Nicole's Pov
The narrow streets feel unnervingly quiet as Abby and I make our way back to the apartment. The soft glow of the streetlights cast long shadows that stretch across the pavement, flickering slightly with the wind. I walk with my arms wrapped tightly around myself, my steps uneven, as if my body is dragging my mind along. Abby stays close beside me, her eyes scanning every darkened corner, every alley, every rustle of movement in the night.
"She would have taken this route, right?" Abby asks, her voice low but steady.
I nod my head. "Yes, she would have gone this way. She likes the view of the beach from here."
Abby pauses at a corner, glancing toward a small, overgrown path that branches off the main road. "Do you think she might have taken any side paths? Shortcut th
