The smiling man is outside my window again. He whispers that it is time to go, that we must abscond before my parents wake up. He promised me a new home where he can hide me from everyone, forever.

Marcus packed his bag in the dark, careful not to wake his sleeping roommate. He owed three months of rent and knew the landlord was coming in the morning. Better to abscond now than face another angry confrontation. He grabbed his jacket with the Chopped Chin logo on the back, slipped out the window, and hurried down the fire escape into the empty street.

Liam: Where is Sarah? She took the money and just left. Maya: She didn’t say goodbye to anyone. Liam: I think she wants to abscond, so nobody can find her. Eli: She’s leaving us with all her problems. That’s not fair.