Aria pushed her way out of the bustling lecture hall, her bag slung over her shoulder and her phone buzzing in her hand. She glanced down at the screen—it was Amy, checking in after Aria's latest run-in with her overly demanding professor.
Amy: How was the lecture? You surviving?
Aria sighed, texting back as she navigated the crowded campus walkway.
Aria: Barely. He's on my case for EVERYTHING. It's like he has a personal vendetta against me.
A quick reply pinged back.
Amy: Well, maybe he sees your 'potential.'
Aria rolled her eyes, smiling a little.
Aria: If "potential" means making me lose my mind, then yeah. I just want to finish this course and get out of here.
She slipped her phone back in her pocket, but as she did, something caught her attention—a woman wailing near the entrance of a nearby superstore. The desperate sound sent a chill through her, stopping her in her tracks. She pulled her phone back out to text Amy.
Aria: I'll text you back in a bit.
Aria made her way over, edging through the small crowd that had gathered. She caught sight of the woman, her face streaked with tears as she pleaded with bystanders.
"What's going on?" Aria asked someone nearby.
The bystander turned to her, looking just as unsettled. "She says her child wandered off. One moment, she was holding his hand, and the next…he was gone. She can't find him anywhere."
Aria felt a wave of sadness and dread. The scene hit too close to home, reminding her of the disappearances plaguing Elenaria. She couldn't help but picture her little brother, Cody, and the sheer horror of him going missing. She swallowed hard and took a shaky breath, pushing the thought from her mind.
Shaking off the uneasy feeling, she turned and made her way home. When she reached her street, she spotted a familiar ice cream truck parked just outside her house. Cody always got home from school before she did, and she knew he'd be thrilled to see her with a treat.
Aria bought a cup of his favorite strawberry ice cream and stepped inside. Her parents were chatting in the living room, but as she came in, they turned, smiling warmly.
"Oh, you're back!" her mother said. "Cody's been asking about you nonstop."
Her dad chuckled. "He's been bouncing around all afternoon."
Aria grinned. "Oh, has he? Well, I got him something from the ice cream truck. Where is he?"
"Upstairs," her mom replied. "I think he's playing with his cars."
Aria headed up the stairs, the faint sounds of Cody's "whoosh" and "vroom" sound effects growing louder as she approached his room. She paused outside his door, smiling before opening it.
"Whoa! Look out!" she called, grinning as she stepped inside.
Cody looked up, feigning shock. "Oh no! A big monster!" he squealed, giggling.
She joined him on the floor, playfully growling and pretending to be the big monster chasing him. After a few rounds of giggles and playful banter, she handed him the ice cream.
"Look what I got for you!"
His face lit up. "Thanks, Aria! I love you so much," he said, giving her a sticky kiss on the cheek.
"I love you too, little guy."
As he happily licked his ice cream, Aria sat on his bed, watching him. "Want me to read you a story before bed?"
"Yes! I love stories," he said, his eyes bright with excitement.
She waited until he finished his ice cream, then tucked him snugly under his covers. "You've taken a bath, right?" she asked, and he nodded, mumbling that Mom had helped him earlier.
Settling down beside him, she picked one of his favorite books and began to read. Her voice softened as she saw him slowly drift off, his little face peaceful in sleep. Once he was sound asleep, she leaned over, kissing his forehead before pulling out her phone and snapping a quick photo.
She checked the picture, a part of her expecting to see the eerie face that had been haunting her photos. But this time, there was nothing—just Cody, peaceful and safe. She took a few more, just to be sure, and each one came out normal. Relief washed over her, easing some of the tension that had been building in her mind.
Back in her room, she flopped onto her bed and texted Amy again.
Aria: Did you hear about the woman who lost her kid?
Amy's response came almost immediately.
Amy: Yeah, I saw her. So scary. This town's just getting weirder.
Aria: I know… It got me thinking, maybe the creepy faces in Cody's pictures really were just tricks of the light. I took some photos tonight, and everything looked normal.
Amy: Oh, thank God! I was worried.
Aria smiled, feeling a calm she hadn't felt in days. She turned off her phone, switched on her nightlight, and sank into her bed, finally feeling some peace as she closed her eyes.