"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark."—William Shakespeare, Hamlet (Act 1, Scene 4)

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It had been three nights since the first tap.

Three nights since Maya had been jolted awake by the faint knocking at her window. Since then, she’d barely slept. Each night, she’d lay in bed, eyes wide, waiting for the sound to return.

Tonight, the silence was heavier than usual. The anxiety lingered, gnawing at her. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being watched.

Tap. Tap.

There it was again. The sound that had haunted her since the first night. The tapping at her window, faint but deliberate, sending her heart into a wild rhythm. She sat up slowly, straining to hear over the hum of the house.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

It was louder this time, unmistakable. Her eyes flicked to the window, but like every night before, she saw nothing beyond the curtain. Just the pale light of the streetlamp outside, filtering into her room like a ghostly haze.

Her hand reached for her phone, hesitating as she thought about waking Kylie again. Her sister had brushed off her paranoia after that first night, convinced it was just nerves, but Maya couldn’t shake it. The unease gnawed at her bones, growing stronger with every sleepless night.

She checked her phone out of habit, hoping for a distraction—anything to calm her racing mind.

It buzzed in her hand. A text.

"Are you paying attention?"

Her blood ran cold. She stared at the screen, her heart thundering in her chest.

Just like the night before, the message vanished within seconds.

Was this all in her head? Or was someone truly out there, watching her, tormenting her?

What did they gain? Doing all this. It was exhausting.

She hesitated, glancing back at the window where the tap had come from. She thought back to the first night, when the tapping had startled her awake and she had peered through the curtains.

That night, she had seen a silhouette.

It had been standing just beyond the glow of the street lamp, a tall, dark figure, watching her. She’d told herself it must have been a trick of the light, but now, as she sat frozen in her bed, the image returned, sharper than ever.

But tonight, there was no silhouette.

The figure was gone, and yet... the tapping had returned.

As the silence settled once more, Maya sat in her bed, wide awake, unable to shake the feeling that something was very, very wrong.

The next morning, Maya trudged downstairs in her uniform, the weight of another sleepless night pressing heavily on her shoulders. The chatter of her family filled the air, a stark contrast to the silence that haunted her room.

Kylie was already seated at the table, scrolling through her phone, barely looking up as their parents spoke in hushed tones. Jake and Mila, were arguing over the last piece of toast, their voices high-pitched and playful. It still ended with them sharing it.

Maya sat down, her eyes flitting to the window in the kitchen, as if expecting to see that silhouette again.

“Morning, Maya,” her mother greeted warmly, placing a plate of eggs and bacon in front of her.

“Mornin',” she mumbled, not really in the mood to eat. Her mind was still stuck on the tapping sound from last night. She pushed the eggs around on her plate, barely listening to the conversation.

“You okay?” Kylie asked, finally looking up from her phone, her eyebrows raised. “You look... tired.”

Maya forced a weak smile, her eyes darting between Kylie and the window. “Yeah. Just didn’t sleep well.”

“Probably thinking too much about that dance this weekend,” Kylie teased, nudging her arm. “You’ve been stressing about it for weeks.”

“Yeah… the dance,” Maya echoed, her voice hollow. The dance was the last thing on her mind right now.

Her dad folded his newspaper, giving her a look of concern. “You sure everything’s alright, sweetheart?”

Before Maya could respond, her mom cut in. “Oh, by the way, Julian’s coming home this weekend.”

Julian—her elder brother, the one she was closest to. He’d been away for an internship, and she’d missed him more than she let on. A small spark of relief flickered inside her at the thought of him being around again. “That’s great,” she said, managing a genuine smile this time.

“How’s the dance coming along, Maya?” her mom asked, shifting the conversation. “You’ve got everything you need?”

“Yeah,” she lied. The dance wasn’t the problem.

As the breakfast conversation flowed around her—her dad talking about work, Kylie and their mom discussing weekend plans—Maya felt increasingly disconnected. The normalcy of the scene felt surreal, like she was watching her life from the outside.

Her gaze flicked over to Jake and Mila, who were now whispering and giggling to each other, oblivious to the tension running through their older sister. They lived in their own world, where shadows outside windows didn’t exist and the idea of someone watching them was absurd.

Well, besides Julian, someone else was missing at the table.

Kendall.

Her absence was felt, not in a loud or dramatic way, but in the unsettling quiet that followed. Kendall was the steady one—the twin who calculated every move, measured her words, and kept a cool, composed exterior. She wasn’t the type to drift off into her thoughts or get lost in artistic musings like Kylie. No, Kendall was grounded, the kind of person who focused on plans, precision, and the logic behind every detail.

Where Kylie would sketch something brilliant on a napkin or wax poetic about the interplay of light and shadow, Kendall would be figuring out how to frame it, how to make it practical, or how to turn the concept into something that worked. She thrived in control and strategy, the perfect counterbalance to Kylie’s creative energy.

Even now, her absence left a lingering void. You could almost feel her sharp, assessing gaze missing from the table, like a missing piece in a puzzle. It wasn’t faint, not really—it was the kind of presence that, even when gone, still kept everything subtly in check.

Jake suddenly turned to her, breaking her reverie. “Hey, Maya, are you still coming to my game this weekend?”

“Yeah, of course,” she replied automatically, even though her mind was elsewhere.

Her mom’s gaze lingered on her, the way only a mother could. She could sense something was wrong, even if she didn’t say it aloud.

“Are you sure you’re okay, Maya?” her mom asked again, her tone softer now. “You’ve seemed a little... off lately.”

Maya hesitated, her fork hovering over her plate. Should she tell them about the tapping? The silhouette? The messages?

No. They wouldn’t understand.

“I’m fine,” she said, her voice firmer this time. “Just... tired.”

“Oh, and don’t forget—school’s closing soon,” her dad chimed in, lowering his newspaper. “We’ll need to finalize our plans for the Santorini trip soon.”

The vacation. They had been talking about it for months—two weeks in Santorini, soaking in the sun. Normally, she’d be excited. But now... it just felt distant, like something that didn’t belong to her life anymore.

“Right,” Maya nodded, her voice distant.

The conversation shifted again, her family continuing their morning as if everything was normal. But for Maya, nothing felt normal anymore.

Breakfast was over and everyone left for their daily activities. She had school. Tony drove she and Kylie to school.

The school hallway bustled with the usual energy. Lockers slammed, conversations buzzed, and shoes squeaked against the floor as students shuffled between classes. But Maya walked through it all like a ghost—there, but not really present.

Her friends noticed.

Ava was the first to say something. “Maya, hey!” she called out, jogging up to her with her backpack swinging behind her. “You okay? You’ve been kinda... off.”

Maya forced a smile, her heart heavy with the secrets she was keeping. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just tired.”

“You sure?” Layla joined them, shooting Maya a concerned look as they walked toward their lockers. “You look like you haven’t slept in days.”

Jayda and Eleanor soon caught up with them, and their small group clustered together near the lockers. The talk of the dance filled the air, but Maya could barely focus. Their laughter and excitement felt miles away.

As Jayda rambled on about her dress for the dance, Maya’s eyes darted to the hallway window. A flicker of movement outside caught her attention. Was it someone? Something?

She blinked, and it was gone.

Her stomach churned.

“You seriously need to get some rest,” Eleanor said, nudging her arm. “You’ve been acting weird for days now.”

“I’m just... there’s a lot on my mind,” Maya mumbled, keeping her gaze on the floor.

“Is it about the dance?” Layla asked, her voice soft with concern. “You know we’ve got your back, right? We’ve all been preparing for weeks, it’s going to be great.”

Maya bit her lip, debating whether to share anything. But how could she explain what was going on? The cryptic messages, the tapping, the figure she saw last night. She barely understood it herself.

“Yeah, it’s just... stress.” She shrugged, trying to brush it off. “I’ll be fine.”

Her friends exchanged glances, clearly not convinced.

“You’ve got us worried,” Ava said gently. “If you ever need to talk, just... let us know, okay?”

Maya nodded, though the words felt hollow. There was so much she wanted to say, but she couldn’t. Not yet. Not until she figured out what was going on. “Thanks,” she said, forcing another smile.

Jayda, ever the mood-lifter, tried to brighten the moment. “Alright, enough of this gloom! We’ve got a dance to crush this weekend. And speaking of which, has anyone seen the decorations they’ve been putting up in the gym? It’s gonna be lit!”

The others joined in, talking about the dance with renewed excitement. But Maya’s mind remained elsewhere, her thoughts clouded by the growing paranoia. The cryptic messages. The tapping. The silhouette.

Was she being followed?

As the conversation carried on, Maya’s phone buzzed in her pocket. Her heart skipped a beat. She pulled it out, the screen lighting up with a new message:

"Don’t think you’re safe. They’re always watching."

Her fingers went cold. She quickly shoved the phone back into her pocket, her pulse racing.

“Maya?” Layla asked, noticing her shift in demeanor. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Maya muttered, her voice tight. “It’s nothing.”

But it wasn’t nothing. And Maya knew that whatever was coming, it was getting closer.

Suddenly, the bell rang, echoing through the hallway and pulling Maya out of her thoughts. Her friends sighed, grabbing their books and saying their goodbyes before heading to class. Maya hesitated for a moment, her nerves on edge, but eventually followed them.

Throughout the lessons, her focus kept drifting back to the message. The cryptic texts were becoming more frequent, and no matter how much she tried to ignore them, they gnawed at her. Her paranoia lingered, building steadily as the day wore on.

The lunch bell rang, signaling the end of classes for the morning. Maya gathered her books with shaky hands, the cryptic message from earlier still buzzing in the back of her mind. She walked to the cafeteria with her friends, trying her best to blend in, though her nerves were frayed.

The cafeteria was loud and chaotic as always, but it felt suffocating today. Maya sat with Ava, Layla, Jayda, and Eleanor, pushing her food around her plate while her friends chatted animatedly about the upcoming dance. She nodded along to their conversation, but her attention was elsewhere.

Every creak, every shuffle of a chair, every laugh—it all seemed sharper, more intense. She glanced over her shoulder several times, convinced that someone was watching her. But no one was there. She felt eyes on her, yet the cafeteria was full of familiar faces. She couldn’t shake the feeling.

“You’ve barely touched your food,” Jayda observed, nudging her. “You’ve got to eat something, Maya. You’ll need energy for the dance!”

And yeah everything was about the dance.

Maya forced a smile, picking up her fork and taking a small bite. The food tasted like cardboard in her mouth. “I’m just... not that hungry.”

Eleanor leaned in closer, lowering her voice so only Maya could hear. “You’ve been acting super weird today. Are you sure everything’s okay? Is it the messages?”

Maya’s heart skipped a beat. “What? How do you...?”

“You keep checking your phone like you’re expecting something. Is someone bothering you?” Eleanor’s concern deepened. “You can tell us, you know.”

Maya hesitated. Part of her wanted to confide in them, to finally spill everything that had been happening. But what if they thought she was losing it? What if it made things worse? She didn’t want to drag them into something they couldn’t understand.

“No,” Maya said quickly, shaking her head. “It’s nothing. Just some random spam.”

Eleanor didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t push further. “Okay... but if it’s more than that, you can trust us.”

“Yeah, I know. Thanks.” Maya appreciated her concern, but it didn’t ease the growing unease twisting in her gut.

The rest of lunch passed in a blur of conversation and laughter—none of which Maya really heard. Her mind was too clouded by the ever-present feeling of being watched. The cryptic messages kept flashing in her mind, and her pulse quickened with every glance at the cafeteria windows.

What if someone was out there? What if they were waiting for the right moment?

As the lunch period ended and the bell rang for classes, Maya and her friends made their way out of the cafeteria. The halls were buzzing with the usual end-of-day energy, but something felt... off. There was a commotion near the school bulletin board, where a crowd of students had gathered.

Maya's curiosity was piqued, though her anxiety still lingered. “What’s going on?” she asked Eleanor as they approached the crowd.

“I think someone’s missing,” Eleanor whispered, concern crossing her face.

Pushing through the crowd, Maya saw what everyone else was staring at: a missing poster. The girl's face was plastered across the paper, her name printed in bold letters underneath:

MISSING
Tessa Anderson
Last seen: Two days ago
Please contact the police with any information.

Tessa Anderson, a junior from a neighboring class, had gone missing. Maya’s stomach churned, her breath catching in her throat. It was happening again.

“She was here last week,” Layla said softly. “She was at practice.”

“I remember seeing her in English,” Jayda added, her voice low. “How could she just disappear?”

Maya felt a wave of nausea as she stared at Tessa’s smiling face on the poster. It wasn’t just the fact that another girl was missing—it was the haunting memory of her sister Kendall, Kylie’s twin, who had disappeared two years ago. Although it was two years ago — most times it felt it just happened.

The day Kendall went missing had started just like any other. Maya had been hanging out with Kendall and Kylie at home before they all went their separate ways. Kendall had plans with friends that evening, but she never made it home.

Maya hadn’t seen or heard anything suspicious—until later that night.

That was when it happened. A sharp tap on Maya’s window as she was lying in bed. At first, she thought it was just a tree branch or the wind. But when she looked outside, her breath caught in her throat. There, under the glow of a distant streetlight, was a silhouette—a figure standing completely still, watching her house.

Before she could react, the figure disappeared, melting into the shadows. By the next morning, the news had broken: Kendall was missing.

The police had searched for days, weeks even, but they never found any solid leads. Kendall was gone, and every day since had been a nightmare for Maya, Kylie, and their family. The memory of the silhouette had never left her mind. Who had been watching her that night? Could they have been involved in Kendall’s abduction?

Now, with Tessa Anderson missing, the same dread rose in Maya’s chest. Was it happening again?

Eleanor nudged her gently. “Are you okay? You look pale.”

Maya swallowed hard, nodding. “I’m fine... just, I don’t know. This feels too familiar.”

Ava nudged her again. “Are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Maya quickly nodded, swallowing hard. “Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just... it’s happening again, isn’t it?”

Layla shuddered. “I hope not.”

The school bell rang, signaling the start of the next period, but Maya’s mind was elsewhere. She couldn’t focus in class, couldn’t shake the feeling that she was missing something important. As her paranoia gnawed at her, she glanced around the classroom, half-expecting to see someone watching her again.

Tessa was missing, and Maya couldn’t help but wonder if she would be next.

She couldn't’t shake the unease in her chest. The same anxiety that had plagued her after Kendall’s disappearance was back, stronger than ever. What if Tessa’s case was connected? What if whoever had taken Kendall was still out there?

And if that was so, she was next.

They'd come for her too.

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And yessss!! We have chapter 6!!

From now updates would be Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. It wouldn't be daily like last week.

I will try to update on these days. Adjustments would be made eventually if I can't meet up to or can update more.

And what do you think of this chapter? Someone else is missing. Why? Is this related to Kendall? Read on to find out!

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Bye for now!

Muah!💋
~Rhoda.