Chapter 2: The Friend Who Disappeared
Ryan did not sleep that night.
Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the same image.
Emily standing beneath the broken streetlight.
Her hand dropping her handbag.
Her eyes filled with fear.
And him running away.
But now there was something worse.
A new thought had entered his mind.
The man had been watching Emily before him.
Which meant Ryan was not the beginning of the nightmare.
He was only a piece that accidentally moved into the wrong place.
At 3:17 in the morning, Ryan finally opened his phone.
His thumb hovered over one name.
Derek.
For three days, he had avoided calling him.
Not because he was angry.
Because he was afraid.
Derek was the only person who knew about the fake rescue.
The only person who could confirm his story.
The only person who knew what happened before Emily disappeared.
Ryan pressed call.
The phone rang.
Once.
Twice.
Five times.
No answer.
Ryan frowned.
Derek always answered.
Even when he was busy.
Even when he was annoyed.
Ryan called again.
Nothing.
Then he noticed something.
The last message from Derek was sent two nights ago.
Right after Emily disappeared.
It was only three words.
"Forget the plan."
Ryan stared at the screen.
He remembered that night.
Derek had called him.
Loud music had exploded through the phone.
He said he was at Mason's bar.
He said he changed his mind.
At the time, Ryan believed him.
But now something felt wrong.
Ryan quickly opened Derek's social media.
His profile was still there.
But the last post was from three days ago.
A picture of Derek sitting outside Mason's bar.
The caption:
"Some nights change everything."
Ryan's stomach tightened.
He zoomed into the picture.
Derek was smiling.
But something behind him caught Ryan's attention.
A reflection in the window.
A man standing outside the bar.
Tall.
Wearing a dark jacket.
The same kind of jacket the stranger wore.
Ryan immediately saved the picture.
Then he called Detective Hale.
An hour later, Ryan sat inside the police station.
Detective Hale looked at the image.
“You’re sure this is your friend?”
Ryan nodded.
“Yes.”
“And you think this man is connected?”
“I don't know.”
Ryan looked exhausted.
“But everything keeps leading back to him.”
Detective Hale studied the photo.
“Where is Derek now?”
“I don't know.”
“Has he contacted you?”
“No.”
The detective leaned back.
“That’s unusual.”
Ryan looked up.
“Why?”
“Because if Derek was involved in your plan…”
Detective Hale paused.
“He would know he made a mistake.”
Ryan’s expression changed.
“What do you mean?”
“He agreed to participate in a fake attack.”
The detective looked directly at him.
“But then someone else appeared.”
Silence filled the room.
“Maybe Derek saw something.”
Ryan felt a chill.
“Something like what?”
Detective Hale pushed the photo back.
“Something that made him disappear.”
By noon, police located Derek’s car.
It was parked three streets away from Mason’s bar.
The doors were unlocked.
The keys were still inside.
His phone was found under the driver's seat.
But Derek was gone.
Ryan stood behind the police line, staring at the empty vehicle.
A horrible feeling settled inside him.
Derek had not abandoned him.
Something happened.
A police officer approached Detective Hale.
“Detective.”
“What did you find?”
The officer handed him a small evidence bag.
Inside was a folded piece of paper.
Detective Hale opened it.
Ryan watched his expression change.
“What is it?”
The detective did not answer.
He handed the note to Ryan.
Ryan unfolded it.
Only one sentence was written.
Six words.
"YOU SHOULD HAVE LET HER DIE."
Ryan's hands went numb.
His heart started racing.
“What does this mean?”
Detective Hale took the note back.
“I was hoping you could tell me.”
Ryan shook his head.
“No.”
But deep inside, a terrible possibility appeared.
The person who wrote this knew.
They knew Ryan.
They knew Emily.
They knew about the night.
And they knew Ryan wanted to save her.
That evening, Ryan returned home.
He locked the door.
Checked the windows.
Then checked them again.
He had never been afraid of being alone before.
Now every shadow felt alive.
He walked into his apartment.
Something immediately felt different.
A picture frame on the shelf was slightly tilted.
Ryan stopped.
He always kept everything organized.
Slowly, he walked closer.
The photo was of him and Derek from two years ago.
A normal day.
A normal friendship.
Ryan touched the frame.
Then he noticed something behind it.
A small piece of paper.
His breathing became shallow.
He pulled it out.
Another message.
But this one was different.
It was written in a familiar handwriting.
Derek's handwriting.
Ryan,
If you are reading this, I am probably already gone.
Do not trust anyone.
Not the police.
Not me.
Not even yourself.
Ryan froze.
Below the message was another line.
A location.
And a time.
Tomorrow.
Midnight.
Ryan read it again.
Then again.
His phone suddenly vibrated.
Unknown number.
A message appeared.
"I know you found Derek's note."
Ryan stared.
Another message came.
"I know you want to find Emily."
Another.
"But you don't know who she really is."
Ryan's face went pale.
A final message appeared.
"Ask yourself why the man who took her was watching her..."
A few seconds passed.
Then another message arrived.
"...and why Emily was watching him back."
Ryan stopped breathing.
The phone slipped slightly in his hand.
Because for the first time...
A terrifying question entered his mind.
What if Emily was not just a victim?
What if she knew the man before that night?
May you like
What if the person Ryan thought he needed to save...
had been hiding a secret all along?
