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remained silent on the matter. Though I never said it, I secretly liked the welcoming warmth of the lights when I came home. There had been enough darkness in our lives, I wasn’t about to tell Abby that she should keep the house dark too.
       Th e complete absence of them now was enough to make me want to cry.
       “Cade,” I breathed, choked by the lump in my throat.
       “They wouldn’t turn the lights on Bethany, not tonight.” I wanted to find solace in his words, but there was none. It was too dark, too quiet. I didn’t want to go in there, I had to. “Come.”
       He entwined his fingers with mine, pulling me slowly through the trees. We moved swiftly across the street , darting around to the back. For the first time I realized just how rundown my home had become. Paint was peeling off in flakes; the back porch sagged beneath the weight of years and weather. I was overwhelmed by sadness; a sense of helplessness filled me.
       I crept up the stairs , wincing when they squeaked beneath my weight. My heart hammered as I twisted the knob and pushed the door slowly open. I didn’t know what to expect, I was terrified of what I would find. The hinges creaked, the kitchen floor groaned slightly as I stepped inside. The familiar scent of my mom’s perfume, food, and scented candles washed over me. In the dim light I could make out the tidy kitchen counters. I could see the outline of pictures, report cards, and magnets that covered the fridge. Plants hung in the window over the sink, dishes were stacked neatly in the dish drain.
       It was my home , and for the first time it felt cold and lonely. Vacant.
       I m ade my way slowly through the kitchen. Though there was enough light to guide me, I moved mostly on instinct through the darkening rooms. Cade followed as I crept cautiously up the stairs. “Mom.” I was afraid to speak too loud in the foreboding silence. “Mom.”
       I heard the choked tears in my voice, the slight note of panic that was clearly audible. We reached the top of the steps, the house remained completely hushed. I swallowed heavily, forcing myself to speak louder. “Mom?”
       “Bethany.” I jumped slightly, startled by the response. I had truly believed that I was n ever going to receive one. Cade placed a hand in the small of my back, steadying me before I crashed into the banister. “Bethy?”
       “Abby ?”
       There was a soft shuffling noise and then my little sister appeared in the doorway of our mom’s bedroom. Relief filled me, a small cry escaped as my knees nearly gave out. And then I was moving, running, fighting back tears of joy as I grasped hold of her. At fifteen, she was only two years younger than me, but she seemed much younger. Maybe it was her far more petite, and delicate build, but I felt it had more to do with her innocent, youthful air. She was nowhere near as jaded as I was.
       Her small arms wrapped around me, clinging tight as she sobbed against my shirt. “Oh Bethy I was so scared! I didn’t know what to do, I couldn’t leave her,” she moaned.
       I closed my eyes, my heart breaking as Abby confirmed my horrifying fear that our mother had not been as lucky as us. I could barely breathe, but holding Abby gave me a sense of strength that I hadn’t felt until this moment. I had to be strong for her; I had to keep her safe. No matter what, I had to make sure that she survived. “Aiden?”
       Abby shook her head, her coffee colored hair fell about her shoulders in a tumbling mass of long curls. “I don’t know, he went to see Bret earlier but he hasn’t come back.”
       My hands tightened on her as I clung to her, taking solace in the fact that at least she was still moving, still ok. If Aiden was able to move he would come back here as soon as he could. Bret’s house was farther away than the antique store; it would take Aiden longer if he decided to wait for nightfall too. If he wasn’t still moving then I would