Zinnia spent the afternoon reading by the large window in her living room, the warm sunlight spilling over the pages of her book. It had been a calm day, a much-needed break from everything that had been going on with Samuel and the mysterious messages. She had almost forgotten about the world outside when her phone rang, the sudden sound pulling her from the peaceful quiet.
She glanced at the screen. It was her dad.
Her heart sank a little. Calls from her father were usually cheerful, but there was something about the way the phone rang this time that made her feel uneasy. She answered quickly, pressing the phone to her ear.
"Hi, Dad," she said, trying to keep her tone steady.
"Zinnia," her father's voice came through, not as bright as usual. "I need you to come home. Right away."
Her brow furrowed in concern. "Is everything okay?"