Chapter Three: Strange Disappearances
563 Words
By Wednesday, everyone at Maple Grove Middle School was talking about the disappearances.
A cat.
Two dogs.
Even Mr. Henderson's flock of chickens had vanished overnight.
The adults insisted there had to be a reasonable explanation.
But the students had their own theories.
"It's a monster," one seventh grader whispered.
"No, it's a pack of coyotes."
"My brother says it's a ghost."
Maggie wasn't sure what to believe.
---
During science class, Elias quietly slid a folded note onto her desk.
Want to walk home together after school?
Maggie smiled despite herself.
She wrote back.
Sure.
When class ended, Noah caught up with her.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Don't you think it's weird?"
"What is?"
"Elias."
Maggie sighed.
"You've been saying that since he got here."
"I know. But every time someone asks him about where he used to live, he changes the subject."
"Maybe he just doesn't like talking about it."
"Maybe." Noah shrugged. "I just don't want you getting hurt."
Maggie smiled.
"I'll be okay."
---
The walk home was peaceful.
Leaves rustled in the breeze as Maggie and Elias followed the sidewalk through the park.
"You always walk this way?" Elias asked.
"Almost every day."
"It's quiet."
"I like quiet."
"So do I."
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Then Elias pointed toward the old woods beyond the park.
"Have you ever gone in there?"
Maggie quickly shook her head.
"My grandma says they're easy to get lost in."
"She's probably right."
His expression was impossible to read.
---
As they reached Maggie's street, she noticed several police cars parked near a neighbor's house.
People stood outside talking in hushed voices.
"What happened?" Maggie asked.
Mrs. Alvarez, who lived across the street, looked worried.
"Someone broke into the Wilsons' garage last night."
"Did they steal anything?"
"No."
"Then why break in?"
Mrs. Alvarez hesitated.
"Nothing was taken."
She lowered her voice.
"But someone had been... watching the house."
A shiver ran down Maggie's spine.
---
That evening, Noah called.
"I found something."
"What?"
"I searched old newspaper archives online."
"And?"
"There were disappearances about six years ago."
"I saw an article at the library."
"There were dozens of them."
Maggie's smile faded.
"Do they know who did it?"
"No."
"They never caught anyone."
Before Maggie could answer, another call beeped through.
It was Elias.
"I'll call you later," she told Noah.
"Promise?"
"I promise."
---
"Hi," Maggie answered.
"Hi," Elias said warmly.
"I hope I'm not bothering you."
"Not at all."
They talked for almost an hour—about books, favorite movies, school, and even Maggie's dream of becoming a baker someday.
"I think you'd be amazing at it," Elias said.
She laughed softly.
"You really believe that?"
"I do."
For a moment, Maggie forgot all about the strange disappearances.
---
Later that night, rain tapped gently against her bedroom window.
She was just about to fall asleep when she heard something.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Her eyes flew open.
The sound came again.
Slow.
Careful.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Heart pounding, Maggie pulled back the curtain.
No one was there.
Only the rain.
She let out a relieved breath.
Then she looked down.
Lying on the porch below was a single white rose.
There was no note.
No footprints.
Just the flower... and the uneasy feeling that someone had been standing outside her window only moments before.
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