Chereads / ECHOES OF FATE / Chapter 20 - The Search for Lilly's Clues

Chapter 20 - The Search for Lilly's Clues

As she stepped into the station, the world felt strange and unfamiliar. It had been a long time since she ventured out like this, leaving behind everything she had known, including Maria. Lilly couldn't help but miss her and wonder what she was doing at that moment. She whispered an apology to the invisible Maria, hoping she was doing well.

Walking through the station, she took in the new air and surroundings. It dawned on me that no one would know where she was, and for the first time, that felt like a good thing. She glanced at the departure board, realizing that her presence would go unnoticed here.

With my phone switched off, she severed her connection to the world she once knew. It was as if had become a homeless wanderer in this vast city, leaving behind her old life, her old self.

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Noah left the police station, his worry for Lilly still weighing heavily on his mind. As he departed, the superior officer breathed a sigh of relief but couldn't hide his frustration. He turned to the constable with a stern expression and scolded, "Do you have any idea who that young man is? He's James Anderson's only son."

The constable's eyes widened with shock at the mention of James Anderson's name. "What? James Anderson's son? I locked him up! Oh, this is bad," he exclaimed, berating himself.

The superior, while maintaining his composure, reminded the constable, "This is precisely why you should exercise caution and thoroughness in your work."

The constable, still flustered, admitted, "I truly didn't recognize him. He's never been in the public eye."

The superior nodded in understanding but issued a final directive, "He's kept a low profile since the mysterious incident in his youth. In any case, continue the investigation into the disappearance of the girl named Lilly Mitchell. We cannot afford to make any mistakes in this matter." The search for Lilly Mitchell remained of utmost importance, regardless of the unexpected complications arising from Noah Anderson's involvement.

The constable nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. With a renewed sense of purpose, he prepared to carry out the investigation into Lilly Mitchell's disappearance diligently and without error.

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Maria's phone had rung urgently, and upon hearing Noah's voice on the other end, her heart raced with concern. Without hesitation, she rushed to the park where they had agreed to meet, her mind filled with worry and questions about Lilly's disappearance.

Upon reaching the park, Maria's eyes darted around, searching for any sign of Noah. Spotting him standing alone, her pace quickened as she approached him, her eagerness to learn about Lilly's whereabouts palpable in her expression.

Maria, filled with anxiety and urgency, couldn't contain her questions upon meeting Noah. She asked breathlessly, "Noah, did you find her? Is there any hint about where she might be?"

Noah, trying to calm her frantic state, responded, "Maria, please, take a deep breath. I've reported Lilly's disappearance to the police, and they'll start looking for her. But I need your help to find her. I need some information from you."

Maria nodded her willingness to assist evident in her eyes. "Noah, you can ask me anything about her. If I know anything that can help, I'll tell you."

Noah suggested they sit on one of the nearby benches, seeking a more private and composed conversation. As they settled in, he inquired, "Maria, when did you first meet Lilly?"

Maria began her story, "It's a long story. I found her in my orphanage. She was a lonely girl who didn't speak at all.

Maria, with a hint of nostalgia, began to share more about Lilly. She looked at Noah, taking a deep breath before continuing, "Lilly's family had a mysterious past. Her parents passed away under puzzling circumstances. When she came to our orphanage, she didn't have any memories of her parents. She was a quiet girl, always sitting by herself, and unfortunately, many of the other kids would bully her."

Maria's voice softened as she recounted a pivotal moment, "Then, one day, I remember it was a Friday, I had forgotten my textbook for Mr. John's class. He was a very strict teacher, and if he caught someone without a textbook, he'd punish them severely. I was terrified of him. Lilly noticed my distress and, for the first time, she spoke. She told me "Don't worry take mine instead", and she handed me hers. It was the first time I had heard her voice."

Maria's eyes glistened with emotion as she remembered that act of kindness from Lilly, a moment that had changed the course of their lives.

later Mr. John caught Lilly and instructed her to come to his office. When I found Lilly, she noticed the red marks on her hands, which looked painful. Lilly was gently blowing on her hands in an attempt to ease the discomfort. I couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness. Without hesitation, I took Lilly to the kind sister who looked after them at the orphanage. The sister, known for her compassion, examined Lilly's injured hands, cleaned the wounds, and carefully dressed them.

Later on, I asked Lilly why she had come to her rescue that day. Lilly replied, "Because you were the only one who never bullied me." This heartfelt response touched Maria deeply, and from that day onward, an unbreakable bond formed between us Noah"

Maria's expression grew solemn as she continued, "Lilly never used to go anywhere alone. That's why I'm so concerned about her sudden disappearance. What should do? ddo. I don't know why she left all of a sudden ."

Noah listened attentively to Maria's words and reassured her, saying, "Maria, I promise you, we will find her no matter what it takes. But I need to understand everything about her past, no matter how painful it might be. She's been through so much."

Maria nodded in agreement, appreciating Noah's commitment to finding Lilly and uncovering the truth about her past.

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Lilly came across a notice board as she walked, feeling lost and uncertain about her future. The board read:

"JOB VACANCY - NEED PEOPLE FOR 'BLOOMING BLOSSOM.' FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT THE NUMBER."

Feeling a glimmer of hope, she approached a nearby cookie shop worker and politely asked, "Can you lend me your phone for a call?"

The worker handed her the phone, and Lilly dialled the number listed on the notice board. A voice on the other end answered, "Hello."

Lilly replied, "Hi, I just called you after reading the notice about needing workers. Are you still looking for someone?"

The voice on the other end sounded relieved as they responded, "Oh, that's wonderful news! We urgently need a worker. Are you interested, ma'am?"

Lilly smiled with a newfound sense of purpose and replied, "Certainly, ma'am. Where is the shop located? I can come here to learn more about the job."

The person on the other end of the line provided directions, "Okay, can you tell me where you are now?"

Lilly replied, "I am in front of Yummy Cookie Shop."

The voice on the other end continued, "Oh, perfect. From there, you can call a cab. It's a bit of a distance. After that, you'll need to turn left and walk for 3 kilometres, then take a right. You'll come across a shop called 'Fashion World.' From there, walk another 5 kilometres and then turn right again. You'll need to walk 7 kilometres from there. Do you understand, ma'am?"

Lilly nodded, even though she had never been to this area before. "Yes, ma'am, I'll find my way there." Her determination to start anew pushed her to accept the challenge of navigating this potential job opportunity.

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Noah's phone rang while he was in the park with Maria, discussing Lilly's situation. He glanced at his phone and noticed it was a call from his mother. He excused himself from Maria, saying goodbye, and walked away to answer the call. The worry for Lilly and the sudden call from his mother left him with a whirlwind of emotions.

"Hi, Mom. Why are you calling me now? I'm a bit busy at the moment. I'll call you back later," Noah impatiently replied. As he attempted to end the call, his mother's voice persisted, saying, "Son, don't. I heard you went to the police station to report a missing person case."

"Mom, it has nothing to do with you. I'll call you later." With a tinge of frustration, he abruptly hung up the phone.