Aurora stopped, her shoulders shaking, fists clenched. "No, Derek, he's just a boy. He couldn't have gone far. Someone must've seen him—someone must know where he is."
She spun around, scanning the parkgoers.
Parents playing with their kids, couples walking hand-in-hand, everyone seemed so normal.
But Leo wasn't there.
Ava approached slowly, wringing her hands. "Aurora, I'm so sorry... I don't know how this happened. I just looked away for a second... and he was gone." Her voice cracked, guilt filling every word.
Aurora turned to her, her expression softening despite the storm of fear inside her. "It's not your fault, Ava. We'll find him. We have to find him."
But her words were more for herself than anyone else.
She couldn't even begin to think about what would happen if they didn't.
Just then, Aurora's phone buzzed.
