🎄Vanish (10 book series)

Sitting in the writing class I teach I was having my students write a short story in under five minutes. Looking at the stopwatch, I gave them the 3-minute warning when there was a rumble through the building. Looking up, I said, "They must be doing some excavating at the local mine."

Mason raised his hand and when I called on him he said, "Mrs. Worthington, the mines are closed until the end of the month. I work in the office."

Smiling I said, "I am sure there is a reasonable explanation."

There was another rumble, and the building shook. I grabbed my desk and said, "Under your desks now."

The room was pitched into darkness. I heard screams from the students, and when the lights came back on a minute later, a quarter of my class was gone. Lily asked, "Where are they?"

The door to my classroom opened, and the principal came in. He saw the empty desks with books on top and asked, "How many are missing from in here?"

Doing a quick count I said, "Seven."

He nodded and grabbed his overhead walkie. He said, "Everyone, please stay where you are. I am coming around to see how many students are missing."

Nodding at him, I asked, "Was it just the school?"

He shook his head and said, "No. My wife works at the hospital, and patients are missing."

He got back on the walkie and said, "Students have full permission to use their cell phones and call loved ones. We are staying here for now until we speak with the authorities. Before you all panic, there are 1210 people in this town. We are trying to see how many are missing."

I picked up my phone and said, "Please pick up."

Dialing my husband's phone number, he picked up on the first ring and asked, "Are there kids missing?"

"Seven from my class I had when it happened," I said. "Jay says there are patients missing from the hospital as well. What about you? What is going on at the site, and is anyone missing?"

"Kay, we were outside when it happened," He said. "Things went dark and when we could see again six guys were missing."

"Mike," I said. "Keep your phone on you and keep your location active."

"Same goes to you," He said. "Let me get these guys calmed down. I will come there as soon as I can."

Lily was crying in her seat and I went to her. Kneeling down I asked, "What is wrong Lily? I know your scared I am too."

She said, "You don't understand, we have cameras in our house. I pulled up the feed before everything happened, and my parents were in the kitchen when the lights went out. When the lights came back on they were gone."

Hugging her, I said, "It's alright, sweetie, we will figure this out."

My phone rang. Looking at the caller ID I said, "I am going to the hall and I will be right back."

Answering it I said, "Worthington."

"Kay its Sam," The voice said, "We are getting reports about your town. What is going on?"

"Sam about twenty minutes ago there was rumbling," I said. "I mentioned it must be the mines. One of my students works there and said they were closed for three weeks. The lights went out and when they came back on about a minute later I had seven students missing. Sam Mike was on site outside and it went pitch black out and when they could see again six men were missing. Patients from the hospital are missing as well. One of my students Lily checked her phone security feed and her parents were in the kitchen and gone when the lights came on."

"Let me look into things," He said. "Your the only town ths happened to so far."

He hung up and I went back inside my class. I looked at the students and sighed, "Alright everyone, I have something to tell you."

Everyone gathered around and I said, "Before I started teaching here at the school, I worked for the government. I cannot tell you much about what I did because most of my work was classified. The call I just took was from my handler. So far, this seems like an isolated incident. We will find everyone."

1210 residents

Kay Worthington- Main

Mike- Second main (husband)

Jay- Principal

Students- Mason, Lily