LARA
“Alpha… the children never arrived at school today.”
Teacher Lucy’s words hit me like a slap. I stood frozen at the school gate, car keys still dangling in my hand. The afternoon sun, which had felt warm and comforting only moments ago, now burned too harshly against my skin.
I blinked, trying to process what she had just said. “What do you mean they never arrived?” My voice came out hoarse, barely above a whisper at first. I cleared my throat and tried again. “Nina dropped them off this morning. With the driver. I watched them leave the house myself. They were excited — bouncing in their seats, talking about show-and-tell…”
Lucy’s face paled, her usual calm teacher composure cracking. She clutched the clipboard in her hands a little tighter. “I assumed you’d kept them home for a
