What Was Left Behind

Chapter 4: Screams of the Forgotten

Maia walked the familiar streets of Hillstone with a growing sense of unease. The town felt different now—its neat little houses, carefully trimmed lawns, and friendly faces were all starting to feel like a mask. A thin layer of normalcy, hiding something rotten beneath. She couldn't shake the feeling that everyone in this town was somehow involved, even if they didn't know it. They were all part of this web of secrets, connected by the shadows her father had left behind.

The conversation with Detective Ross was still fresh in her mind, his words echoing in her head. Erasing memories. It was something out of a nightmare, a story too wild to be real. But the longer Maia thought about it, the more it made sense. Her father had always been distant, secretive about his work. His death had closed the door on so many unanswered questions. But now, it seemed like that door was creaking open again, and what lay behind it was far darker than she had ever imagined.

As she walked, she passed the café where she and Camilla had spent so many afternoons together, talking about everything and nothing. The memory hit her like a punch to the gut, and she had to stop for a moment, her hand tightening around the strap of her bag.

"I think someone's watching me." Camilla had said that only a few days before she disappeared. Back then, it had seemed like a throwaway comment, just one of the many things Camilla used to say when she was in one of her more dramatic moods. But now Maia couldn't stop thinking about it. Someone had been watching her. Someone had taken her.

Her mind raced as she thought about what Ross had told her. Her father's work—erasing memories, manipulating people's minds. How could that connect to Camilla? To the other girls who had gone missing?

She was so deep in thought that she didn't notice the man walking toward her until he spoke.

"Maia, right?"

She blinked, startled out of her thoughts, and looked up to see a tall figure standing a few feet away. He had a calm, steady presence about him, with sharp green eyes that seemed to be studying her carefully. His dark hair was slightly tousled, and there was an intensity in his gaze that made her feel both curious and cautious.

"Uh, yeah," she replied, still trying to place him. "Do I know you?"

"I'm Levi Greystone," he said, offering a slight smile. "We haven't officially met, but I've seen you around town. And... well, I know you've been looking into Camilla's disappearance."

Her eyes narrowed slightly. People had been talking, apparently. Hillstone was small, and rumors spread quickly, but it was unsettling to know that strangers knew what she was doing. "How do you know about that?"

Levi's expression didn't change. If anything, he seemed to relax a little more, like he was expecting her reaction. "I'm a journalist. I've been following the disappearances for a while now, even before Camilla went missing."

Maia tensed. A journalist. That explained why he knew her name, why he was interested in her investigation. But it also meant he might be prying for his own reasons—looking for a story rather than trying to help. She wasn't sure she could trust him, not yet.

"I'm not looking for publicity," she said quickly. "This isn't something I want in the news."

Levi held up his hands in a gesture of peace. "I'm not here to write a story. At least, not yet. I know how personal this is for you, and I'm not looking to exploit that. I just think we might be able to help each other."

She studied him carefully, her mind working through the possibilities. He had a quiet confidence about him, but there was something else, too—something deeper, hidden beneath the surface. He wasn't just some ambitious journalist chasing a lead. There was more to him than that.

"How could you possibly help me?" she asked, crossing her arms.

Levi stepped closer, his gaze steady. "I've been looking into the other disappearances for a while now. The girls that went missing before Camilla. There are patterns—connections the police haven't noticed, or maybe haven't bothered to look at."

Maia's pulse quickened. She had seen the same thing. There were patterns—pieces of the puzzle that connected Camilla to the other girls, but the picture still wasn't clear.

"I've been digging into the town's history," Levi continued, his voice lower now, more serious. "The psychiatric facility, the patients who were treated there, your father's involvement... There's more going on here than anyone realizes. I think your father was part of something bigger—something that ties into these disappearances."

Maia's breath caught in her throat. Her father. It always seemed to circle back to him, no matter how hard she tried to escape it.

"What do you know about my father?" she asked, her voice tense.

Levi hesitated for a moment, as if choosing his words carefully. "Not much. Just that he was involved in some... controversial work. From what I've found, it seems like there was a group of doctors at the facility who were conducting experiments—testing new treatments for trauma, but not all of it was above board."

Maia's heart raced as she processed what he was saying. It was the same thing Detective Ross had hinted at. Experiments. Memory manipulation. Her father's name tied to it all.

"Why do you care about this?" she asked, narrowing her eyes. "Why are you digging into this?"

Levi's expression hardened slightly, a flicker of something darker passing over his face. "I lost someone, too," he said quietly. "My sister. She disappeared a few years ago. The police said it was an accident, but I never believed them. I think it's connected to the other disappearances, to what happened to Camilla. And I think your father knew something about it."

His words hit Maia like a punch to the gut. His sister had disappeared. Just like Camilla. Just like the others.

"I'm sorry," she said, her voice softer now, though the words felt inadequate. She knew that pain all too well—the uncertainty, the fear, the endless questions that never seemed to have answers.

Levi nodded, his eyes clouded with old grief. "I don't expect you to trust me right away, but I think we're looking for the same thing. And I think we have a better chance of finding answers if we work together."

Maia hesitated, her mind racing. She wasn't used to letting people in. She had always worked alone, especially when it came to her father's past. But Levi wasn't just a random journalist poking around for a story. He had lost someone too. He had as much at stake as she did.

And maybe, just maybe, he was right. Maybe they would find more if they worked together.

After a long moment, Maia nodded. "Okay," she said slowly. "We can try working together. But this stays between us. No articles, no press. Not until we know what's really going on."

Levi smiled, the tension easing from his face. "Agreed. No press."

For the first time in days, Maia felt a glimmer of hope. She didn't know where this partnership with Levi would lead, but it was a step forward. And for now, that was enough.

As they walked together down the street, the weight of her father's secrets pressed down on her shoulders. The mystery of the disappearances was growing darker, more tangled with each new revelation. But she wasn't alone in this anymore.

And that, she realized, made all the difference.