When Alex woke up the next morning, he felt… uneasy.


    Something in his gut told him to check Maya’s notebook.


    He texted her.


    ?? Alex: Meet me at the diner. Bring the book.


    ?? Maya: Already on my way.


    At the diner, Maya slid into the booth across from him, her bag clutched tightly.


    She didn’t say anything—just pulled out the notebook and set it on the table.


    Alex flipped it open to the page they had written on yesterday.


    His hands went cold.


    The name—Mrs. Alder—was gone.


    Not crossed out. Not erased.


    Just… gone.


    Like it had never been written at all.


    Alex felt his pulse in his ears. “You didn’t erase it?”


    Maya shook her head, looking pale. “No.”


    They both sat there, staring at the blank space.


    Something was watching them. Something was making people disappear.


    And now…


    It knew they were watching back.


    ?? Camilla: Movie night at Jason’s. Be there.


    ?? Alex: Is this your way of saying you miss me?


    ?? Camilla: Absolutely not.


    ?? Maya: I’m in.


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    ?? Jason: I’ll allow it. But only if someone brings snacks.


    Alex and Maya exchanged looks. They had agreed not to tell the others—yet.


    But after what Maya just revealed, keeping this a secret was starting to feel impossible.


    So they decided to go.


    Jason’s house had always been chaotic in the best way.


    Half-empty soda cans on the coffee table, a mountain of chips Jason refused to share, and a movie playing in the background that no one was actually watching.


    Camilla scrolled through her phone, unimpressed. "Jason, if you’re gonna make us watch something, at least pick a good movie."


    Jason dramatically clutched his chest. "Excuse you, this is an underrated classic."


    Maya smirked. "Pretty sure that guy just spoke a full sentence without moving his lips."


    Alex, distracted, casually tossed a pillow at Jason.


    Jason caught it—mid-air.


    Without looking. Like it was the easiest thing in the world.


    A second passed.


    Jason blinked at the pillow in his hands. "...Huh."


    Alex frowned. "How did you—?"


    Jason shrugged, tossing it aside. "Reflexes, I guess?"


    Camilla snorted. "Relax, Spider-Man."


    Jason laughed, but Alex didn’t.


    Because Jason had always been quick, sure, but this was different. And it wasn’t just him.


    Maya had written disappearances before they happened.


    Camilla was seeing patterns in reality itself.


    And Alex? He was remembering things no one else did.


    This wasn’t a coincidence.


    And it was getting worse.


    At some point, Camilla put down her phone.


    “Okay, tell me I’m not the only one who feels like something’s off.”


    Alex and Maya tensed.


    Jason grabbed another chip. "You mean besides you constantly spying on people?"


    Camilla ignored him. "I mean it. The town feels... wrong.


    Like when you’re reading a book and you turn the page, but you’re missing part of the story."


    She tapped her phone. "Even my news feed is weird.


    There was an article about the bakery expanding last week. Now it’s gone. I even checked the town’s public records—there’s no mention of the bakery ever expanding.”


    Alex felt his stomach twist.


    Maya’s voice was quiet. "That’s what happened with Joe’s store."


    Jason, who had been half-listening, suddenly sat up. "Wait. What?"


    Maya looked at Alex. He gave a small nod.


    And so they told them.