"The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes."
- Arthur Conan Doyle, The Hound of the Baskervilles.

-----

Just as Maya tried to shake off the feeling as she walked to her next class, she noticed two familiar figures walking down the hall-the detectives who had investigated Kendall's case: 'Detective Harlow' and 'Detective Rodriguez'. Their expressions were grim, and they were speaking to a group of Tessa's friends, who stood clustered by the lockers.

Maya's breath hitched. Why were they here?

"Hey, aren't those the detectives who...?" Layla whispered, trailing off.

Maya nodded slowly, her heart pounding. Detective Harlow and Winters had been relentless in their search for Kendall, but they had never found any solid leads. Now, seeing them here again, investigating another missing girl, Maya felt a wave of panic rising.

Her mind raced.

Is this connected? Are they investigating Tessa's disappearance the same way they did Kendall's?*

Detective Harlow glanced in Maya's direction, his eyes briefly locking onto hers. For a moment, it felt like time stood still. She quickly averted her gaze, the weight of his presence too much to bear.

"Maya, let's go," Eleanor urged gently. "We should get to class."

But Maya couldn't shake the feeling that something much bigger was happening. As they walked away, her mind was clouded with questions, fear, and the haunting memory of that silhouette under the streetlight. Was the person who had watched her that night still out there, waiting?

Maya and Kylie stood side by side at the school entrance, waiting for their driver, Tony, to arrive. The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the parking lot, but it did little to ease the weight of the day. Tessa's disappearance, the haunting messages Maya had received, and the lingering memories of Kendall's abduction-all of it seemed to press down on her chest, making it hard to breathe.

When the familiar black SUV pulled up, Tony stepped out and opened the door for them with his usual courteous nod. Maya and Kylie slid into the backseat, exchanging a brief look of understanding before settling into their seats. They didn't need to speak to know what the other was feeling-two years after Kendall's disappearance, the pain was still there, but so was their shared strength.

As the car pulled away from the school, the hum of the engine filled the quiet between them. But it wasn't an uncomfortable silence. It was the kind of silence that only existed between people who knew each other deeply. Maya glanced out the window, her mind spinning, but Kylie's presence beside her was a comfort.

Kylie, ever the stronger, always the one to keep the family together, reached over and gently squeezed Maya's hand. "You okay?" she asked softly, her voice filled with concern.

Maya nodded, though her heart was still racing. "Yeah," she said, though she didn't feel entirely sure. "Just... a lot on my mind."

Kylie gave her hand another squeeze before letting go. "I know. I've been thinking about Tessa too."

Maya turned to face her sister, surprised but grateful that Kylie had brought it up. "You think... it's connected?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. The question had been gnawing at her all day, but she hadn't dared voice it until now.

Kylie bit her lip, her gaze distant. "I don't know. But it feels... too familiar. Like we've been here before."

Maya nodded. It was the same feeling she'd been trying to shake since the moment she heard about Tessa's disappearance. She knew Kylie felt it too-the fear that history was repeating itself, that someone else was about to be lost the way Kendall had been.

"I wish Julian were home already," Maya murmured, changing the subject slightly, her thoughts drifting to their older brother. He was always a source of strength for her, and the thought of him coming back this weekend gave her some small comfort.

"Me too," Kylie agreed. "He'll be back before we know it. Maybe having him home will help, you know? Keep things... steady. After all he texted he might be back this weekend."

Maya nodded again, grateful for Kylie's steady presence. Even when the world felt like it was spinning out of control, her sister was always there to anchor her. They had been through so much together, and though the fear and grief never fully went away, they had each other. That was what mattered.

But she was worried. Was Kylie really okay or she was just trying to be strong? Strong for her, strong for everyone?

Kendall was her twin. Other half.

The drive home continued in silence, but it was a peaceful one now, filled with an unspoken promise: whatever was coming, they would face it together.

When they arrived home, Tony opened the door for them, and they stepped out of the SUV, the evening air cool against their skin. The house loomed before them, familiar yet heavy with the memories of the past. Maya glanced at Kylie, and the two exchanged a small, knowing smile before heading inside.

The tension from earlier still lingered, but it wasn't oppressive. They were in this together.

Inside, the house felt warm, the smell of dinner wafting through the air as they stepped into the foyer. Their younger siblings, Jake and Mila, were sprawled on the living room floor, playing a game and bickering over who was winning. Their mom's voice floated from the kitchen, calling out a greeting as they entered.

"Hey, girls! How was school?" their mom asked, appearing in the doorway with a dish towel draped over her shoulder. Her smile was warm but tired. It had been two years, and yet the weight of Kendall's absence was still evident in the way their parents carried themselves.

Kylie answered first, her tone casual, as if trying to keep the mood light. "Same old. We're almost done-school's closing next week, and we're so ready for Santorini."

Their mom's smile widened, and she wiped her hands on the towel. "I can't wait for this vacation. We need a break."

Maya managed a small smile too, though the thought of the vacation, as exciting as it was, couldn't completely push away the worry that gnawed at her. Kylie nudged her playfully, as if to remind her that they had something to look forward to, and Maya's smile became a little more genuine. Santorini had been a long-awaited family trip, something they all needed after everything that had happened. It would be their first real vacation since Kendall's disappearance, and the thought of escaping, even for a little while, was comforting.

Their dad's voice boomed from behind them as he came down the stairs. "I heard Julian's coming home this weekend!" His smile was wide as he joined them, ruffling Ethan's hair as he passed.

"You already said that during breakfast". Kylie said as she smiled a little.

Maya's mood lifted a little at the mention of their older brother. "Yeah, he's done with his internship, right?" she asked, turning to her dad.

"No, just a short break for the family vacation." He smiled proudly. "I'm sure he'll be glad to be back with us, and it'll be nice to have him around again," their dad said, his voice carrying a sense of relief. "It's been a while since the whole family was together."

They didn't have a whole family anymore.

Maya nodded, the thought of Julian being home soothing her nerves. He had always been the one to make her feel safe, like nothing could go wrong when he was around. Maybe his return would help ease some of the tension that had built up over the past weeks-especially with the strange messages and Tessa's disappearance.

Their mom clapped her hands together lightly. "Alright, dinner will be ready in a bit. You two better freshen up," she said, her eyes lingering on both of them a little longer, as if sensing the unspoken burden they carried.

Kylie stretched and gave a mock groan. "I'll be upstairs if you need me," she said, flashing Maya a smile before heading toward the stairs.

Maya stood still for a moment, watching her sister leave. The house seemed calmer now, with the chatter of her siblings and the warmth of her parents creating a comforting buzz. But deep down, the shadow of Kendall's absence lingered, and now with Tessa gone, it felt like that shadow was stretching even longer.

"I'll head up too," Maya mumbled, making her way upstairs after Kylie. She needed a moment to herself, to breathe and process everything without the weight of expectation. She couldn't shake the unease, even though home was supposed to be safe. The drive, the cryptic messages, the disappearance-it all swirled in her mind.

Upstairs in her room, she sat on her bed, pulling out her phone again. No new messages. Yet, somehow, that didn't make her feel any better. She glanced over at her window, half expecting to see that same silhouette from the other night.

Nothing.

For now.

The next day at school, the tension from Tessa's disappearance was thick in the air. Posters of her face were plastered everywhere, her name whispered in the halls. The atmosphere was eerily familiar, stirring memories of Kendall's abduction that Maya had tried so hard to suppress.

During the morning announcements, the principal's voice crackled over the PA system, informing the students that investigators would be on campus throughout the day, asking questions and gathering information about Tessa's last known whereabouts.

Maya felt a lump form in her throat. She had seen this before-the investigation, the hushed conversations, the hopelessness creeping in. She tried to focus on her classes, but it was impossible.

By lunchtime, detectives were already on campus. Two officers-Detective Harlow and Detective Rodriguez-stood near the front office, talking with the principal. Maya recognized them immediately. They were the same detectives who had investigated Kendall's case. And now they were investigating Tessa's. Besides they were here yesterday, and again today.

Her stomach dropped.

She exchanged a glance with Kylie, who was sitting across from her. Kylie's jaw was tight, her eyes narrowing as she noticed the detectives too.

"They're here again," Kylie muttered, barely audible over the noise of the cafeteria. "Just like last time."

Maya nodded, her hands shaking slightly as she gripped her sandwich. The sight of them brought back too many memories-how they had questioned everyone, combed through the school, and still came up with nothing. Would it be the same this time?

"They're talking to Tessa's friends today," Jayda whispered from beside them, her voice low. "I overheard them say they'll be interviewing everyone who saw her last."

Ava frowned, her voice tight with worry. "What if... what if they don't find her? Like Kendall?"

Maya's heart raced. She didn't want to think about it, but the fear was already creeping in. What if this was all happening again? What if Tessa was gone for good?

Kylie placed a reassuring hand on Maya's arm. "We'll be okay," she said quietly, her voice firm. "They'll find her. They have to."

Maya nodded, but her mind was already spiraling. The detectives' presence only heightened the feeling of dread that had been hanging over her since the messages started. Something was happening, and she couldn't shake the feeling that it was all connected-Tessa, the messages, Kendall's abduction.

She just didn't know how.

After what felt like the longest day of her life, Maya and Kylie were finally heading home. As they stepped out of the school building, the afternoon sun cast long shadows over the parking lot, making everything feel surreal. Their driver was waiting for them, standing by one of the family's sleek, luxurious cars.

The silence between Maya and Kylie was heavy as they approached the car. The events of the day hung between them-Tessa's disappearance, the detectives' return, and the memories it brought rushing back.

As soon as they got into the car, the tension was palpable. The driver, sensing the mood, kept quiet as the engine purred to life and they pulled away from the school. Maya stared out the window, watching the familiar streets pass by, but everything felt different now. The normalcy of their routine was shattered.

Kylie broke the silence first, her voice soft but steady. "Do you think it's happening again?"

Maya blinked, turning to face her sister. Kylie's question was the one thing she had been trying to avoid all day, the one thought that terrified her more than anything. "I don't know," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "I hope not."

Kylie sighed, leaning back in her seat, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. "It feels the same though, doesn't it? The way everyone's acting, the way the school is... It's like we're back to where we were when Kendall disappeared."

Maya didn't answer. She couldn't. Because Kylie was right-it did feel the same. The whispers, the fear, the uncertainty-it was all too familiar. And the thought of losing another person, of going through that nightmare again, was too much to bear.

Kylie continued, her voice quieter now, as if she was speaking more to herself than to Maya. "I hate that we still don't know what happened to her. Two years, and nothing. And now Tessa's gone... What if we never find out what's really going on?"

Maya swallowed hard, her throat tight. She didn't want to think about it, but Kylie had voiced the exact fear that had been gnawing at her for days. What if they never found Kendall? What if Tessa was gone for good too? And what if she was next? After all that's what the anonymous person said, wasn't it?

The car was silent again for a while, the weight of their conversation settling over them like a thick fog. The driver maneuvered through the quiet streets, and Maya tried to calm the pounding in her chest, but the anxiety only grew the closer they got to home.

As the car pulled into their driveway, Kylie reached out and grabbed Maya's hand, squeezing it tightly. "We're in this together, okay?" she said, her eyes locking with Maya's. "We'll figure this out. We have to."

Maya nodded, grateful for her sister's reassurance, but the dread still clung to her. They had lost Kendall, and now someone else was missing. How could they possibly figure it out when the world seemed to be unraveling around them?

They stepped out of the car, their footsteps echoing on the pavement as they headed inside. The warmth of the house wrapped around them, but for the first time, it didn't feel like the safe haven it usually was.

Because no matter how much they tried to convince themselves otherwise, the truth was that things weren't okay.

Not by a long shot.

Dinner that evening was quieter than usual. Julian's return was the only topic that seemed to bring some sense of normalcy back to the family. Their parents were clearly trying to keep the mood light, talking about how excited they were for his return from his internship. But beneath it all, there was an undeniable tension.

Jake and Mila, were blissfully unaware of the dark cloud hanging over the household, chatting about school and their upcoming vacation to Santorini. It was supposed to be a family trip to relax and unwind after what had been a difficult year, but with everything happening, Maya wasn't sure how anyone could feel excited about it now.

At one point during the meal, her mom gently brought up Kendall, her voice tinged with the same sadness that had never quite gone away. "It'll be nice to have Julian back," she said softly, "but I wish... I wish Kendall could be here too."

Her father placed a hand over hers, squeezing it lightly. "She's with us in spirit," he said, though his voice sounded strained.

Maya glanced at Kylie, who looked down at her plate, her face carefully blank. They never talked about Kendall openly-at least, not like this. It was too painful. But tonight, with the shadow of Tessa's disappearance looming over them, it felt impossible to avoid.

After dinner, Maya retreated to her room, the weight of the day pressing down on her shoulders. She flopped onto her bed, staring at the ceiling as her thoughts raced. Kendall's disappearance. Tessa. The cryptic messages. The detectives back at school.

It was too much.

Her phone buzzed, snapping her out of her spiraling thoughts. She grabbed it, half-expecting another anonymous message.

But it wasn't. It was a text from Kylie.

Kylie: Are you okay?

Maya sighed and texted back quickly.

Maya: I don't know. Are you?

Kylie's response came almost immediately.

Kylie: No. But we'll get through this.

Maya smiled faintly. Kylie had always been the stronger one, the one who kept everything together. Even when everything was falling apart, she was the one who could always find a way to cope.

But this time, Maya wasn't sure if either of them knew how to handle what was coming.

Maya lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, the faint hum of the air conditioner the only sound in the room. The house had settled into its usual nighttime quiet, but for her, sleep felt impossibly out of reach. Her thoughts were racing too fast, looping in the same dark, unsettling pattern.

She hadn't slept for days, and with what just happened that made it worse.

She couldn't stop thinking about Kendall-her sister-gone without a trace for two years. And now Tessa, a friend, another girl who vanished in the same way. The thought of it was unbearable. What if whoever took Kendall was still out there? What if they were watching her?

Her phone buzzed on her bedside table, and Maya grabbed it, the screen casting a soft glow in the dark room. It was a message from her group chat with Ava, Layla, Jayda, and Eleanor.

Ava: You guys, today was so freaking weird. Seeing those detectives again freaked me out.

Layla: Right?? Why are they back all of a sudden?

Jayda: Tessa's gone, that's why. It's the same as before with Kendall. Do you think they're connected?

Maya's heart raced at Jayda's question. The same thoughts had been swirling in her mind, but seeing it spelled out by someone else made it feel all the more real.

Eleanor: It has to be. But two years apart? Why would the person wait that long?

Ava: I don't know, but I'm scared. What if it's someone from school?

Maya's stomach twisted into knots. She had been thinking the same thing. The messages, the shadow, the way she felt eyes on her today-it couldn't all be in her head, could it?

Layla: We have to be careful. Don't go anywhere alone, okay? I'm serious. This feels bad.

Maya hesitated, then typed quickly, her fingers trembling.

Maya: I got a text from a number earlier.

She didn't want to tell them but now she wanted to try, probably she might not be the only one getting texts like that. The three dots flashed on and off for a moment before a response appeared.

Ava: From who??

Jayda: What kind of text?

Eleanor: Maya, what did they say?

Maya's breath caught in her throat. Could she even explain it without sounding paranoid? Could she explain without sounding crazy? How could she tell them that's why she's been off lately? How could she tell them that it might be the same person she spoke to at the mall? How could she say all these things?

Maya: It was something creepy. I don't know who sent it, but it didn't feel like a prank.

Layla: Oh my god. Did they say anything about you?

Jayda: Is it a lady whistledown kind of thing? Spreading secrets or stuff?

Ava: Have you told anyone? Your parents?

Maya bit her lip, feeling the weight of their concern. They didn't understand, not fully. They hadn't seen the messages like she had. They weren't getting texts from someone who seemed to be watching her every move.

She glanced at her phone again, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. Should she tell them the truth? Should she mention the one she got just minutes ago?

Before she could decide, her phone buzzed again. Another message. This one wasn't from the group chat.

It was from the anonymous number.

Anonymous: Watching. Waiting.

Maya's heart nearly stopped. She threw her phone down on the bed like it was burning her skin, her pulse pounding in her ears. Her body froze, the shadows in the room suddenly feeling more menacing, more alive. She sat up quickly, her eyes darting to the window, the closet, the door-anywhere someone could be hiding. What the fuck did this texts mean?

Her breath came in shallow gasps as she reached for her phone again, her hands trembling. She opened the group chat, desperate for comfort, for something normal.

Maya: I just got another text.

Ava: From who??

Maya: The same number. They said, "Watching. Waiting."

The chat exploded with responses.

Jayda: What?? Are you serious?? So they're not lady whistledown kind of texts💀

Layla: You need to tell someone!

Ava: This isn't a joke, Maya. You have to tell the police.

Eleanor: It's not safe for you to just ignore this.

Maya stared at the messages, feeling a mix of fear and comfort. Her friends didn't understand the depth of it yet, but their words gave her a moment of relief. Even if she went to the police would they believe her - they might think of it as teenagers pranks. However, the warning still echoed in her head. This wasn't over. Whoever it was... wasn't done.

Before she could respond to her friends, her door creaked open, and Kylie poked her head in. "Maya? Are you still up?"

Maya quickly shoved the phone under her pillow, her heart still racing. "Yeah, I'm up. What's wrong?"

Kylie stepped into the room, her face illuminated by the dim glow of the hallway light. She looked just as restless as Maya felt. "I couldn't sleep," she admitted, sitting down on the edge of Maya's bed. "I've been thinking about... everything."

Maya sat up fully, hugging her knees to her chest. "Me too."

Kylie sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Do you think they're connected? Tessa and Kendall?"

Maya hesitated, her mind flashing back to the anonymous texts. She wanted to tell Kylie everything, but the fear still gnawed at her. What if the person was watching right now?

"I don't know," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But it feels like it."

Kylie frowned, her eyes searching Maya's face. "You're scared. I can see it. What aren't you telling me?"

Maya looked away, biting her lip. Kylie always knew when something was wrong, but how could she explain the texts without putting herself-and Kylie-in even more danger?

"I'm just... overwhelmed," Maya said, her voice wavering slightly. "It's all so much."

Kylie reached out and squeezed Maya's hand. "We'll figure this out, okay? Together. Just like we always do."

Maya nodded, but her heart still pounded in her chest. Together. But if Kylie knew the truth, if she knew about the messages... would they even have time?

What if, what if she was actually next?

-----

And that is chapter seven! It's kind of long, but I had to write everything in one chapter I couldn't break it. At least is not as bad as chapter two - I'm still looking for a way to break that.

Anyways what do you guys think? Any questions? Let me hear in the comments!

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Bye for now. Until next time

Muah!💋
~Rhoda