You won't be able to induce a shorter flowering period in an autoflower strain, since they flower on a predetermined biological clock. Rather than dropping the light cycle to 12 hours or inducing stress, i would run at 20 or even 24 hours to try and maximize the plant's development, allowing for as much time each day devoted to photosynthesis.
If you still need to be away and can't find a plant sitter, consider trying to automate the environment.
You can easily use timers or a controller to manage your fans and exhaust, although this can require $$ investment. You can look into watering options like a drip controller or, in a pinch, use some watering bulbs. Bulbs won't be able to provide a proper watering but may help buy you an extra few days before they wilt.
Best of luck!