The footsteps outside the library made Aria freeze.
"Hide the notebook," she whispered.
Before I could ask why, she snatched it from the table and slipped it beneath her cardigan.
The door opened.
Mrs. Agatha the church sanctuary cleaner stood there, watching us suspiciously.
"What are you girls doing here?"
"Reading," Aria answered quickly.
Mrs. Agatha's eyes moved between us.
"Remember, girls. Some questions are better left unanswered."
Then she left.
I immediately turned to Aria.
"Give me the notebook."
"No."
"Aria, what exactly are you hiding?"
She hesitated before unfolding the note we'd found inside.
STOP ASKING QUESTIONS.
Beneath those words was another sentence.
THE LAST GIRL WHO ASKED NEVER LEFT.
My stomach tightened.
"Who was she?" I asked.
Aria looked at me, and for the first time, I saw tears gathering in her eyes.
"Her name was Esther."
"Who is Esther?"
"My sister."
I stared at her.
"You have a sister?"
"Had," she whispered. "She disappeared three years ago."
Before I could ask another question, Aria grabbed my hand.
"Promise me you won't tell anyone about her."
"Why?"
"Because the people who know what happened to Esther are still here."
She walked away before I could stop her.
I remained behind, staring at the note.
Then I noticed something written at the bottom.
TAYA ZARAH.
My full name.
My hands trembled.
I'd spent almost my entire life in this orphanage. I knew its rules, its secrets, and the strange things the other girls whispered about.
But I'd never seen this name on anything suspicious before.
Why would someone write my name on a note connected to a girl who disappeared three years ago?
"Now you understand why you should stop asking questions."
I turned.
Mrs. Agatha stood behind me.
"Why is my name on this note?" I demanded.
She stared at me for a long moment.
Then she whispered, "Because it was never meant for you."
My heart pounded.
"Who was it meant for?"
Her expression changed.
"Your sister."
I couldn't move.
My sister?
I'd never known I had one.
Before I could demand an explanation, Mrs. Agatha walked away.
That night, I lay awake, replaying her words.
Then I heard a soft knock at my bedside.
Aria stood beside me, her face pale.
"I need to tell you something," she whispered.
"What?"
She glanced toward the other sleeping girls.
"Esther wasn't the only girl who disappeared."
I sat up.
"What do you mean?"
Aria leaned closer.
"Taya, someone in this orphanage is hiding the truth about your childhood. And tomorrow, I'm going to show you proof."
She walked away before I could ask another question.
I stared into the darkness.
For the first time in my life, I wondered whether the place I'd always called home had ever truly been safe.