The Day Erin Disappeared From the Face of the World

It was a seemingly normal day on Friday, August 6th. It was the first day of school at Lenoir City High School. And the day Erin Gail Robinson disappeared.1

At first no one noticed. In fact, it was quite a time before anyone said anything. It's even speculated that nothing was said at all. But that's only speculation. Nobody from the class of 2008 can remember exactly what was said. Those four years are rather fuzzy and some parts are very forgettable. Like the timed Matthew Browder wrote "Screw you" as the answer to a science test and was taken to the Principal's office. Or the time Alex White and Jordan Atkins saw Sara Blosser picking her nose. At the time they were funny, but they weren't the highlight of their youth. It was a simple, unnoticed detail in the painting of their life.2

Fact of the matter was...Erin had dug herself a hobbit-like hole in her backyard, and was hiding from the world. She was deathly afraid of High School, and was determined not to go.3

Daryn Robinson dragged up the stairs. Her brown hair was streaked with gray, and its highlights were in dear need of a touch-up. Her hair was in rollers. She knocked on Erin's door, the hollow thud reverberating through the door, "Erin, time for school." There was silence on the other side. Typical. Then she shuffled into the kitchen to get her caffeine free diet Coke. It was sort of a morning ritual for her. By the end of the day she would drink eight of the carbonated drinks. She went back downstairs, looking at her daughter's door. Still no sign of any disturbance. With a shrug and a sigh she continued down the steps, drinking her Coke.4

Erin finished packing her bag of things she'd need. She knew that later she would have to come to the surface to feed, but she needed enough food and music to last her at least three weeks. Dressed in a black skirt, fishnets, and a painter's shirt, she quietly sneaked out the front door, careful that her Nikki Roxx's didn't make too much noise. She went around the left side of the house, the side closer to the woods. It was hard to find the hole she had dug earlier. The sun hadn't come out yet. She traveled about ten yards before she stumbled upon it. Literally. Throwing her bag down the hole, Erin immediately followed, trying not to become too dirty in the process.5

The hole was well furnished, complete with rugs, chairs, tables, and a small petroleum stove in the kitchen area. There was even a bathroom in the back, but of course, there was no plumbing. She was still pondering how that would work out. Luckily, she had managed to drag a large metal tub of sorts down into it. Her neighbors had left it out on the street for the garbage man to pick up. Walking down a corridor Erin came into her new bedroom. The walls were plastered with posters of all her favorite bands and actors. Silverchair, The Beatles, Lynard Skynard, Good Charlotte, AFI, Colin Ferrell, Elijah Wood, Billy Boyd,  the list went on. She tossed her luggage aside and collapsed on the bed. It was very comforting to know that she had everything she needed, and wanted, without anyone's help. She felt very....independent, yes. Independent.6