A cold dread iced her veins as she frantically searched the room, her heart pounding a frantic rhythm against her ribs. "Bryce! Bryce!" she called, her voice trembling, a desperate plea echoing in the quiet stillness of the bedroom.

"BRYCE!" she yelled, her voice cracking with rising panic, before bursting from the room, her bare feet padding softly against the floor.

"I'm here, Mommy!" a small voice chirped from the living room, instantly dissolving the icy grip of fear.

Relief washed ...