The night Ethan went missing, the world felt too quiet. The laughter from the business party in the grand hall drifted through the open doors, mixing with the gentle evening breeze. Ivy grabbed her twin brother's hand, their small fingers intertwined as they snuck around the garden, away from the noise. It was their thing—whispering secrets, chasing after adventures only they could see. The stars above sparkled like the mischief in Ethan's eyes as he giggled, his voice a soft "Ha ha ha..." in the quiet night.

"Shh..." Ivy whispered with a smile, trying to stifle her own laughter. She didn't want to get caught by their parents.

But then, in a single heartbeat, everything changed.

One moment, Ethan's hand was warm in hers. The next, it slipped away, like a dream fading into the shadows. Ivy's heart raced. "Ethan?" Her voice trembled with a sudden wave of fear. "Ethan...?"

No response. The space between them grew wider and wider. The garden, once their playground, now felt vast, eerie. "Huftt..." She let out a frustrated sigh, thinking he was playing a game.

"Ethan!" Ivy called louder, her voice cracking as the panic bubbled up inside her chest. "Come on, this isn't funny!" Her feet moved fast, running around the garden path, her breathing quickening. Her hand felt cold, empty without his.

Suddenly, "creakk..." came the noise of the garden gate behind her. Ivy spun around, eyes wide, heart pounding. "Ethan?!" But no, it wasn't him. Just the wind... or something more sinister.

She ran back to the grand hall, her small legs moving as fast as they could. "Hic...mhm…," Ivy's breath hitched, her eyes darting across the room, desperately searching the faces of the adults, hoping to find Ethan's mischievous grin somewhere in the crowd.

But he wasn't there.

The weight of dread settled in her stomach like a stone. "Hic...hic…" Ivy's tears began to flow uncontrollably as she sobbed. "No way..." She could hardly believe it. One moment, they were together; the next, he was... gone.

The party continued around her, unaware of the tragedy unfolding in the heart of a little girl. Music played, laughter filled the air, but for Ivy, it all sounded muffled, distant. "Argh..." she groaned, frustration and helplessness filling her chest.

Her parents, William and Elizabeth, were in the midst of conversation with powerful business partners. Their expressions were calm, and yet they hadn't noticed anything yet.

With shaky hands, Ivy ran to them, pulling at her mother's elegant dress. "Mom..." she whispered, her voice trembling. "Ethan... Ethan is gone."

Elizabeth's smile faltered. "What do you mean, Ivy?" She knelt down, her loving hand cupping Ivy's tear-streaked face. "Where is your brother?"

"I don't know..." Ivy whimpered. "He just... disappeared."

William turned, his cold expression cracking for a moment, revealing a flash of concern. His eyes darted toward the garden where they had last seen the twins. Without saying a word, he rushed past them, his mind already racing through possibilities. "Duhh..." he muttered under his breath, the gravity of the situation settling in.

Elizabeth stood, her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to remain calm. "He'll be fine," she whispered to herself. But her hands trembled as she reached for Ivy, pulling her close.

The party faded into the background. Once warm and joyful, the sound of laughter now felt like a distant memory. All that was left was the cold emptiness in Ivy's heart.

The grand hall was still echoing with laughter and chatter from the business party, while Ivy's world felt like it had crumbled. Her father, William, was already halfway out the door, calling out commands to the security team, his expression a mask of cold determination. "Find him... now," he ordered, his voice low but firm, hiding the deep fear gnawing at him.

Ivy stood frozen, clutching her mother's hand as her legs wobbled beneath her. "Mom..." Ivy whispered, her voice barely audible. "What if we never find him?"

Elizabeth knelt down beside Ivy, her calm façade cracking as worry flashed across her face. "Shh..." she hushed softly, pulling Ivy into a tight hug. "We will find him, Ivy," she promised, but her trembling hand gave away the lie. "We have to..." she murmured under her breath.

Ivy buried her face in her mother's dress, but her small body began to tremble. "Ethan... Ethan..." Her heart raced faster as she tried to understand what had just happened. One moment, he was there, and the next, he was gone—just gone.

The sound of the party still echoed in the background, "tick-tock..." the sound ticking of the grandfather clock filling the eerie silence between the beats of her fear. "Creakk..." came the sound of the grand doors as they opened, but all Ivy heard was the emptiness inside her.

Elizabeth cupped Ivy's face, her hands trembling, but her expression was trying to remain calm. "Ivy, listen to me. We're going to find him." Her voice was strong, but the flicker of doubt in her eyes told another story.

"No way..." Ivy mumbled, shaking her head, her small hands clenching into fists. "No way he's just gone like that!" A deep frustration built up in her chest, making her want to scream, but instead, she felt hot tears blur her vision.

"Hic... hic..." came her small sobs, unable to stop herself. "Why did I let go of his hand?" she whimpered, the guilt crashing over her like waves.

Elizabeth hugged her daughter tighter, whispering softly, "It's not your fault, Ivy. It's not."

From across the room, William glanced back at them, his expression hard as steel. His eyes met Elizabeth's, and a silent understanding passed between them. He was going to tear the world apart to find their son.

Suddenly, Ivy heard fast and heavy footsteps rushing toward them. "....." The sound grew louder, and her heart skipped a beat. Was it Ethan? Was he back?

No... it was just one of the security team members, his expression serious. "Sir, we've checked the garden and the perimeter. No sign of the boy."

William's expression didn't flinch, but his hand balled into a tight fist. "Check again," he said through gritted teeth. His eyes were blazing with a mix of fear and anger. "Leave no stone unturned."

Ivy clung tighter to her mother, feeling the weight of her brother's absence pressing down on her tiny chest. She couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible had happened. "Ugh..." she muttered in frustration, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

Her mother kissed the top of her head, smoothing down her hair. "Ivy, my love," Elizabeth whispered softly, her voice wavering. "You're strong. We will find Ethan, I promise."

But Ivy didn't feel strong. She felt small, helpless, lost in the confusion of the night. The warmth of Ethan's hand was now just a distant memory, replaced by the cold emptiness in her heart.

In the distance, the sounds of the party continued as if nothing had changed. But for Ivy, the world would never be the same again.

Ivy sat quietly beside her mother, her small hands clasped tightly in her lap, as the minutes stretched into hours. The party carried on, loud and full of people, but all Ivy could hear was the pounding of her own heart. "Tick-tock... tick-tock..." the grandfather clock in the corner seemed to echo louder with every passing second.

Her eyes kept darting toward the door, hoping for Ethan's familiar giggle to break the silence between her and her mother. "He'll come back... he always does," she thought, trying to reassure herself. But deep down, her heart trembled. "Hmph..." She sighed, biting her lip nervously, her legs swinging restlessly beneath the chair.

Elizabeth sat stiffly, her hand clutching Ivy's just a little too tight. Her expression was one of quiet panic; her smile forced as she nodded to passing guests. Ivy glanced up at her mother's face, catching the way her lips twitched every time the door opened. "Mom... where's Ethan?" Ivy whispered, her voice small and scared.

Her mother looked down, her expression softening into something more tender, though the fear still lingered in her eyes. "We'll find him, sweetheart. He's just playing a game." Her voice was gentle, but the words didn't feel right. They felt heavy. "Hmph...," Ivy sighed again, her small body sinking deeper into the chair.

Suddenly, the door swung open with a loud "creakk...," causing Ivy to jump. "Eek...!" Her heart raced, but it wasn't Ethan—it was William, her father, his face set in a cold expression of control. His sharp gaze scanned the room, landing on Elizabeth and Ivy. His walk was brisk, his usual calm now a mask of forced authority.

"I've sent more men to search," William muttered, his voice low but tense. He reached out, gently placing his hand on Elizabeth's shoulder. "We'll find him."

"Where is he, William?" Elizabeth's voice cracked, her controlled demeanor faltering. "He's only six... he can't just disappear like this." She let out a shaky breath, "Ah...," her expression finally broke as worry spread across her face.

William clenched his jaw. "They'll find him," he repeated, though there was something hollow in his words. Ivy looked between her parents, feeling the tightness in her chest grow stronger. The world seemed too big, too loud, yet somehow terrifyingly silent.

Ivy's eyes gaze to the entrance once more, desperately hoping to see Ethan running back with a grin, maybe a sheepish "Oops..." for running off. But there was nothing.

Elizabeth stood, her body tense as she straightened her dress. "I can't just sit here, William," she whispered, her voice trembling. I need to—" Her words were cut off by a loud "clang..." as one of the waiters accidentally dropped a tray in the distance, the noise jolting everyone for a moment.

William's expression darkened. "Stay here," he commanded softly but firmly. "I'll keep searching." With that, he turned and walked out the door, leaving behind the echo of his footsteps.

Ivy felt the weight of the silence press down harder on her small shoulders. She shifted in her seat, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. "No way..." she muttered under her breath. "He has to be here."

Elizabeth knelt beside Ivy, her hands gently brushing away the tears that had slipped down her daughter's cheeks. "Shh... Ivy, it's okay," she whispered, though her own voice trembled with uncertainty. "We'll find him. I promise." But the promise felt fragile, like it could break at any moment.

Ivy sniffled, her heart heavy with the growing sense of something being terribly wrong. "But what if he's lost?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. "What if he doesn't come back?"

Elizabeth pulled Ivy into her arms, hugging her tightly. "We'll find him," she repeated, though the fear lingered in her eyes as she pressed a kiss to Ivy's forehead. "We have to."

As the night dragged on, the once lively party began to feel like a distant memory. The music played on, the laughter echoed from far away, but Ivy's world had become much smaller, much darker. And all she could do was wait... and hope.

Elizabeth rushed back into the room, her face pale, her expression tight with worry. She knelt in front of Ivy, placing her hands on Ivy's small shoulders. "We're going to find him, sweetheart," Elizabeth said, her voice shaky but trying to sound brave. "Mhm..." Ivy could only nod, her throat too tight to respond.

"Stay here, Ivy," Elizabeth continued, her grip tightening on her daughter's shoulders. "I need you to be strong for me, okay?"

"But..." Ivy's voice cracked. "What if he's lost? What if we can't find him?" The words tumbled out from her mouth, her fear finally spilling over.

Elizabeth's eyes softened, but her own fear was barely hidden behind her tight smile. "We will," she whispered, pulling Ivy into a hug. "We have to."

Ivy clung to her mother, her small body trembling with every breath. The weight of the world seemed to press down on her little chest, suffocating her with the fear of the unknown. "Ethan..." she whispered into her mother's shoulder, her voice weak and full of sadness.

As Elizabeth stood up, Ivy watched her mother's expression shift—her calm mask returning as she prepared to face the uncertainty again. "Stay here," she said softly. "We'll find him." And with that, Elizabeth was gone again, her steps quick and silent as she disappeared into the crowd.

Ivy was left alone once more. The sound of her heart thudding in her ears was deafening. "Huftt..." she sighed, wiping her face again. Her body felt too heavy for her small frame. She glanced toward the door, hoping, praying that Ethan would walk through it any second now.

But he didn't.

The next day, after her twin brother, Ethan, went missing, Ivy went to France for violin competitions after they attended the party and because Ethan promised to come to cheer her up before the tragedy happened in the night at the party. Instead, the ticking of the clock continued. "Tick-tock... tick-tock..." It was the only sound that filled the empty space around her.

Ivy's small body sank into the cool leather of the chair, the sound of it "creakk..." beneath her as the weight of the night pressed down hard. The grand hall, once buzzing with laughter, now felt empty. Cold. Ivy's gaze wandered around the room, searching. Always searching. "Where are you, Ethan?" Her chest tightened, her breathing quickening as her small hands gripped the armrests.

Her heart was hammering against her ribs, thudding louder than the ticking of the clock. "Tick-tock... tick-tock..." Her thoughts raced along with it, her mind spinning. She counted silently, trying to slow her racing pulse. "Ten... nine... eight..." But it didn't help. Nothing helped.

She scanned the faces in the room again, hoping for a glimpse of her twin brother Ethan's familiar, mischievous grin. But there was nothing. Only strangers. "Ugh..." Ivy groaned under her breath, the emptiness gnawing at her.

The spotlight overhead flickered on, "clickk..." illuminating Ivy in a circle of bright light. The world outside the light faded into darkness, the faces blurring into shadows. Her eyes squinted against the light, her heartbeat echoing in her ears. She wanted to cry out, to call for Ethan, but her throat felt tight, strangled by the silence.

"Ah... huft..." Ivy sighed, trying to calm herself, but the weight of the spotlight made her feel trapped. Her brows furrowed as she looked toward the door once more, the darkness beyond swallowing any hope she had left. "Where are you, Ethan?" she whispered again, feeling more alone than ever.

But in the dark, she allowed herself to pretend, to imagine. Her mind conjured the image of her twin brother sitting just beyond the light, watching her with that soft, proud smile. "There he is..." Ivy thought. He's here."

Her twin brother's face filled her mind, her thumbs-up held high, his eyes sparkling. "I see you, Ethan..." Ivy smiled faintly, though it didn't reach her eyes. The loneliness still weighed her down, but she clung to the thought of her twin brother. It made the pain more bearable.

With a deep breath, Ivy steadied herself. "Mhm..." she hummed softly, placing her chin on the chinrest of her violin. Her fingers curled around the bow, the cool wood familiar in her trembling hands. The strings hummed under her touch as she brought the bow across them, the sound vibrating through the air, filling the silent space around her.

The music flowed like a river of sound, soft at first and then swelling into something stronger. The notes wrapped around her, blocking out the empty room, the ticking clock, and the gnawing fear that still lurked in her chest. "Phew..." she exhaled, finding a strange comfort in the music. It was something she could control, something that could push the sadness away, even if just for a moment.

The darkness of the hall swallowed the faces in the crowd, making it easier to pretend. She imagined her twin brother, Ethan, sitting there, watching her play. Ethan would be grinning, giving her a thumbs-up from his seat, but only her family was sitting there. Mom, Dad, her older sister, and older brother would nod along, mouthing the words, "You're doing great, Ivy."

When the music played, the world didn't feel so heavy. It was like the strings were taking all her sadness and fear and weaving them into something beautiful. And for just a moment, Ivy could breathe.

Ivy's eyes shut as she lost herself in the sound of the violin, each movement of the bow guiding her through the heaviness in her heart. The notes were soft, but with every stroke, the music seemed to fill her body with a warmth she desperately needed. "Huuft..." she sighed under her breath, letting the melody distract her from the painful reality.

But as she swayed with the sound, her mind wandered. Her eyes fluttered open for a moment, searching for her family, especially her twin brother, Ethan. She glanced toward the seat where her twin brother should have been, her fingers faltering on the strings. But there was nothing—no familiar face, no reassuring smile. "Ugh..." Ivy groaned, her heart sinking deeper into her chest.

Her hand froze, the bow slipping slightly from her grasp. The music stopped abruptly, leaving the hall in silence. People began to clap, mistaking her pause for the end of the performance. "No way..." Ivy whispered, her voice shaking. She wasn't even halfway through. She couldn't finish.

With her heart pounding and her thoughts racing, she quickly stood up from the seat, nearly tripping over the violin as she hurried off the stage. "Clangg..." The sound of the violin hitting the floor was really loud behind her, but Ivy didn't stop. She rushed backstage, tears blurring her vision.

Elizabeth spotted her immediately and hurried over, her arms wrapping around Ivy in a warm embrace. "Shh..." she whispered, Mom's hand gently rubbing Ivy's back as she cried. "It's okay, Ivy. It's okay."

Ivy clung to her mom, her small body trembling with each sob. "Hic... hic..." The tears wouldn't stop. She couldn't stop them. "Ethan's never missed a performance before..." Ivy whimpered, her voice breaking. "He will never miss this. Never."

"Come on," Mom said softly, guiding Ivy toward the exit. "We'll find him, sweety. We'll figure this out." Ivy nodded weakly, her legs feeling wobbly beneath her as she tried to posture herself. "Hic..mhm..." she sniffled, wiping her tears with the back of her hand.

They walked together, the distant sounds of the party and music fading as they reached the quieter part of the hall. But Ivy's heart still raced, her mind spinning with worry. "Ethan wouldn't just leave me," Ivy muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. "He wouldn't, never."

Her family gave her a soft look, but Ivy saw the worry in her family's eyes. She had seen it before—on her father's face, on her mother's face, and now here. Something wasn't right. "Something is wrong, Mom, Dad, big sis, big brother," Ivy said, her voice trembling again. "I just know it."

Elizabeth knelt down to Ivy's level, her expression gentle but serious. "We'll find him," she promised. "We'll find him, and everything will be okay."

But Ivy couldn't shake the feeling—the heaviness in her chest, the sinking pit in her stomach. "No way..." she whispered to herself again, shaking her head. "Something's wrong... Ethan's gone... Mom"

"They can't find him, can they, Mom, Dad?" Ivy finally asked, her voice breaking through the tense silence. She looked up at her parents, her wide, teary eyes searching for the truth.

"Ah, That—" Her family started to speak, but Ivy cut them off.

"No!" Ivy's voice was sharp, desperate. "If you're not going to tell me the truth, I don't want to hear it!" she cried out, her small fists clenched at her sides. "All I want is to know where my brother is and why no one can find him!" The frustration bubbled over, and Ivy pushed away from her mom's gentle touch, her body trembling with fear and anger. "Arghhhh..." she groaned, her tears streaming faster now.

Elizabeth sighed, her expression pained as she watched Ivy crumble before her. "Ivy," she said softly, kneeling down to meet Ivy at eye level. "The police and your dad people are doing everything they can to find Ethan, okay? You have to be patient, sweetheart. I know this is hard, but they're doing their best."

Ivy shook her head. "No..." she whispered, her voice trembling. "No, they aren't. He's out there, alone... scared... and no one's helping him." Her chest felt tight, suffocating under the weight of the unknown and very mysterious. The fear that something terrible had happened to Ethan gnawed at her insides.

"Ivy, please..." Mom's voice wavered. "Are you hungry? Do you want to rest for a bit?" She tried to comfort her, but Ivy couldn't focus on anything but the gnawing pain in her chest.

"No..." Ivy muttered, turning away from her. She didn't want food. She didn't want to rest. She wanted her brother back. "I just want Ethan... hic..."

"I'll eat later." The words replayed in Ivy's mind over and over. "Later." That's what her mom had said when she and Ethan were playing in the garden just before the party. It was always "later" with adults. They never understood that sometimes later doesn't come.

"Later," Ivy whispered under her breath, her lips trembling. But now, Ethan was gone, and the silence of the grand hall felt too loud.

"Later should never be promised," Ivy thought.

"It's a lie. A myth." She clenched her small fists, her heart heavy with the realization that "later" was just an empty word.

"There's no such thing as later," she murmured to herself, her voice laced with bitterness. "And maybe... maybe there never will be."

Ivy glanced toward her mom, who sat beside her, quietly watching her dad talk with someone on the other side on the phone. Her mom didn't say it, but Ivy saw it in her eyes, even in her dad, big sis, and older brother—Ethan was gone. The weight of that truth settled over Ivy like a dark cloud. "They can't find Ethan..." Ivy's thoughts spiraled, the sadness and fear twisting deep inside her.

"Ugh..." Ivy groaned softly, her chest tightening. She felt an overwhelming urge to do something—anything—to fix it. She couldn't just sit here and wait. Not anymore. "My twin, my other half, is gone," Ivy whispered, her voice trembling with sureness. "And I'll find Ethan." She clenched her jaw, her small frame trembling with the weight of the decision.

No one could help her. She had to help herself. No matter what it took, she won't just sit idly by while her twin brother disappeared into the shadows. "No way," she whispered fiercely, her heart pounding with newfound resolve. "No matter what it takes... I'll find him."

The room felt too cold, too empty, and Ivy felt like she was losing her grip on reality. Every minute that passed without news of her twin brother felt like another piece of her world slipping away.

Her heart felt tight, her breaths shallow.

She didn't know what was happening, but she knew deep down that everything had changed. The world was different now, darker and scarier, and she was terrified of what she might find.