What Happened to Sarah?

Chapter Five.

Sarah hadn’t come back. It was already nine in the evening, and her friends were growing more anxious with every passing minute.

Naomi sat trembling, her legs barely supporting her as she collapsed into a chair, panic tightening in her chest. Across the room, Cali stood at the front desk, his posture rigid, his frustration clear as he argued with the manager. They were all gathered in the hotel’s dimly lit lounge, trying to stay calm as they sought help. None of the staff had seen Sarah, and now, desperate, they were asking to see the security footage. Every second without an answer felt like a lifetime.

Cali’s voice grew sharper as his gestures became more frantic. Naomi bit down on her lower lip, silently praying. She wasn’t the religious type—she hardly ever prayed—but tonight was different. Tonight, she begged. If Sarah came back to them unharmed, she swore she’d go to church every Sunday, light candles, anything. She just needed her friend to be safe.

“What happened?” Naomi overheard an employee whisper to another, his voice tinged with worry.

That was the question, wasn’t it? What happened to Sarah? Where had she gone? And why wasn’t she back?

Sarah wasn’t the type to disappear. Naomi knew this better than anyone. Sarah knew the pain of being left behind—she’d experienced it firsthand—and she had vowed never to do that to her friends. Naomi had believed her without question. Now, doubt gnawed at her insides.

Nia, Betty, and Disco sat beside Naomi in near silence. Disco looked ghostly pale, the usual color and spark in his eyes drained away. Betty seemed as though she might faint any second, her breath shallow and her hands trembling. Nia, the bravest of them, forced a weak smile and gently squeezed Betty’s hand, trying to offer comfort. But Naomi saw the fear lurking behind her eyes. A tear slipped down Naomi’s cheek, and she wiped it away quickly. They weren’t just scared; they were shattered. What if Sarah was gone for good? Never, not in a million years, had Naomi imagined a life without her best friend. Everything felt wrong—empty.

The soft shuffle of footsteps brought Naomi’s gaze back to Cali as he walked toward them. His expression was grim, his face pale and drawn with exhaustion.

“They said we can’t file a report until after 24 hours,” he said, his voice tight. “For now, we wait.”

Naomi reached out and took his hand, squeezing it. She nodded, though her heart sank at the news. “Let’s get some rest,” she murmured, her voice hollow. It wasn’t giving up—it was regrouping. They needed clear heads and strength if they were going to find Sarah. But right now, everyone looked like they were barely holding it together.

They headed back to their rooms in a thick, suffocating silence. No one dared to speak. Naomi’s fingers hovered over her phone, dialing Sarah’s number for what felt like the hundredth time. The same beep echoed in her ear, the sound of a dead end. In the corner of the room, Nia stared intently at the laptop screen, replaying the CCTV footage the hotel had sent them.

None of it made sense. Naomi joined her, peering over her shoulder.

The footage was grainy but clear enough. Sarah walked down the hallway toward the bathroom, her figure moving with purpose. Then, three minutes later, two girls—strangers—followed the same path. Naomi’s stomach churned. The footage kept playing, but only the two girls came back out. Sarah didn’t.

A cold chill ran down Naomi’s spine. Something wasn’t right. The hotel hallway on the screen suddenly seemed darker, more sinister.

Betty who had been sitting on the bed, leaned closer. Betty’s breath caught in her throat as they paused the video, freezing on the blurry faces of the two girls.