Lucas was still deep asleep when his phone began ringing loudly on the bedside table. At first, the sound blended into his dream, but then it grew stronger, sharp enough to drag him awake. He groaned, reached out blindly, and grabbed the phone without even checking the caller ID.
His voice was rough with sleep. “Hello?”
The voice on the other end made him sit up instantly. It was his mother, Gwen. Her voice was shaky, broken, nothing like the calm tone she always used.
Lucas froze for two seconds, listening. Then his eyes widened, and the color drained from his face. Whatever his mother said hit him hard, so hard that he suddenly felt cold.
“What?… When?… Where is she now?” Lucas breathed out, already swinging his legs off the bed. His shock was like a punch.
Rose jolted awake the mom
