The vanishing

The first hint of morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room where Elara lay. She stirred, her eyes fluttering open to the soft rustle of leaves outside her window. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, she sat up in bed, her gaze scanning the familiar surroundings of her bedroom.

But something felt different.

Rubbing her eyes, Elara looked around, a sense of unease settling in her chest. It was then that she realized – her parents were nowhere to be seen. Panic began to rise within her as she called out for them, her voice echoing through the silent house.

"Mom? Dad?"

There was no answer, only the eerie stillness of the morning.

Heart pounding, Elara swung her legs over the side of the bed and hurried out into the hallway, her footsteps echoing off the walls. She found her brother, Alden, standing in the kitchen, a look of confusion etched upon his face.

"Where are Mom and Dad?" Elara asked, her voice trembling with apprehension.

Alden shook his head, his brow furrowed in concern. "I don't know. I woke up and they were gone."

Together, they searched every room of the house, calling out for their parents, but their voices fell upon empty air. It was as if they had vanished into thin air, leaving behind no trace of their presence.

Frustration and fear gnawed at Elara's insides as she struggled to make sense of what was happening. How could her parents simply disappear without a word?

Unable to sit still any longer, Elara made her way to the window, drawing back the curtains to peer outside. The sight that greeted her sent a shiver down her spine.

Standing at the edge of the forest that bordered their property was a man unlike any she had ever seen before. Tall and cloaked in shadows, he seemed to blend seamlessly with the trees around him. His eyes, however, burned with an otherworldly intensity as they locked onto hers.

Alden joined her at the window, his breath catching as he followed her gaze. "Who is he?"

Elara shook her head, unable to tear her eyes away from the mysterious figure outside. "I don't know, but something tells me he's the key to finding Mom and Dad."

As if sensing their scrutiny, the man lifted a hand in a silent gesture, beckoning them to follow. Without a second thought, Elara and Alden exchanged a determined glance before racing out the front door, ready to unravel the secrets that lay hidden within the depths of the forest.