They Took Everything by Vote, So I Disappeared Chapter 04

They Took Everything by Vote, So I Disappeared Chapter 04

At four in the morning, I opened my eyes before the alarm even went off.

By the moonlight filtering through the window, I slung my black duffel bag over my shoulder.

Then I quietly opened my bedroom door.

The living room was pitch-dark.

Only the green light on the router blinked faintly.

I kept my footsteps light as I made my way to the entryway.

I slipped on my sneakers, faded almost white from repeated washing.

With my hand on the doorknob, I looked back at the house where I’d spent the last eighteen years.

Bryce’s takeout box from his late-night snack was still sitting on the coffee table.

Kelsey’s new dress was tossed over the couch.

Everything looked exactly the same as always.

I turned the knob.

Opened the door.

Then closed it behind me.

The streets were nearly deserted before dawn, with only the occasional cab passing by.

I walked to the bus stop at the end of the block and caught the first bus to the train station.

The bus was nearly empty.

I leaned against the window and watched the streetlights slide past one by one.

My phone buzzed.

It was a message Mom had sent to the family group chat at eleven the night before.

“I’m going to visit some relatives on Grandma’s side tomorrow morning.”

“Erin, get up early and make breakfast.”

I didn’t reply.

I simply powered off my phone and shoved it into the deepest part of my bag.

A group of young people carrying bags just like mine had already gathered in the waiting area at the train station.

The program coordinator, Mr. Weaver, was checking names off a list.

“Erin?”

“Here.”

“Go ahead and board.”

“It’s a long trip. Get some rest.”

I nodded, had my ticket checked, and got on the train.

The train slowly pulled away with a low rumble.

The city outside the window gradually blurred into the distance.

I closed my eyes and soon fell into a deep sleep.

…

At eight that morning, back at the house.

Mom came out of the master bedroom yawning and looked at the empty dining table.

“Erin?”

“Erin!”

She called twice.

No answer.

She walked to my bedroom and shoved the door open.

“God, Erin! Do you know what time it is? Why haven’t you made breakf-”

Her voice stopped cold.

The room was empty.

My college acceptance letter sat alone in the middle of the desk.

My house key rested on top of it.

Mom froze.

“Harold!”

“Harold, get in here!”

Dad came over with a jacket thrown around his shoulders, frowning.

“It’s only eight.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Why are you yelling?”

“Look!”

Mom pointed at the key on the desk.

Dad walked over and picked up the key and my college acceptance letter.

“What the hell is she doing?”

“She just left her college acceptance letter here?”

Bryce came out of his room, rubbing his messy hair.

“Where’s breakfast?”

“I’m starving.”

“Your sister’s gone,” Dad said grimly.

Bryce barely reacted.

“She’s probably at the diner.”

“Didn’t she say today’s her first day?”

“Then why’d she leave her key?” Mom asked, still uneasy.

“Maybe she forgot it.”

“You know how she is.”

“She’s always forgetting things.”

Bryce yawned and headed for the refrigerator.

Dad tossed the key back onto the desk.

“Forget it.”

“She’ll come back when she gets hungry.”

“Where could she possibly go?”

That evening, Bryce rushed home.

“Dad, Mom, where are the proof-of-residency documents?”

“My business loan has to get approved today.”

“The bank says the home address on my application doesn’t match what they have on file.”

“They want the original documents so they can verify everything again.”

Mom wiped her hands on her apron.

“They’re in the folder in the master bedroom drawer.”

“Go get them yourself.”

Bryce hurried into the master bedroom and pulled out the dark red folder where the family kept all their important documents.

As he walked back out, he flipped through the documents one by one.

Dad’s.

Mom’s.

His own.

Kelsey’s.

Then he reached mine.

Bryce suddenly stopped in the middle of the living room.

His eyes locked onto an official address-change confirmation tucked among the documents.

“What is it?”

“Why are you just standing there?”

Dad frowned impatiently.

“Come on.”

“Go get the loan taken care of.”

Bryce looked up.

His face had gone slightly pale.

He handed the confirmation to Dad.

“Dad…”

“Look at this.”

Dad took it, confused.

His eyes fell on the information beneath my name.

Permanent Address:

Red Mesa Federal Research Facility.

A clearly printed effective date appeared underneath.

My permanent address had already been officially changed from the family home.