Chapter Forty-One - Ava

Fletcher reached around me and knocked loudly on the door. “If you’re in there, Charlotte, please answer the door. Ava is worried.” I watched as Fletcher waited and she never came to the door. “Do you have a key to get inside? Or a code?” he asked, looking at the keypad. I nodded, not wanting to invade her privacy, but knowing I needed to make sure she was okay. I typed in the code to get inside and walked into her apartment. The modern furniture and very minimalist décor screamed Charlotte. She hated clutter and thought too much color was tacky. I thought the bland white and black walls were sad. I knew it would make me sad. I checked the table by the door. “Her purse isn’t here,” I mumbled. “Means she left.” Her bedroom was empty, only a pair of tennis shoes and jogging pants sat on her unmade bed. Checking her closet, I looked for the dress she was supposed to wear to the ball but I didn’t see it or the mask. “Her dress isn’t here either. That means she was coming to the ball