What Happened to Sarah?

Chapter One.

The setting sun wrapped Sarah in a comforting embrace; it always did. The warm golden light spilled over the mountains, casting long shadows and illuminating the world in vibrant hues of orange and pink that melted into the horizon like a watercolor painting. In that moment, she felt a sense of peace wash over her, a fleeting escape from the prying eyes that seemed to haunt her daily. She let out a heavy sigh, the weight of her worries momentarily lifted as she sat on the rocky ground, her back against a sturdy tree trunk. This was her sacred place—miles away from the noise and chaos of her small town.

Tomorrow marked her eighteenth birthday, a milestone that filled her with both excitement and dread. It meant freedom, yes, but it also meant the hungry eyes and sleazy comments of men would descend upon her with a vengeance. She crouched low, drawing her knees to her chest, breathing in the tranquility of the moment as she closed her eyes. The faint rustle of leaves and the distant chirping of crickets filled her ears, and for the first time in what felt like forever, she felt a flicker of hope.

“If I could stay like this forever…” she whispered to herself, her voice barely above a breath.

But the peace didn’t last long. The tranquility shattered like glass when her phone rang, blaring the obnoxious ringtone. It pierced the quiet afternoon, dragging her back to reality. She opened her eyes, blinking against the harshness of her surroundings.

Sarah’s phone buzzed, vibrating ominously in her hand. Another message from the same unknown number. She hesitated, staring at the screen, a knot tightening in her stomach. It was him again. She’d lost count of how many messages she’d received from this stranger, each one more explicit, more obsessive.

Her thumb hovered over the notification before she finally opened it. She felt a chill crawl up her spine as she skimmed the latest unsettling words.

She had already gone to the police once, desperate for help. But that had been a mistake. She could still hear their voices in her head, dismissing her concerns like they were nothing.

"Are you really surprised? A pretty girl like you should take this as a compliment," one of the officers had said, scrolling lazily through her phone as if the messages were harmless. "This isn’t a threat. Just a confession from someone who really likes you."

Sarah had wanted to scream. "But... I don’t feel safe," she had tried to explain, her voice wavering. "These messages make me uncomfortable."

The officer had leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as he brought his face level with hers, as though he was about to share a secret. His breath had smelled faintly of coffee, but there was something darker in his grin.

"It’s just a crush. Because you’ve got a pretty face," he had said, drawing out the words as if they were meant to flatter her.

Sarah had felt sick. Her heart had pounded in her chest, and her breath had slowed to shallow gasps as a cold wave of discomfort washed over her. She had wanted to stand up and leave, but her legs felt like they were made of lead.

"You should feel lucky," the officer had added, still grinning. "Not everyone gets this kind of attention."

Lucky. That word had hit her like a punch to the gut. As the officer turned and left, Sarah had stood frozen, her hands trembling as she pressed them against her chest, feeling the frantic beat of her heart. Her mind raced with questions, with fear, with frustration.

How could they not see the danger? How could they be so blind to her terror?

All she knew was that it had added another layer to her growing distrust of men.

Another reason to hate them, apparently.

Reluctantly, she pushed herself off the ground, the cool air brushing against her skin as she began the trek back to the town, where chaos reigned and noise filled the air. “Chaos” was a heavy word for such a small place, but despite what the online articles touted about Santa Haraya being a quaint and charming community, the reality felt far more sinister. The streets were narrow and winding, flanked by houses that loomed like silent sentinels, hiding secrets and whispers behind their closed doors.