Edwards stood up abruptly, the weight of worry pressing on him as he marched toward Annabelle's room. The repeated knocks echoed in the hallway, met only by a haunting silence. Desperation led him to try the doorknob, but it resisted his push, firm and unyielding.
A sinking feeling settled in as he fumbled for his phone, dialing Annabelle's number with a mix of hope and trepidation. The persistent ringing, devoid of an answer, intensified his unease. The locked door held secrets, refusing to divulge whether Annabelle was inside, ignoring his attempts to reach her.
A realization struck him – the absence of her phone's ringtone from within the room. Anxiety turned into urgency as he descended the stairs, scanning the surroundings for her car. The parking garage offered no solace; Annabelle's vehicle was conspicuously absent.
