Chapter 6: THE LETTER
581 Words
Sophia’s heart pounded.
The bedroom door creaked open.
She quickly shoved the letter into her jacket just as the door swung wide.
Her father stood there.
Victor Ashford.
His expression was calm, but his eyes searched the room.
“I thought I heard someone,” he said.
“I couldn’t sleep,” Sophia replied, forcing a smile.
Victor stepped farther inside.
His gaze drifted toward Elena’s open dresser drawer.
“You’ve been going through your sister’s things.”
“I miss her.”
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Victor sighed.
“We all do.”
He turned and walked away.
Sophia waited until his footsteps disappeared before locking the bedroom door.
With trembling hands, she unfolded the letter.
⸻
To whoever finds this…
If you’re reading these words, something has gone terribly wrong.
I don’t know whether I’m dead, missing, or simply unable to come home.
But I do know one thing…
I was right to be afraid.
For weeks, someone has been following me.
At first, I thought I was imagining it.
Then I started receiving anonymous messages.
They all said the same thing.
Don’t marry Adrian.
I never told him.
I didn’t want him dragged into whatever this is.
If anything happens to me, don’t trust appearances.
The people smiling the most…
…are hiding the darkest secrets.
And if my father tells you everything is under control—
He’s lying.
Sophia stopped reading.
Her hands shook violently.
“No…”
The letter slipped onto the bed.
Her father knew.
Maybe not everything…
But enough to hide the truth.
⸻
Across town, Detective Hayes received another phone call.
“Sir, we’ve identified the little girl in the locket.”
Hayes grabbed his notebook.
“Who is she?”
“Her name is Lily Morgan.”
Hayes frowned.
“Parents?”
There was silence.
Then the officer answered quietly.
“Both parents disappeared six years ago.”
Hayes froze.
“What?”
“The case was never solved.”
A chill ran down his spine.
Could the unidentified bride be connected to a six-year-old missing persons case?
Or was someone trying to erase entire families?
⸻
Meanwhile…
The bus carrying Elena and Mama Grace pulled into Blackwood City.
The moment Elena stepped onto the pavement, a strange feeling washed over her.
Everything looked…
Familiar.
The café across the street.
The old clock tower.
The flower shop on the corner.
“I’ve been here before,” she whispered.
Mama Grace looked at her hopefully.
“You remember?”
“Not exactly.”
Elena closed her eyes.
“I just… know this place.”
As they walked through the crowded streets, a little boy accidentally bumped into her.
“I’m sorry!” he shouted before running back to his mother.
A photograph slipped from the boy’s backpack.
Elena picked it up.
The instant her fingers touched it…
Another memory exploded inside her mind.
A frightened woman was handing her a little girl.
The child was crying.
“Please,” the woman begged.
“If anything happens to me… protect Lily.”
The vision vanished.
Elena gasped and nearly collapsed.
“Lily…”
Why did that name feel so important?
⸻
Unseen from across the street…
A man wearing dark sunglasses lowered his camera.
Click.
He had taken three photographs of Elena.
He smiled coldly and sent them to an encrypted phone.
Only one sentence accompanied the images.
Target confirmed.
Within seconds, a reply appeared.
Bring her to me alive.
- Writer
