LOST HIM, FOUND YOU

MISSING

CHAPTER 5: MISSING

Zara sat stiffly in her seat, her phone still glowing faintly in her hand.

The message refused to leave her mind.

You can’t run from it.

The words echoed over and over until they no longer felt like a text message.

They felt personal.

Like a warning.

Her chest tightened painfully.

Before she could think further, the bus suddenly slowed down.

Then stopped completely.

A moment later, one of the teachers stood up at the front.

“Attention everyone.”

Almost instantly, the entire bus became quiet.

Conversations stopped halfway.

Earphones slipped out.

Even the students who had been sleeping slowly lifted their heads.

The atmosphere shifted immediately.

“Welcome to Waterfall Park,” the teacher announced with a smile.

For one second, silence filled the bus.

Then suddenly—

the students exploded with excitement.

Cheers echoed loudly around her.

Some students hugged their friends while others immediately reached for their phones to record videos and take pictures.

The exhaustion from the long trip disappeared almost instantly.

Laughter filled every corner of the bus.

The teacher raised her hand again, trying to settle everyone down.

“This excursion is an opportunity,” she continued firmly, “to learn, create memories, and build friendships.”

Her expression became more serious.

“Use your gadgets responsibly. Stay in groups at all times. Do not wander off alone, and follow every instruction given to you.”

A short pause followed.

“Anyone who disobeys the rules will be sent home immediately.”

But Zara barely heard any of it.

Her eyes remained fixed on her phone screen.

The message replayed endlessly inside her head.

You can’t run from it.

It felt like the words had followed her all the way here.

Like wherever she went—

something was already waiting.

Movement slowly filled the bus again as students stood up and began collecting their bags.

But Zara stayed seated.

Completely still.

“Zara.”

Ethan’s voice reached her softly.

She blinked slowly and looked up.

For a second, she looked genuinely lost, like she had forgotten where she was.

Ethan frowned slightly before tapping her arm gently.

That finally pulled her back.

Slowly, she stood and grabbed her bag.

The moment they stepped outside, cool fresh air rushed against her skin.

Caleb was already waiting nearby.

The second he saw her, he walked over and pulled her into a quick side hug.

“How was the ride, sissy?” he asked lightly.

Zara hesitated briefly before answering.

“Fine,” she murmured.

Then after a small pause, she added:

“…except Ethan was beside me the whole time.”

Caleb raised an amused eyebrow immediately.

“That’s your biggest complaint?”

But Zara didn’t smile.

And somehow, Caleb noticed that too.

⸻

Registration happened quickly afterward.

Teachers grouped students together while directing them toward different hostels around the park.

Noise echoed everywhere.

Music played faintly from distant speakers.

Students rushed around excitedly while laughter bounced between buildings.

Everything around her should have felt exciting.

But Zara still felt disconnected from it all.

Like her body had arrived—

but her mind hadn’t.

Her hostel room was upstairs.

After dropping her bag beside the bed, she finally sat down and exhaled slowly.

For a brief moment, she allowed herself to breathe properly.

Then her phone lit up again.

Immediately, her chest tightened.

She stared at the screen.

The message remained exactly the same.

You can’t run from it.

A cold feeling settled inside her stomach.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.

“Hey.”

Zara looked up immediately.

A girl stood at the doorway.

She had soft features and calm eyes that somehow felt comforting instantly.

“I’m Ella,” the girl said with a small smile. “We’re in the same hostel. Bottom bunk.”

Zara stayed quiet at first.

Ella didn’t seem bothered by the silence.

“I noticed you mostly keep to yourself,” she continued gently. “So I thought I should say hi.”

A small pause followed.

Then finally—

“…Zara,” she replied quietly.

It wasn’t much.

But it was enough.

Surprisingly, conversation slowly became easier after that.

Not deep conversations.

Not personal ones.

But simple words.

Small laughter.

Normal moments.

And somehow, Ella made silence feel less uncomfortable.

For the first time since the trip began, the tension in Zara’s shoulders eased slightly.

Just slightly.

But enough to notice.

By evening, they headed to dinner together.

The dining hall buzzed loudly with energy.

Plates clattered against tables while students laughed across crowded seats.

Teachers moved around reminding everyone not to make too much noise, though nobody really listened.

Ella walked beside Zara casually while talking about random things.

Then Zara saw him.

Ethan.

He sat at a nearby table with a group of students, laughing softly at something someone said.

For the first time since arriving, he looked relaxed.

Comfortable.

Alive inside the noise around him.

And immediately—

something tightened inside her chest again.

Her steps slowed without realizing it.

Ella noticed instantly.

“You okay?”

Zara nodded too quickly.

“I’m fine.”

But her eyes never left Ethan.

⸻

After dinner, the two girls walked slowly back toward the hostel.

The night air felt cooler now.

Calmer.

The noise around the park had softened into distant laughter and faint music.

For a brief moment, everything almost felt peaceful.

Then suddenly—

Zara stopped walking.

Ella turned immediately.

“What is it?”

Zara’s eyes remained fixed ahead.

Near the edge of the walkway, under one of the dim lights—

someone stood there.

Daniel.

Her breath caught instantly.

Her entire body froze.

For a moment, she couldn’t move.

Couldn’t blink.

Couldn’t even think clearly.

Then quietly—

almost like a whisper—

“…No.”

Ella frowned in confusion.

“What?”

But when Zara looked again—

the figure was gone.

Completely.

Like nobody had ever been there.

Elsewhere that same night, Caleb and Ethan walked through the park after dinner.

The atmosphere outside remained lively as students wandered around laughing and taking pictures.

Near the entrance, Caleb suddenly spotted someone he recognized.

“Give me a minute,” he told Ethan casually.

Ethan nodded without thinking much about it.

“Sure.”

At first, he waited patiently.

But minutes slowly turned longer.

And Caleb never came back.

Back at the hostel later that night, Ethan eventually fell asleep.

The long journey and the day’s activities had drained him more than he realized.

Morning came faster than expected.

For once, Zara woke up without that same crushing anxiety pressing against her chest.

Maybe Ella’s presence had helped more than she expected.

Or maybe she was simply too exhausted to feel afraid yet.

Either way, the morning felt lighter.

Until—

something began to feel wrong.

Ethan woke up slowly and immediately frowned.

Caleb’s bed was empty.

At first, he assumed he had gone out early.

But after checking the bathroom and stepping outside, the uneasy feeling in his chest slowly grew stronger.

He started asking around.

Nobody had seen Caleb since the previous night.

⸻

By breakfast, Ethan couldn’t even eat properly.

His eyes kept moving through the crowded dining hall.

Searching.

Waiting.

Expecting Caleb to appear laughing at how dramatic everyone was becoming.

But he never did.

And slowly—

the atmosphere around the hall changed.

Teachers whispered urgently among themselves.

Students began noticing.

The excitement from the excursion faded into confusion.

Then finally,

a teacher stepped forward.

“Attention everyone.”

The dining hall immediately became silent.

Her expression looked calm.

But serious.

“There is a missing student.”

A heavy pause followed.

Then the name came.

“Caleb Collins.”

Everything around Zara stopped.

The plate in her hands slipped slightly.

Her heartbeat dropped so suddenly it felt painful

For one terrifying second, she couldn’t breathe.

Couldn’t hear.

Couldn’t think clearly.

Only one thought remained inside her mind.

Caleb was missing.