It was a dark night. No stars dotted the sky, and not even the moon gave light. Silence hung heavy on the road—until it was shattered by the desperate cries of a young boy.
"Help… help… someone please help!"
He turned mid-run, eyes wide with fear. A blinding white light flared—then swallowed him whole.
Moments later, only silence remained. The boy was gone.
By morning, life resumed as if nothing had happened. People hurried off to work. The sun rose as usual.
Inside her small bedroom, Misty prepared for school. She was a quiet, diligent high school senior, soon to graduate. Homework, projects, and textbooks filled her world. She had no friends and didn't seek them. Her younger sister May, on the other hand, lived for company and exploration—always snapping photos of pretty skies or bustling streets.
As the sisters walked to school, Misty noticed something strange.
Her classroom was half empty.
She turned to her classmate Ryan, "Why are there just few students today?"
Ryan leaned in, voice low, "You didn't hear? A bunch of kids vanished from their homes last night. Just gone. Nobody knows how or why. So, parents are freaking out. They're keeping their kids indoors."
Misty frowned, "But if the disappearances are happening inside homes… what's the point of locking children in?"
Ryan shrugged, "Who knows what's behind all this?"
Before Misty could ask more, the teacher walked in and class began. But Misty's thoughts didn't stop racing.
On their way home, a storm suddenly rolled in. Thunder growled overhead.
"We better hurry," Misty said. "I don't want to get drenched."
"Race you to the porch!" May grinned.
Back home, their mother called them to wash up and come to the table. Just as they sat down, sobs echoed from outside.
A woman was crying on the street, pleading with passersby to find her daughter.
Misty's heart pounded, "Mom… what's going on? This morning there were kids missing, and now this?"
May snapped, "Some of my friends aren't even allowed out anymore. They're locked in their homes!"
Her mother's voice rose, "You don't need to worry about others. Just take care of yourselves. Now come eat."
"But why are you angry?" May asked.
Misty put a calming hand on her sister's arm. She'd noticed something off in her mother's tone. Later, she asked gently, "Is everything okay, Mama?"
Their mother was quiet, then spoke in a hushed voice, "My one of the friend's daughter disappeared. I can't sleep thinking about it. What if… one day… it's you or May....."
Misty didn't argue, even though she wanted to. Her mother's fear was real.
When she entered May's room, her sister was fuming.
"What now?" Misty asked.
"I got scolded for nothing, and now you're asking why I'm upset?" ,May said.
"I get it. But did you notice how anxious Mom was?"
May started sobbing, "No, I… I...do not know anything I... I... am a bad person here who do not care about anyone…"
After seeing May crying Misty stopped scolding her, "Ah... now stop crying and this is not the first time that you have been scolded by mother. What is the matter, did something happen?
May's anger crumbled into tears. "I just... feel helpless. My best friend Lara vanished. I went to her house—her parents said she was gone."
Misty's breath caught in her throat. Something far bigger was unfolding, and she wasn't sure anyone could stop it.