Lost and Found • mikhaiah au

15. Platters of Revelations

The next day.

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, Agnes stood in front of her mirror, meticulously adjusting her outfit. She had chosen something simple yet presentable, not wanting to draw too much attention, but still wanting to make a good impression.

She ran her fingers through her hair, giving herself a final once-over, but her gaze soon shifted from her reflection to the box sitting on her dresser, the very box that had turned her world upside down.

The box she had found in La Union was the mastermind for everything that had happened recently. It had been the beginning of her unraveling the tangled threads connecting her to Maiko, Malia, and the mysterious red-haired girl.

Her thoughts drifted, questioning whether it was fate that led her to that cabin and to this box, or if it was some eerie twist of the universe.

Agnes reached out and gently lifted the lid, her heart beating a little faster as she did. Inside, resting atop the journal and polaroids, was the photograph that had haunted her since the moment she first laid eyes on it.

The red-haired girl still stood out clearly, her vibrant hair locks a sharp contrast to the muted tones of the old photo. Beside her, in a blurry figure, was the girl named Althea, the redhead's girlfriend, if Agnes had pieced it together correctly.

She stared at the photo, feeling the weight of the mystery pressing down on her. Tonight could be the night where she finally understood the full story, where the pieces of this puzzle might start to fit together.

Agnes couldn't help but wonder if there was something at Colleen's home, some clue or memory that would shed light on the connection between her coach and this pair.

As Agnes observed the photo one last time before closing the box, her eyes stopped and lingered on the blurry figure of the Althea girl.

The red-haired girl was vivid, her features sharp and clear, but Althea's face was frustratingly out of focus, almost as if the universe had intentionally obscured her identity.

Agnes found herself wondering, not for the first time, about what Althea might have looked like.

Did she have a warm smile or intense eyes that could captivate anyone? The photo offered no answers, only a vague outline, leaving Agnes with nothing but her imagination. The mystery of Althea's appearance gnawed at her, adding another layer of intrigue to the puzzle.

Agnes let out a small sigh as she placed the photo back in the box. She couldn't shake the feeling that if she could just see Althea's face clearly, some part of the story might finally make sense.

Maybe tonight, she mused, Colleen or Malia might have something, another photograph, a memory, that could finally bring Althea into focus.

With that hope in mind, Agnes closed the box, feeling the weight of the unknown settle over her.

With a final glance at the mirror and a determined nod, Agnes picked up her keys and headed for the door. This night was bound to be for better or worse, she wasn't sure, but she knew she had to face whatever awaited her at Colleen's home.

—

Agnes stood in front of the door to Colleen and Malia's home, her heart thudding in her chest as she took a deep breath and pressed the doorbell.

Almost immediately, the door swung open, revealing Malia's warm smile. Before Agnes could say anything, Malia pulled her into a tight hug.

"Agnes! I miss you!" Malia said, her voice brimming with genuine warmth as she stepped aside to let Agnes in. "Come on in, sit down! I was just setting the table eh."