(Present time)...
I was alone, and it wasn't better.
"This doesn't make any sense. Where could everyone have gone?" I asked out loud as I paced around our empty garden, having found no answer within the house.
The sun had moved to the center of the sky. Therefore bringing some kind of warmth to the cold atmosphere.
But I just woke up yet it was already noon.
"I overslept!" I gasped at the realization.
Was that why they left me?
My eyes went wide in shock as my breathing quickened.
No, they couldn't just leave me. Where would they even go? Be reasonable Xena.
"That's it! They must have gone to the meeting arena! That explains why everywhere is so quiet!" I exclaimed.
But they always leave the children behind.
My already rising hope started to drown again.
"The children are probably all gathered somewhere, playing. Maybe the Aromes Park, that makes sense," I suggested to no one in particular, but myself.
I should go check all these places I mentioned, to be sure that they are really there. Or not.
"What if no one is there, what will I do then?" Fear started to increase within me.
Maybe I shouldn't check. Maybe I should just wait here.
The fear within me was making me a coward. I didn't want to face the fact that there was a possibility of not finding anyone at those places and I was too scared to face that.
How did my life become so hard?
I let out a long breath and stepped towards the gate.
"No amount of standing here and staring worriedly is going to help. I might as well face the truth now, whatever truth that is."
I finished my little speech and stepped out the little gate made along the white fences surrounding our house.
The moment I stepped out, I felt completely vulnerable. I felt like I had just exited my safe haven and exposed myself to the dangers that lurked in the outside world.
A cold chill crept down my spine just from the feeling of being unsafe.
Stop being paranoid Xena. It was all in my head.
I started the walk down the quiet street. Houses were lined on each side of the street. Each house was painted white and brown, just like ours. They all had gardens before them and fences around their houses.
I kept hoping I'd hear someone talk or see someone who was perhaps late for the meeting, but not one soul showed up.
I was all alone.
It was disturbing to know this fact of being alone yet there was nothing I could do about it.
I reached the ice cream truck that was always parked at the end of our street, before taking a turn into the next street. Of course, it was empty. Normally, children would surround Mr. Patrick until he'd exhausted all his ice cream. Little Gena would always pull my clothes and ask in her little sweet voice for ice cream. It always got to me and I'd always get it for her.
Sometimes, I'd have to dodge Gena so I wouldn't fall for her sweet little voice.
Today, I really hoped I'd see her. Just hearing her little voice would reassure me that everyone was still here and I wasn't abandoned. I lingered by the ice cream truck hoping that she would show up but she didn't.
Thud!
I jumped at the sudden sound of something falling. I turned in the direction of the sound and saw that someone's chair had fallen. It was from Mrs. Samantha's garden.
I shrugged it off and turned towards the truck again. I touched it and was about to leave when—
Thud!
I jumped, again. This time, it was a lamp post. It came from Mr. Olaf's house.
My breathing started to quicken and my heart began to pound faster than usual.
What's making things fall? The wind?
Suddenly, a shattering sound broke the silence. It was a bulb.
I started to whip my head hysterically around as my heart pounded even faster.
As if on cue, a harsh wind blew past me. It didn't come alone. It carried a song with it.
An eerie song only the wind could sing.
This caused more things to fall. It was like people's properties were being massacred by the harsh wind.
By then, my eyes were already watering with fear. My fingers trembled like crazy. My teeth clattered like I was freezing. They were goosebumps all over my skin. I didn't have the backbone to stay and watch. It wasn't like I could stop it. So I did the only thing I could do. I ran.
As I ran, more things fell. It was as if it was getting closer to me. Like it was chasing me.
Was I just being paranoid? Or I was really being chased by the wind?
My heartfelt like it was going to explode but the adrenaline kept me going. I seriously did not even know what I was running from or what I was so scared of but I kept running. The fear kept increasing and at a point, I thought I was going to collapse or go crazy from all the activities taking place; as well as the fear that was threatening to kill me.
The meeting arena finally came into view. I felt relieved and happy at the same time. Everyone was inside there. All I had to do was get in and I would be safe from all the strange things that had been happening to me all morning.
The moment I got a meter away from the meeting arena, the wind subsided and an eerie quietness suddenly crept in. It was as if it was mocking me.
The meeting arena was a vast hall, big enough to occupy all the fifty families of Aromes. There were seven large windows on both sides of the long walls. I had counted it one time I escorted my dad to a meeting. There was a large double door made of wood. It was the only way into the hall and I was now standing before it.
What if no one was inside? What would I do then?
A gulped down huge bile of saliva. I took in a shaky breath.
Be brave Xena, be brave.
I shut my eyes and mentally prepared myself to find out what waited for me behind those doors. With my eyes still shut, I pushed the doors open and stepped in.
Silence.
I waited. Maybe the speaker had stopped because of my presence. The speaker would continue once they registered that it was just me.
Nothing.
Not even a squeak from anyone. So I mustered up the courage I needed. I opened my eyes.
It was empty. There was no one.