《The Missing Link》 Ep. 1: The Missing Girl Episode 1: The Missing Girl The morning sun spilled through the kitchen window, casting a warm glow over Nathan Foust as he sat at the breakfast table. He pushed his cereal around in the bowl, lost in thought. The sound of his spoon clinking against the porcelain mingled with the distant hum of the television. His father, seated across from him, was glued to the local news, a serious expression etched on his face. ¡°¡ªand in other news, we have a tragic update regarding a missing girl, twelve-year-old Lily Gaunth, who has been missing for a week now,¡± the reporter announced, her voice calm but heavy with concern. A photograph of Lily filled the screen¡ªher bright eyes and innocent smile frozen in time. Nathan¡¯s heart skipped. She looked so familiar, almost like a friend he¡¯d never met. ¡°Poor thing,¡± his father muttered, shaking his head. ¡°They¡¯re bringing in search teams from neighboring towns. It¡¯s just heartbreaking.¡± Nathan¡¯s thoughts raced. He had seen Lily before¡ªat a community event, perhaps? His attention was suddenly broken by a gentle but firm tap on the back of his head. ¡°Eat faster, Nathan! You¡¯re going to be late for school,¡± his mother chimed, glancing over at the television with a frown. ¡°What¡¯s got you so distracted?¡± He turned to her, his voice steady but tinged with urgency. ¡°They¡¯re talking about that missing girl. Lily Gaunth.¡± His father leaned in, eager to share. ¡°They said her family is devastated. They really need help right now.¡± ¡°Oh, God. How awful! Which town did this happen in?¡± his mother asked, her brow furrowing in concern. ¡°In the neighboring town,¡± Nathan replied, memories flooding back. ¡°I went there for a competition last year.¡± He finished his breakfast quickly, a sense of purpose rising within him. As he walked to school, the image of Lily lingered in his mind. He imagined himself helping to find her, picturing their potential friendship, their laughter echoing through the hallways. Nathan was usually quiet, often lost in his thoughts, but today he felt a fire inside him. *** The school bell rang, signaling the start of recess. Nathan found a quiet spot on the bench, his sketchbook resting on his knees. As he doodled, his best friends, Paul and Travis, approached, their excitement palpable. ¡°Foust! You coming shopping with us next week? It''s a long waited break after all.¡± Paul asked, leaning over to get a better look at Nathan¡¯s drawing. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Nathan shook his head, his expression serious. ¡°I won¡¯t be in town during the break. Have fun without me.¡± ¡°What? Why? You never said anything about that before!¡± Travis exclaimed, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Taking a deep breath, Nathan decided to share his plan. ¡°I want to help find the missing girl, Lily. I think I can do it.¡± Paul blinked, surprised. ¡°Wait, the girl from the news? You want to actually go look for her?¡± Travis¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°I heard about her too. That¡¯s really brave, Nathan.¡± ¡°But what if she¡¯s dead?¡± Paul said with a straight face. ¡°No. She¡¯s alive,¡± Nathan stated firmly, a conviction resonating in his tone. ¡°And how do you know?¡± Travis asked, curiosity replacing his initial hesitation. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I hope. I really hope she¡¯s okay,¡± Nathan replied, determination shining in his eyes. Paul shifted, a mischievous grin creeping onto his face. ¡°Sweet. Let''s find it out.¡± He continued, ¡°What if we summon her ghost? If she shows up, it means she¡¯s gone. If not, she¡¯s still out there!¡± Nathan and Travis stayed silent for a minute. Did Paul really just say that? Travis stared at Paul, horrified. ¡°You¡¯re insane.¡± Nathan, intrigued by the idea, raised an eyebrow. ¡°Actually, he''s right. We can know for sure whether she''s alive.¡± ¡°Seriously? What''s wrong with you? It''s not something to mess with!¡± Travis exclaimed furiously. Paul waved his hand dismissively. ¡°Come on, Travis! Just borrow some of your mom¡¯s tarot cards. It¡¯ll be alright!¡± After a lengthy debate, Travis, the more timid of the three, finally relented. ¡°Fine! But only if you promise to stop if I get too freaked out.¡± ¡°Deal,¡± Nathan said, excitement bubbling in his chest. They made plans to gather at Nathan¡¯s house that night for a sleepover and to conduct the ritual after midnight when his parents were asleep. *** As night descended, Nathan¡¯s room was filled with flickering candlelight, casting long shadows across the walls. The boys were gathered around a makeshift altar, their faces illuminated by the soft glow. Nathan felt a mixture of thrill and anxiety, the air thick with anticipation. ¡°Okay, here¡¯s the plan,¡± Nathan said, taking charge. ¡°We follow the instructions exactly. No messing around.¡± Paul smirked, adjusting his glasses. ¡°I promise I won¡¯t turn into a pumpkin or anything.¡± Travis rolled his eyes, trying to mask his nerves. ¡°Let¡¯s just get this over with.¡± As they began the ritual, Nathan¡¯s voice was steady, reciting the incantation with a seriousness that belied his age. The boys focused, hearts racing, glancing nervously at one another. Time seemed to stretch, but nothing happened. Silence enveloped them, and the tension in the room dissipated. ¡°See? Nothing. She must be alive,¡± Nathan said, relief flooding his voice. ¡°Let¡¯s just go to bed,¡± Travis suggested, eager to escape the eerie atmosphere. They climbed into their sleeping bags, the weight of the night hanging heavily on their minds. In the early hours, Travis awoke, his need for the bathroom pulling him from a restless sleep. He tiptoed out, but as he returned to the room, he noticed a shadowy figure standing by the window. ¡°Nathan? What are you doing?¡± he mumbled, rubbing his eyes. But when he looked closer, he realized Nathan was fast asleep in his bed. Panic surged through him. The figure was not Nathan; it was Lily. She stood there, ethereal and delicate, her features faintly glowing in the darkness. Travis¡¯s heart raced, and he couldn¡¯t process what he was seeing. ¡°Lily?¡± he whispered, but his voice cracked. With a sudden jolt, he let out a terrified scream and collapsed, the world around him fading to black. *** Nathan stirred awake at the sound, his heart pounding in his chest. ¡°Travis! What happened?¡± Paul was already sitting up, his face pale. ¡°Dude, what was that scream?¡± ¡°Travis, wake up!¡± Nathan said, shaking him gently, confusion etched on his face. ¡°Guys, I think he¡¯s out cold!¡± Paul exclaimed, his voice trembling. Nathan looked around, his instincts kicking in. ¡°What scared him so much?¡± Paul was staring at the window, his voice barely above a whisper. ¡°Nathan, turn around.¡± With a slow, heavy breath, Nathan turned. And there she was¡ªLily. The very girl they had been searching for, standing in the dim light, her presence both haunting and gentle. The air crackled with tension, and as their eyes met, Nathan¡¯s heart raced. This was just the beginning. *** To be continued... Ep. 2: The Missing Voice Episode 2: The Missing Voice Nathan¡¯s eyes were wide, fixed on the ghostly figure of Lily standing in his bedroom. Paul, frozen beside him, barely had time to process what he was seeing before the door to Nathan¡¯s room burst open. Mrs. Foust, still in her nightgown and blinking sleepily, rushed in, her face full of concern. ¡°What¡¯s going on? What was that scream?¡± she demanded, glancing around the room, her eyes resting briefly on Travis, who lay unconscious on the floor. Nathan didn¡¯t respond. He was paralyzed, his mind whirling as if he were caught between worlds, unsure of what to say or do. His body felt heavy, like he was tethered to something far away. It was Paul who, quick to pick up on the situation, realized with a shock that Mrs. Foust couldn¡¯t see Lily. He took a deep breath and stepped forward. ¡°Sorry, Mrs. Foust,¡± Paul began, his voice steady despite the chaos swirling inside him. ¡°Travis¡ªhe¡¯s, uh, really jumpy. His own shadow could scare him. I think he had a nightmare or something. We didn¡¯t mean to wake you up.¡± Mrs. Foust, still half-asleep, looked at Paul, then at Travis, and then at Nathan, her confusion evident. She wasn¡¯t fully awake, and Paul¡¯s calm tone seemed to soothe her. ¡°Well¡­ just don¡¯t make too much noise, okay?¡± she murmured, rubbing her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s late. Settle down and go back to sleep.¡± She lingered for a moment longer, unsure of what had really happened, but eventually, she turned and left, closing the door behind her. The room fell silent again, the tension thick in the air. Nathan and Paul stood there, staring at Lily. She, in turn, stared back at them, her expression unreadable. The silence stretched on, from one minute into three, each second feeling like a weight pressing down on them. Finally, Paul nudged Nathan with his elbow and whispered, ¡°Say something.¡± Nathan blinked, as if snapping out of a trance. He got to his feet, his legs a little unsteady. He looked at Paul, his eyes wide with confusion, and then turned his gaze back to Lily. ¡°Can you hear me?¡± he asked, his voice unsure, barely above a whisper. Lily gave a small nod. Nathan swallowed hard. ¡°Uh... hi. I¡¯m Nathan Foust. I¡¯m... I¡¯m 13.¡± At his words, Lily¡¯s expression shifted into something between disbelief and amusement. Her lips parted in what could only be described as a silent ¡°What the hell?¡± Nathan, sensing her reaction, felt his face flush with embarrassment. Paul, unable to help himself, sighed in exasperation. ¡°Cool. Now tell her about your hobbies, man¡±, he rolled his eyes. Nathan glanced back at him, flustered. ¡°I¡¯m just trying to¡ª¡± He turned back to Lily. ¡°We, uh... we wanted to know if you were, you know... alive or... not.¡± Paul cut in, more direct. ¡°We did a ritual to summon you.¡± Lily¡¯s eyes widened in shock, and she took a step forward. Her lips began moving, but no sound came out. She spoke rapidly, her face contorted in frustration. She looked directly at Nathan, mouthing something frantically¡ªpossibly even yelling¡ªbut her words were lost in the void. Nathan, bewildered, raised a hand. ¡°Lily, we can¡¯t hear you,¡± he said quietly, feeling more and more uncertain. Lily¡¯s expression shifted from frustration to outright anger. She clenched her fists and began mouthing what looked like a stream of curses, her face flushed with fury. Paul, watching this unfold, let out a deep sigh. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°What the...¡± Paul muttered. ¡°Even though we can¡¯t hear her, this is exhausting. Could you maybe stop for a second?¡± Lily whipped her head toward him, eyes blazing. In a sudden motion, she reached out and grabbed a small ceramic figure from Nathan¡¯s windowsill, hurling it at Paul with surprising force. Paul yelped and barely managed to duck as the figurine shattered against the wall behind him. ¡°Holy¡ª!¡± Paul scrambled to his feet, his face pale. ¡°You can throw things?!¡± He stared at Lily, his heart racing. Nathan, equally shocked, turned to her. ¡°You can touch stuff?¡± he asked, more in awe than fear. Lily seemed just as surprised by her ability, she looked at her translucent hands. Paul, meanwhile, stood up, still catching his breath. ¡°Are you out of your mind?¡± he hissed at her, his voice trembling. ¡°What are you trying to do, send me to the afterlife with you?!¡± Before any of them could say more, a groan from the floor drew their attention. Travis stirred, his eyes blinking open. Paul, acting on instinct, darted over and clamped his hands over Travis¡¯s mouth just as he spotted Lily. Travis¡¯s muffled scream echoed through Paul¡¯s hands, and then, just like before, he passed out again, slumping back to the floor. Paul sighed, looking utterly drained. ¡°It¡¯s gonna be a long night.¡± *** The kitchen was filled with the smell of pancakes and eggs, but the mood was far from light. Nathan, Paul, and a still-shaken Travis sat at the table, their faces pale with exhaustion. Travis looked especially haggard, his eyes wide and distant, as if he couldn¡¯t quite process what had happened the night before. Lily, still present, wandered around the kitchen, seemingly fascinated by the mundane objects. She inspected the ceramic mugs on the top shelf, her eyes lingering on one in particular. Mrs. Foust hummed as she cooked breakfast for the boys, completely unaware of the ghostly presence just inches from her. As Lily reached up and picked up one of the mugs, Paul¡¯s eyes widened in horror. He shot to his feet, his voice cracking. ¡°Mrs. Foust!¡± She turned around, startled by Paul¡¯s sudden outburst, but before she could respond, Nathan jumped up, quickly crossing the room and grabbing the mug from mid-air, where it seemed to be floating. ¡°Uh, I¡ªI¡¯m just thirsty!¡± Nathan stammered, holding the mug tightly. Mrs. Foust frowned at him, clearly not buying it. ¡°What is wrong with you this morning?¡± she asked, her tone puzzled but not overly concerned. ¡°You¡¯re all acting strange today.¡± Nathan swallowed hard, still gripping the mug. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± he muttered, avoiding her gaze. Lily, clearly displeased by this, let go of the mug and, without a word, knocked over a box of cereal on the counter, sending it crashing to the floor. Mrs. Foust turned sharply at the noise, her face now showing real irritation. ¡°Nathan!¡± she scolded. ¡°What is wrong with you?¡± Nathan glanced down at the mess and then back at his mother, feeling cornered. ¡°Mom, I¡ªuh... I¡¯m sorry,¡± he mumbled, his face flushed with embarrassment. Lily, seemingly satisfied with her little act of defiance, turned and walked away calmly, she went upstaires back to Nathan¡¯s room. The rest of the morning passed in an awkward blur. Travis looked like he was ready to bolt at any second, his hands trembling as he picked at his breakfast. Paul was quieter than usual, clearly exhausted from the night¡¯s events. And Nathan¡­ Nathan didn¡¯t know what to feel. He had set out to find Lily, hoping she was alive, and now she was here, but not in the way he¡¯d ever imagined. *** Recess came, and Nathan found himself wandering the school grounds with his sketchbook in hand. His usual spot was a quiet bench near a patch of greenery, where he could sit and draw undisturbed. As he approached, however, he saw her¡ªLily, sitting on the bench, gazing out at the open windows of the classrooms. Nathan hesitated for a moment, then sat down beside her. He opened his sketchbook, but as he flipped through the pages, it landed on a drawing he¡¯d done of her¡ªthe same girl from the news, the same girl now sitting beside him. Startled, he quickly snapped the book shut, but not before Lily saw it. She gave him a curious look, her lips moving silently. ¡°Is that me?¡± she mouthed. Nathan felt his cheeks burn, but he nodded. ¡°Yeah,¡± he said quietly. Lily smiled, and for the first time, it felt genuine, almost sweet. She pointed at something in the distance, and Nathan followed her gaze to a small flower blooming in the grass. ¡°You want me to draw that?¡± he asked. She nodded, still smiling. Nathan smiled back, opening his sketchbook to a clean page and setting his pencil to the paper. As he sketched, his mind wandered. He was still devastated by the knowledge that Lily had died, but there was something strange about her being here with him now. She wasn¡¯t angry, she wasn¡¯t hostile¡ªjust a girl who seemed lost and unsure of where she belonged. From a distance, Paul and Travis watched them, standing near the edge of the yard. Paul glanced at Travis. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he said, taking a step forward. Travis took a step back, shaking his head. ¡°No way. I¡¯m not going near her.¡± Paul sighed, grabbing his friend by the arm and pulling him along. Paul managed to bring reluctant Travis with him toward Nathan and Lily. ¡°So what now?¡± Paul asked, trying to lighten the mood. ¡°Are we just going to hang out with this poltergeist?¡± Lily shot him a disgruntled look, her expression shifting to one of irritation. Nathan raised his head, caught off guard by the comment. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± he said softly, glancing at Lily, who was still hovering nearby. ¡°I was planning to go to Petruel to help find her, but¡­ things haven¡¯t exactly gone as planned.¡± The moment Nathan mentioned Petruel, Lily¡¯s demeanor changed dramatically. She shot up from her spot, her eyes wide with urgency. The boys exchanged bewildered glances, while Travis''s expression turned to one of pure terror. ¡°Please, no,¡± Travis muttered, instinctively taking a step back. In a sudden flurry of motion, Lily reached out, snatching the sketchbook and pencil from Nathan¡¯s hands. She flipped to a blank page, her fingers flying as she began to write furiously. Nathan watched, fascinated and anxious. ¡°What¡¯s she doing?¡± he whispered to Paul, who was equally intrigued. After a moment, Lily turned the sketchbook toward them, revealing the message scrawled in big letters: ¡°Help me.¡± The weight of her words hung in the air, and all three boys stared at the page, their hearts racing. *** To be continued... Ep. 3: The Missing Memories Episode 3: The Missing Memories Lily¡¯s desperate message hung in the air: ¡°Help me.¡± The boys exchanged confused glances, each wondering what she truly needed help with. Just then, the school bell rang, but none of them were in a hurry to leave. Paul turned to Lily, his expression serious. ¡°We have to get to class. Let¡¯s meet after school at Nathan¡¯s. You can explain everything then.¡± He started to walk away, with Travis immediately trailing behind. ¡°Are you serious?¡± Travis whispered urgently to Paul. ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere!¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Paul replied calmly, not looking back. Lily watched Nathan, her face a mixture of worry and determination. Nathan extended his hands to retrieve his sketchbook, looking at her with concern. ¡°We¡¯ll meet after class, okay? Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll help you.¡± With that, he turned and walked away. After school, the three boys made their way to Nathan¡¯s house. When they entered his room, they found Lily waiting for them, her expression still tinged with urgency. Travis, who had been reluctant to come, had ultimately followed his friends. They all sat on the floor, and Lily joined them, her presence still ethereal. The atmosphere was tense, and after a few moments, Paul broke the silence. ¡°So, Lily, what do you need help with?¡± Lily opened her mouth slightly, and the boys leaned in closer to read her lips. ¡°Find me,¡± she spelled out. Travis scooted back, fear creeping into his eyes. ¡°What?!¡± Nathan felt confused. ¡°Find you? But you¡¯re here¡­¡± Paul, always the analytical one, pressed further. ¡°Do you want us to find your body?¡± He added, ¡°Where is your body?¡± Nathan chimed in, his expression serious. ¡°And what happened to you?¡± This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Travis shrank back even more at these questions, clearly frightened by the implications. Lily hesitated, her lips parting as if to respond. The boys watched her intently, waiting for the answer that would shed light on her situation. Finally, her lips spelled: ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Paul¡¯s brow furrowed in confusion. ¡°You don¡¯t know? How can you not know? Did your death happen so suddenly that you didn¡¯t realize you were gone?¡± The flood of questions seemed to overwhelm Lily. She looked lost as she mouthed, ¡°I don¡¯t remember.¡± Paul frowned, his mind racing. ¡°You don¡¯t remember¡­ Great.¡± Lily looked at Nathan with eyes full of worry, Nathan turned to Paul with the same look on his face, only for Paul to shrug his shoulders. Travis piped up with a shaky voice, ¡°Maybe she¡¯ll remember something if she sees herself in the news?¡± All three slowly turned to him, surprised by the suggestion. It was actually a good idea. Paul remembered his computer at home. ¡°Let¡¯s change locations and head to my house. We can look it up there.¡± The others agreed, and they walked to Paul¡¯s house. Once inside his room, Paul sat at his computer and began typing furiously: ¡°Lily Gaunth Petruel.¡± The screen filled with information about her case. ¡°Lily, why don¡¯t you take a seat?¡± Paul offered, gesturing to the chair. She sat down and began scanning the screen, her eyes darting over the text and images. A few moments passed before she turned to them, disappointment written all over her face. Paul raised an eyebrow. ¡°Well?¡± She shook her head sadly, clearly having not recalled anything from the information. The boys sighed in unison. ¡°What now?¡± Travis asked, still in disbelief. ¡°What if we summoned a different Lily?¡± The other three shot him exasperated looks. How could one person come up with both good and utterly ridiculous ideas? Lily returned her focus to the screen, and then suddenly, she spotted a photograph of her family. Her expression shifted, and she began to say something, but the boys couldn¡¯t read her lips in time. Nathan blurted out, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± The room went quiet as they all watched her, hoping for an answer. Her lips formed the words: ¡°I remembered my family!¡± Paul groaned in frustration. ¡°And that¡¯s it? Nothing else? Great, that¡¯s super useful.¡± Nathan noticed the melancholy in her eyes. He has no idea how a dead one''s spirit could feel after seeing their devastated family. What was in her mind? ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± he said softly, wishing he could ease her pain. But she showed no reaction. Paul paced around the room, deep in thought. ¡°Alright, we have three days until break. Lily, take some time to think and remember the details. We¡¯ll go to your town, and we¡¯ll figure this out.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Nathan added. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, just try to recall anything we can hold onto.¡± Lily nodded, her resolve firm despite her earlier fears. Just then, Travis, with a look of innocence, interrupted, ¡°Oh, by the way, I almost forgot. If a summoned spirit¡¯s wish isn¡¯t fulfilled within ten days, it might get stuck in this world and could turn into a vengeful spirit.¡± All three turned to him, eyes wide in shock. Paul exclaimed, ¡°Where did you get that information?¡± Travis replied innocently, ¡°My mom told me.¡± Nathan buried his head in his hands, overwhelmed. ¡°Ten days? So we only have eight left? And three days until break? What are we going to do?¡± Realization hit Travis, and panic set in. ¡°Oh no¡­ And she doesn¡¯t remember anything¡­ We¡¯re running out of time!¡± Lily, Nathan, Travis looked at Paul with despondent eyes. He could read ¡°Come on, Paul. Say something," in their faces. ¡°Okay, listen,¡± Paul said sharply. ¡°No panicking. We only just learned about her wish today, so the countdown starts now. We have these three days to plan how we¡¯ll search in her town, and she¡¯ll use that time to try and remember. If we stick to the plan, we can make it.¡± As expected from the brain of their trio, he filled them with hope. The boys nodded, a renewed determination in their eyes. The countdown had begun. Would they be able to help Lily before it was too late? *** To be continued... Ep. 4: The Missing Days Episode 4: The Missing Days Two days had passed since countdown, and the boys were no closer to uncovering the truth. Lily''s memories of her last days still were missing. Meetings at each other¡¯s houses after school, poring over maps of Petruel and studying places Lily had frequented, still they hadn¡¯t made much progress. They mapped out her town, identifying key locations¡ªher home, favorite spots, and potential places to stay during their visit. It was Paul who suggested the boldest plan. He wanted to go directly to Lily¡¯s parents, introduce themselves as kids who could contact their daughter¡¯s spirit (no need to tell them how), and¡ªwith their help¡ªfigure out where her body was. ¡°For me, it¡¯s the most straightforward, and less time consuming option, ¡± Paul explained one evening, his tone was calm, practical, and maybe a little too detached. But Nathan shook his head, looking horrified at the idea. ¡°We can¡¯t just show up at their house and tell them their daughter¡¯s dead! That¡¯s... it¡¯s too cruel.¡± Travis, who had been quietly listening, looked equally uneasy. ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t think I could do that. It¡¯s... not right.¡± Paul sighed, recognizing their discomfort. ¡°Okay, fine. How about this¡ªwe go to their house, but we don¡¯t mention anything about her being a ghost. We¡¯ll just introduce ourselves as her friends from school. If we get inside, maybe Lily will remember something. It¡¯s less direct, but it might work.¡± Nathan and Travis exchanged glances, both still uneasy but relieved that Paul had suggested a softer approach. They agreed this was the best way forward¡ªfor now. *** It was their last day of school before the break. At the usual spot during recess, Nathan and Paul sat on a bench. Nathan was sketching absentmindedly in his notebook, while Paul read a book, deeply focused. The quiet was broken by the fast footsteps of Travis, who approached with his usual hurried gait, muttering something under his breath. Without warning, he threw himself onto the bench, his expression exasperated. ¡°I don¡¯t like your girlfriend, Foust,¡± Travis grumbled, folding his arms dramatically. Nathan, not looking up from his sketch, replied flatly, ¡°She¡¯s not my girlfriend, Yermen.¡± A mischievous grin spread across Travis¡¯s face as he leaned in, nudging Nathan playfully with his shoulder. ¡°You wish she was.¡± Nathan shot him an annoyed look. ¡°Shut up.¡± Paul, not bothering to look up from his book, chimed in dryly, ¡°Don¡¯t be silly, Travis. Lily¡¯s dead. How could she be anyone¡¯s girlfriend?¡± Nathan¡¯s patience snapped. ¡°Shut up!¡± He stood abruptly, without another word, he stormed off, leaving both Travis and Paul sitting in stunned silence. Travis blinked, confused. ¡°What¡¯s his problem?¡± Paul shook his head. ¡°No idea.¡± Travis let out a frustrated sigh and began ranting, ¡°I¡¯m serious, though¡ªLily¡¯s driving me nuts! Like, yesterday when we were at my place, I brought three glasses of juice for us. She got mad that I didn¡¯t bring her one too and made me get up to pour her a glass! She¡¯s a ghost¡ªshe can¡¯t even drink!¡± You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Paul flipped a page in his book and responded calmly, ¡°She¡¯s part of the group now, even if she¡¯s a ghost. And girls like that kind of stuff¡ªfeeling included.¡± ¡°Included my ass! She¡¯s dead! Also she''s ruining my reputation! She keeps sneaking up on me at school, scaring the crap out of me. People are starting to think I¡¯m losing it because I keep freaking out at nothing!¡± Paul smirked at that. ¡°I think she finds amusing that you''re scared of her.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not scared of her,¡± Travis protested, crossing his arms defensively. ¡°But why does she even come to school? It''s annoying.¡± Travis continued to rant, ¡°And just now, she came up to me and started mouthing something. I thought it was important, so I asked her to repeat it, but all she said was that my haircut sucks! That girl doesn¡¯t even know how insecure I am about my curly hair! Say, Curgan, does it really suck?¡± He ran a hand through his hair, waiting for the answer. Paul glanced at him, still amused, ¡°You look fine, man. She¡¯s probably just teasing you.¡± Travis furrowed his brow. ¡°Doesn¡¯t she ever get on your nerves?¡± Paul returned his eyes to his book, a faint smile on his lips. ¡°I have four Lilies at home, Travis. I¡¯m immune to that kind of thing.¡± Travis groaned, leaning back on the bench. ¡°I¡¯m so glad I don¡¯t have sisters.¡± Paul chuckled. ¡°My older sister treats me like a prince, though. It¡¯s got its perks.¡± Travis, curious now, peered over at Paul¡¯s book. ¡°What are you reading, anyway?¡± Paul¡¯s tone was completely casual. ¡°A book on exorcisms.¡± Travis¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Why?¡± Paul turned another page. ¡°Just in case we run out of time and Lily turns into a vengeful spirit.¡± Travis¡¯s mouth dropped open. ¡°That¡¯s the most heartless thing I¡¯ve ever heard... You hypocrite! Didn¡¯t you just say she¡¯s our friend now?¡± Paul looked at him, his expression turning darker as a cold smile crept across his face. ¡°Yeah, well, let¡¯s see what you say when vengeful-spirit Lily visits you in the middle of the night and strangles you in your sleep.¡± Travis paled, his bravado faltering. ¡°Not funny.¡± Paul¡¯s grin widened, ¡°Who said I was joking?¡± The humor drained from Travis¡¯s face, and he stared at Paul, horrified. ¡°Take it back.¡± Paul closed his book, stood up, and with a playful smirk, tossed over his shoulder, ¡°Not a chance.¡± *** Nathan walked into an empty classroom. He expected to find some solitude, but as he stepped inside, his heart skipped a beat. Lily was sitting at his desk. When she saw him standing there, a wide smile stretched on her face, she extended her hand towards him. Nathan approached her to hand his sketchbook, which she eagerly took. Flipping through the pages, Lily smiled even wider, admiring the new drawings Nathan had been working on. He hesitated, then sat down next to her, his voice soft and unsure. ¡°You know¡­ I saw you. When... you were alive.¡± Lily¡¯s expression shifted, surprise flickering in her eyes. She tilted her head in curiosity. Nathan continued, ¡°Last year, I was in Petruel for a competition. You were there, too. I remember seeing you in the lobby where we were all waiting.¡± Lily¡¯s eyes widened in recognition, and she quickly grabbed a pencil. She scribbled on a blank page, then handed it back to him. Nathan read aloud, ¡°Yes. There was an art exhibition last year. I was invited to play piano for the guests.¡± His heart sank as he realized that he hadn¡¯t stayed long enough to see her perform. He¡¯d left early, for reasons he couldn¡¯t even remember now. He looked at her with a gentle smile, his voice quiet. ¡°Piano? That suits you.¡± ¡°Do you still remember how to play?¡± Nathan asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. Lily nodded enthusiastically. Nathan stood up, a sudden idea sparking in his mind. ¡°Come with me.¡± He led her to the third floor of the school, where the music room was located. Thankfully, it was unlocked. Inside, there was a grand piano in the center of the room. Nathan lifted the lid, gesturing to Lily with a soft smile. Her face lit up with excitement as she sat down at the piano, her fingers hovering above the keys. She looked at Nathan, and he nodded, encouraging her. Slowly, Lily¡¯s fingers began to move, and a beautiful, melancholic melody filled the room. Nathan watched her in awe. But then, as the song came to an end, Lily¡¯s hands fell away from the keys. Nathan noticed her expression had changed. The joy had disappeared, replaced by a look of profound sadness. Tears welled up in her eyes, and soon they spilled down her pale cheeks. Nathan¡¯s heart clenched. He knew why she was crying. He knew all too well. ¡°Lily Gaunth,¡± he thought to himself. ¡°Twelve years old. A gifted pianist. She loves art, flowers, maybe math¡­ I noticed her coming to my class if it''s math. Noticed when she got bored she braids her golden locks. She''s cute. Energetic. Playful. Our personalities are complete opposites. I wonder, what are her hobbies. Her favorite color. Favorite ice cream flavor. I wonder, what she could have been. A pianist? A florist? A math teacher maybe? Her future would have been bright. So bright.¡± Nathan¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears. Unable to hold back his emotions, Nathan wiped his tears and whispered, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have brought you here. I¡¯m so sorry, Lily.¡± They sat there in silence, both overwhelmed by the weight of everything they could never change. *** That evening, the boys gathered in Nathan¡¯s room. Tomorrow, they would begin their journey to Petruel. The mood was somber but determined; the weight of the task ahead hung over them like a heavy cloud. Travis, sitting cross-legged on the floor, broke the silence. ¡°Hey... What are we going to tell our parents? I mean, what can we say?¡± Paul slapped his forehead as if he¡¯d just remembered something important. ¡°Oh, I forgot to mention¡ªI¡¯ve got that covered. My older sister Amelia is coming with us. She¡¯s gonna act like she¡¯s taking us on a trip. That¡¯s our excuse for the trip, so you can tell your parents we¡¯re just going on a normal holiday with a responsible adult.¡± Travis shot up from the floor, his face bright with excitement. ¡°Paul, your sister is the best!¡± Paul grinned. ¡°Yeah, and we won¡¯t have to take the bus either. She¡¯s driving us in her car.¡± Travis practically danced around the room. ¡°Oh yeah!¡± As the day came to an end, all three boys knew their lives were about to change. *** To be continued... Ep. 5: The Missing Hours Episode 5: The Missing Hours Nathan, Travis, Paul, and Lily were gathered outside Paul¡¯s house early in the morning. The sun had barely risen, casting a dim light over the street as they stood by the car, waiting for Paul¡¯s sister, Amelia, to come out. The air was thick with anticipation. This was it¡ªthe day they would finally head to Petruel and try to unravel the mystery behind Lily¡¯s death. Travis, always the curious one, filled the silence with questions. ¡°So, how old is your sister?¡± he asked, bouncing slightly on his heels. Paul, cleaning the lenses of his glasses, responded matter-of-factly, ¡°Twenty-six.¡± Travis nodded, filing the information away. ¡°And where does she work?¡± Paul slid his glasses back on. ¡°Freelancer.¡± Travis tilted his head. ¡°Freelancer? Where¡¯s that?¡± Before Paul could respond to the nonsensical question, the front door of the house swung open, and Amelia emerged. She was tall, with dark hair that cascaded just past her shoulders and the same large, striking gray eyes as Paul. She gave them a short nod in greeting before heading straight for the car, not wasting any time on introductions. Travis fell silent immediately, looking at her with wide eyes. Paul climbed into the front passenger seat as Travis slipped into the back. Nathan followed, with Lily taking the middle seat, though no one could see her. They were all buzzing with a mix of excitement and nerves as the car pulled away from the curb, beginning their journey to Petruel. *** For the first hour of the drive, the car was mostly silent. Amelia wasn¡¯t much of a talker. She had only asked if everyone was comfortable and reminded them to speak up if they needed to stop. The empty road stretched out ahead of them, and Nathan stared out of the window, his thoughts swirling with what lay ahead. The sun was higher now, but the unease of their mission hung in the air. Then, Amelia asked something that shattered the quiet and took the boys by surprise. ¡°So, is Lily with us too?¡± she asked, her voice calm and composed. Nathan and Travis¡¯s eyes widened in shock. They exchanged a glance, unsure how to respond. How did she know about Lily? Should they admit it? Paul answered without missing a beat. ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s sitting in the back, in the middle.¡± Nathan leaned forward, whispering urgently into Paul¡¯s ear. ¡°You told her? You told your sister about Lily?¡± Paul glanced over his shoulder with a smirk. ¡°Well, yeah. Was that supposed to be a secret?¡± The question hung in the air. Travis, curious as ever, leaned forward. ¡°Uh, Miss Curgan, you¡­ believe in all this?¡± His voice cracked a little at the end, betraying his anxiety. Amelia glanced at him in the rearview mirror, her gaze steady. ¡°Yes.¡± That simple word carried so much weight. It was the first time someone outside their little group had acknowledged the truth of what they were going through. Nathan, Travis, and Paul had always been isolated in this terrifying adventure. But now, someone else was with them¡ªsomeone who believed. For a moment, the car felt safer. There was a strange sense of comfort in the fact that they weren¡¯t alone in this anymore. *** After a long, quiet drive, the car finally pulled into Petruel. The town had a small, sleepy feel to it, with quaint streets lined by large trees and old-fashioned houses. Amelia found a small hotel near Lily¡¯s house and checked them into two rooms: one for herself and one for the boys. She handed over the room keys, standing at the door to their room with a final set of instructions. ¡°Rest up tonight. I¡¯m not going to interfere, but if you need any help, just ask. Stay safe,¡± she said, her tone firm but supportive. The boys thanked her in unison and wished her a good night before closing the door behind her. Inside the room, Travis immediately flopped onto one of the beds, letting out a dramatic sigh. ¡°Ahh, I¡¯m exhausted!¡± Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Paul, already halfway out of his shirt, grabbed his towel. ¡°I¡¯m taking the first shower. We need to rest up. Tomorrow¡¯s going to be tough.¡± Travis, now lying flat on his back with his eyes closed, mumbled, ¡°It doesn¡¯t even feel real¡­ By the way, where¡¯s Lily?¡± Nathan, pacing slightly, answered with a bit of concern in his voice. ¡°She wanted to go for a walk around the neighborhood.¡± Travis, now half-asleep, murmured, ¡°Isn¡¯t it dangerous for girls to walk alone at night?¡± Paul snorted. ¡°Right now it''s dangerous for people to walk alone at night, there''s a ghost out there.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ right¡­ she¡¯s a ghost¡­¡± Travis mumbled as he drifted further into sleep. Paul rolled his eyes and gave Travis a playful kick. ¡°Don¡¯t fall asleep before you shower. You stink.¡± As Travis groaned in protest, Nathan stood near the window, staring out at the dark street. Tomorrow was going to be important, and the weight of what was coming pressed down on him. But he kept reminding himself: everything would be fine. They had a plan. They were prepared. *** The boys woke early, ready to begin their search. After a quick breakfast, they gathered their things and set out. The first place on their list was Lily¡¯s home. She led the way, moving with quiet determination, while the boys trailed behind, trying to keep their nerves in check. As they approached the house, it became clear that this wasn¡¯t just any house¡ªit was a mansion. Tall iron gates surrounded the property, and behind them loomed a grand structure that seemed to belong in another era. ¡°Whoa,¡± Travis muttered, staring wide-eyed at the mansion. ¡°You live here, Lily? That¡¯s¡­ pretty cool.¡± Then, as if remembering her tragic fate, he quickly added, ¡°Well, not cool, I guess, since¡­ you know, you¡¯re not really living here anymore,¡± he continued, ¡°You¡¯re not living at all though.¡± Lily rolled her eyes and snatched Travis¡¯s baseball cap off his head. And began swatting him with it, making Travis yelp and shield himself. ¡°Hey! Stop it, stop! Somebody get this vengeful spirit off me!¡± Paul, unfazed by the chaos, sighed and walked up to the gate. ¡°Okay, enough messing around. Let¡¯s ring the bell.¡± He pressed the intercom button and waited. The seconds stretched on, and the house remained eerily quiet. Paul pressed the button again. More silence. ¡°No one¡¯s home?¡± Travis mumbled, shifting nervously. ¡°Maybe they¡¯re out,¡± Nathan suggested, checking his watch. ¡°It¡¯s only ten in the morning. Let¡¯s wait a bit.¡± The boys agreed, and so they waited. An hour passed. Then two. Three. Four. The sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the mansion¡¯s lawn. Paul took off his glasses, rubbing his eyes. ¡°We¡¯re wasting time. Maybe we should check out the other spots we marked on the map.¡± Travis shook his head. ¡°But this is the best place. She¡¯d remember something here, especially her room.¡± Nathan sighed. ¡°Let¡¯s give it one more hour.¡± The hour passed. The gate remained locked, and the house, silent. The boys were growing frustrated. Travis, tired of the wait, huffed, ¡°Lily, why can¡¯t you just float through walls or something? What kind of useless ghost are you?¡± Lily didn¡¯t respond, standing quietly by the gate, her expression unreadable. Dejected, the boys trudged back to the hotel. Amelia had set a strict curfew¡ªthey had to be back before six for safety. As they arrived at the hotel, she was waiting for them in the lobby. ¡°How did it go?¡± she asked, her tone neutral but concerned. Paul shook his head. ¡°No one answered the door. We waited there all day, but no one came.¡± Amelia nodded thoughtfully, but didn''t say anything. *** Determined not to waste more time, the boys were back at the mansion bright and early. Travis took it upon himself to ring the intercom repeatedly, pressing the button over and over until he lost count. Thirty minutes passed with no response, and they were about to give up again when the intercom crackled to life. ¡°You¡¯re still here?¡± a girl¡¯s voice asked, clearly irritated. The boys rushed toward the intercom, startled but relieved. Paul leaned in to speak. ¡°Uh, hi! We¡¯re looking for Mr. and Mrs. Gaunth. Are they home?¡± ¡°No. They¡¯re not,¡± the girl replied, her voice sharp. Paul hesitated before asking, ¡°Are you Daisy?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± she said cautiously. ¡°Who are you?¡± Paul glanced at Nathan and Travis, silently warning them to let him handle it. ¡°I¡¯m Paul. With me are Nathan and Travis. We¡¯re classmates of your sister, Lily.¡± ¡°Classmates?¡± Daisy asked, her voice sharp in disbelief. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah, we went to the same school,¡± Paul said, trying to keep his voice steady. Daisy¡¯s voice became cold. ¡°My sister goes to an all-girls school.¡± Travis turned to Lily, mouthing, ¡°You didn¡¯t think to tell us that?¡± Nathan¡¯s heart sank, and Travis crouched down, running his hands through his hair in frustration. ¡°Leave. Or I¡¯ll call the police,¡± Daisy threatened. ¡°Wait! Daisy, please! We¡¯re really friends of Lily!¡± Paul said, desperate to keep the conversation going. As he spoke, Lily moved closer and started mouthing something to him. He squinted, trying to make out her words. ¡°Shadormen Club?¡± Paul repeated aloud, not sure if he was saying it right. There was a pause. Then Daisy¡¯s voice returned, her tone suspicious but curious. ¡°What did you just say?¡± Paul swallowed. ¡°Shadormen Club¡­ We¡¯re from the Shadormen Club.¡± ¡°How do you know about the club?¡± Daisy asked sharply. Paul unsure in his words answered, ¡°Lily told us about it.¡± Another pause, and then Daisy spoke again. ¡°Wait there. I¡¯m coming to let you in.¡± Nathan and Travis looked at Paul, dumbfounded. ¡°Did that really work?¡± Travis whispered. Paul is in shock himself. The gate clicked open, and they walked up the stone pathway, entering the mansion grounds. The heavy iron gates creaked behind them, shutting with a finality that sent a shiver down Nathan¡¯s spine. Daisy appeared at the front door moments later. She looked a lot like Lily¡ªsame golden hair, same gray eyes¡ªbut there was something colder about her. Her gaze was wary, guarded, as she ushered them inside. The interior of the house was just as grand as the exterior¡ªornate furniture, elegant decor, everything in soft, warm tones that made the place feel welcoming despite its size. But there was also an unsettling stillness to it. Nathan could feel Lily¡¯s presence even more here, as if the house itself held pieces of her memory. Daisy led them into a sitting room and motioned for them to sit on the plush couches. ¡°So, you¡¯re from the Shadormen Club?¡± she asked, sitting across from them, her gaze flicking between each of the boys. Travis, not missing a beat, lied through his teeth. ¡°Oh, yeah. We go there every Saturday.¡± Daisy let out a soft, skeptical laugh. ¡°The Shadormen Club doesn¡¯t exist. It¡¯s a secret word that only Lily and I know.¡± The boys felt their stomachs drop. Were they busted again? ¡°Girls are so complicated,¡± they all thought simultaneously. ¡°I¡¯ll give you this,¡± Daisy continued, ¡°The fact that you know about the Shadormen Club means Lily trusted you. That word was meant for people who were her closest friends¡ªpeople who could be trusted with secrets.¡± The tension in the room lifted slightly, and the boys let out a collective sigh of relief. ¡°Thanks,¡± they said in unison. Daisy, still watching them carefully, asked, ¡°So why are you here?¡± Paul, taking the lead as usual, said, ¡°We want to help find Lily.¡± To their surprise, Daisy smiled, a calm, almost unnerving smile. ¡°That¡¯s not necessary.¡± The boys exchanged alarmed glances. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Paul asked, his voice tinged with suspicion. Daisy¡¯s smile widened, her tone cheerful but eerie. ¡°It''s a secret, but Lily''s safe and sound.¡± The boys froze. What? All three instinctively glanced toward Lily, who stood in the corner, shaking her head with an exasperated expression. ¡°What¡­ what is that supposed to mean?¡± Paul pressed, struggling to keep his voice steady. Daisy¡¯s eyes gleamed with a strange certainty. ¡°I know she¡¯s alive. She told me so¡­ in her letter.¡± *** To be continued...