Chapter Two: Someone Finally Notices Me
476 Words
Monday morning felt different.
For once, Maggie didn't dread going to school.
She stood in front of the bathroom mirror, smoothing her curly hair for the third time.
"Ready?" her mom called from downstairs.
"Coming!"
As she grabbed her backpack, she caught herself smiling.
It was silly, she thought. Elias had only been at school for one day. But no one besides Noah had ever made her feel like what she had to say really mattered.
---
When Maggie arrived at school, Elias was waiting outside the front doors.
"Good morning," he said with a warm smile.
"You remembered I walk here."
"You told me yesterday."
Maggie blinked.
He really did remember everything.
The two walked inside together, chatting about mystery novels. Maggie was surprised to learn Elias liked them too.
"I like trying to figure out the ending before the detective does," he said.
"I never can," Maggie admitted.
"Maybe you'll surprise yourself."
---
At lunch, Noah dropped into the seat across from them.
"So," he said, looking at Elias, "where did you move here from?"
"A few towns over."
"What town?"
Elias hesitated for just a moment.
"Raven Creek."
"I've never heard of it," Noah replied.
"It's... small."
The conversation quickly shifted, but Noah's eyes narrowed slightly.
---
That afternoon, excitement buzzed through the halls.
"Did you hear?" someone whispered.
"Another pet disappeared."
"My neighbor's dog vanished last night."
"My dad says it's probably a wild animal."
Maggie frowned.
It was the third missing pet in two weeks.
"It's weird," she whispered.
Elias looked out the classroom window.
"Maybe."
His answer was so quiet she almost didn't hear it.
---
After school, Maggie stopped by the town library.
Mrs. Ellis, the librarian, smiled.
"Back for another mystery?"
"You know me."
As Maggie wandered between the shelves, she noticed an old bulletin board covered with newspaper clippings.
One headline caught her eye.
LOCAL DETECTIVES BAFFLED BY STRING OF DISAPPEARANCES
The article was several years old.
People—not just pets—had gone missing before the cases suddenly stopped.
A chill ran down her spine.
"Those are old stories," Mrs. Ellis said gently. "Nothing to worry about now."
Maggie nodded, but she couldn't stop thinking about them.
---
That evening, Maggie received her first text from Elias.
Elias: Did you get home okay?
She smiled.
Maggie: Yep! Thanks for asking.
Almost immediately...
Elias: Good. I worry about people I care about.
Her cheeks turned pink.
Nobody had ever said that to her before.
---
Across town...
A figure stood beneath the streetlight outside Maggie's house.
They weren't close enough to be seen from the windows.
But they were close enough to watch.
The figure quietly tucked a small notebook into their coat.
Inside were dates.
Times.
Places.
And one name written over and over again.
Maggie Harper.
The figure smiled before disappearing into the darkness.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD