The news spread quickly: A young woman named Sarah Bennett, who lived two streets over from Ella, had gone missing during the night. Her parents had called the police when she hadn't come home after meeting friends for drinks. She'd simply vanished.
Ella couldn't shake the feeling that the missing woman was somehow connected to Mr. Lachlan Hayes. She'd seen him talking to Sarah just days before she disappeared. A casual chat while they both picked up their mail—nothing out of the ordinary, but in hindsight, everything seemed... off. Sarah had seemed uncomfortable, her eyes darting nervously as she spoke to him.
The police seemed to think it was a kidnapping. They began canvassing the neighborhood, knocking on doors and asking questions. Ella's stomach twisted. Mr. Hayes had been the last person seen near Sarah's house before she disappeared. It was just a coincidence, wasn't it?
But then Ella remembered something—something she had been trying to forget. A few nights ago, she'd seen Mr. Hayes standing in front of his house at two a.m., staring down the street in her direction.
She couldn't shake the thought: Was he involved in Sarah's disappearance?
After the police left, Ella stood in front of her mirror, staring at her reflection. Her hands trembled as she thought about the last time she saw Sarah—laughing, carefree. That image seemed so far away now, like a cruel joke. She wiped her wet eyes and tried to pull herself together. But before she could, her phone buzzed.
A message from an unknown number.
"I know what you saw."
Her heart dropped into her stomach. Who was this? And how did they know?
The message continued:
"You should be more careful, Ella. You're closer to the truth than you think."
YOU ARE READING
The Quiet Among Us
Mystery / ThrillerWhen Ella Carter moves into her quiet suburban neighborhood, everything seems perfect-until she notices her new neighbor, Mr. Lachlan Hayes. Charming, enigmatic, and always watching, he quickly becomes the center of Ella's growing unease. After a lo...
