Steven was startled by the sound of the front door slamming. He took a peek over his shoulder but saw nothing. He was too tired and dismissed it as the wind. A minute later, the floorboard softly creaked. Steven started to feel nervous. There was a gut feeling that something was wrong
"Pearl?" He went to roll over when an unfamiliar hand covered his mouth. He looked up and saw a girl who looked to be 17. She pulled a knife out of her pocket and held it to Steven's throat
"You try to escape and you're dead." Steven nodded in submission. Sweat was dripping down his face. He desperately wanted to call out for help. Just somebody, anybody. But he couldn't risk his family getting hurt so he followed along with the girl
She forced him down the stairs. She then gave a hand signal and another girl came walking in. She was roughly the same age as the other one. One girl pinned down Steven. She held down his arms and pressed her knees against his legs. While the other placed a white cloth over his nose and mouth. Steven tried to wiggle out of it but they were way too strong for him
Steven gradually became extremely drowsy. In his last few moments of consciousness, one of the girls commented. "Sweet dreams, hybrid boy." The two laughed as Steven faded into a deep sleep
As soon as he was out, the two brought in a small bodybag and put him inside. They carried him out to their car and stuffed him in the trunk
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Later at sunset, Pearl returned from her trip to the barn. She was going to check on Steven when she found the front door wide open. "Steven?!" She sprinted up to his room
All she found was an empty bed. Garnet came walking in to see what all the commotion is about. When she saw the door, she knew what had happened. Garnet didn't show it but she was utterly heartbroken. However, Pearl was stuck in denial. She was franticly looking in Steven's bed. Sheets and pillows went everywhere
Garnet walked up the stairs to talk to her. "Pearl..."
"He has to be around here somewhere! H-he can't just be gone! He can't!" Garnet grabbed her hands and turned her towards her
"Pearl!...He's gone." Pearl looked down and hyperventilated. Suddenly it hit her and she began breaking down. She collapsed into Garnet's arms and sobbed in her shoulder. They both fell down to their knees and remained still. Garnet continued to hold her in a tight embrace
A single tear ran down her face as an emptiness filled the once joyful home