Beneath the Midnight Sky

now, as she drove the familiar road through the town's outskirts, it still felt like a place full of ghosts-her ghosts. The memories of her parents,

t returned

never return to. Her heart clenched at the thought

he fading light of the evening. The small town was quieter than she remembered, almost like it was holding its breath. Ever

disappearances in Evermore had captured national attention. At least that's what she told herself. She had to be he

was as if the town itself were watching her, waiting for her to do something. Or mayb

ard. Charlie hadn't seen her in years, but she recognized her instantly. Maddie was standing by t

ut, feeling the weight of the

forward, her boots crunching on the gravel. "Charlie Davis,"

ect it myself," she said, trying to keep things light. But she definite

addie said, her eyes deep into Charlie'

The disappearances. There's something... off abo

r eyes. Maybe it was fear. Or maybe it was just the weight of the past between them. Maddie

Maddie said softly, voice low. "Things around here ha

ff's office, her boots clicking against the pavement. The door slammed shut behind her, leaving

the city. She had a deadline to meet, a job to do. But as her eyes flicked over the

was at play, and

mall place with neon lights that looked like they hadn't been replaced in years

ut it was better than nothing. She tossed her th

. But then, just as she was about to close the window, she saw it-lights.

e they were dancing across the sky. Her heart skipped a beat, an

aircraft or something else ordinary. But there was some

She pulled it from her pocket, her fingers trembl

nected to something bigger.

nd anonymous. But it was enough to s

to me? And wh

y. The lights were gone now, vanished as quickly a

with questions, but one thing was clear: she wasn't here just for the story. She

ng she wasn't going to l