." They searched the estate. Nothing. Steven drove to the hospital. "She left at 2:30," the doctor said coldly. "You should have accompanied her." He drove through town. Checked her cards. Called her again. Nothing. By noon, irritation had turned into unease. He returned home. Mr. Page greeted him. "She must be happy," the older man said. Steven stiffened. "Why?" "Her brother visited. She looked excited." Steven felt something twist painfully inside him. "She came home?" he asked. Mr. Page nodded. "Of course. I saw her myself." Steven's breath caught. "She looked happier than I've seen her in months." Happy. Not upset. Not crying. Happy. "She said she wanted to surprise both of you." Steven felt the world tilt. Surprise. The study. The conversation. A terrible realization settled over him. "Did you see her leave?" Steven asked. Mr. Page frowned. "Leave? No." Steven felt cold. If she came home... Where did she go? For the first time since she disappeared, fear-real fear-shot through him. Alice hadn't left by accident. She had left because of them.