Whispered Shadows

Chapter Twenty

Echoes by the Lake

Noa

The lake looks exactly like I remember from the photos Gia used to show me. The still, glassy water reflects the moonlight like a mirror, and the woods surrounding it are dense, their shadows curling and shifting in the breeze. It's eerily quiet out here, the kind of silence that feels like it's waiting for something to happen.

It's different at this time than when Ryder and I came here a few weeks ago. It looks just like her photos. This must have been around the time she used to come here.

Ryder pulls the SUV into a gravel clearing by the water's edge and cuts the engine. The headlights go out, plunging us into darkness, save for the faint glow of the moon.

"Stay close," he says as he gets out, his voice low but firm.

I roll my eyes as I climb out of the passenger seat. "You act like I'm about to wander into the woods or something."

"With you? I wouldn't be surprised," he mutters, grabbing a flashlight from the back.

"Funny."

He doesn't respond, instead scanning the area with sharp, calculating eyes. The flashlight beam cuts through the darkness, sweeping over the gravel, the shoreline, and the faint outline of a wooden dock stretching out into the lake.

"This is where Gia was last seen," Ryder says, his voice quieter now. He's not looking at me, his attention fixed on the dock.

I nod, my chest tightening at the thought. I'd seen the photos of the search crews combing this place, the dock roped off with yellow police tape, the boats circling the lake for any sign of her. They never found anything.

"Why here?" I ask, wrapping my arms around myself as a chill settles over me. "Why would Shadow want us to come back to this spot?"

Ryder shakes his head, his jaw tight. "He's playing mind games. Trying to make us second-guess everything."

"But he said we're close," I press. "There has to be something here, something we've missed."

He glances at me, his expression softening just a fraction. "Then we'll find it."

We start toward the dock, the gravel crunching under our feet. The air smells like damp earth and pine, with a faint metallic tang from the water. Ryder's flashlight sweeps back and forth, illuminating the path ahead.

As we reach the dock, I can't help but feel like we're being watched. The hair on the back of my neck stands on end, and I glance over my shoulder, half-expecting to see someone lurking in the shadows.

Ryder notices and steps closer, his hand brushing against mine. "You okay?"

"Yeah," I lie, forcing a smile. "Just... the vibe here is creepy."

"Stay alert," he says, his voice low but reassuring.

We walk to the end of the dock, where the water laps gently against the wooden planks. Ryder crouches down, his flashlight illuminating the surface.

"Do you see anything?" I ask, peering over his shoulder.

"Not yet."

I take a step back, my gaze drifting to the woods on the other side of the lake. The shadows seem deeper there, like they're hiding something.

"Maybe we're looking in the wrong place," I say. "What if it's not the dock? What if it's somewhere nearby?"

Ryder straightens and looks at me, his brow furrowing in thought. "You might be right."