The fact that a random stranger was sending emails with mysterious messages to Nino was already creepy enough.

But this message really started to make me feel uneasy. 

A strange feeling began to reside in my stomach as I read the email over and over, trying to decipher what the sender was trying to convey by talking about graves and needing to do what you want before "your life slips away from your fingers".

Was someone trying to kill Nino? Was his life in danger?

"I'm seriously thinking about going to the police, bro," said Nino. He was shifting from one foot to the next uncomfortably and his face began to grow more and more pale. And with the way his eyes darted left and right, it was obvious that his anxiety was growing by the minute. 

"This has to be some sort of prank," I told him, my brain desperately trying to grasp onto every logical reasoning I could think of. "Or maybe it's like a riddle...like one of those riddles you find online."

Nino took his phone from my hands and said, "It's the psychopath," with such seriousness that made my stomach twist in nervous knots. 

"Come on, Nino," I chuckled, trying to lighten the mood-- even though we were both starting to get really uncomfortable with this whole situation. "I'm pretty sure that guy has nothing to do with this. These emails are probably from one of our classmates trying to troll us."

Nino shook his head and replied, "I won't be convinced until I have all the evidence I need. I'll even go to the police if I have too."

"Maybe you should tell a teacher or your parents first..."

"No, this is way too serious, Adrien. My life might be at stake."

Was his life really in danger though? I thought reluctantly. One part of me thought both of us might be reaching a little too much, while another part of me thought we shouldn't take this situation lightly and definitely should inform an adult. 

"Is everything okay, you guys?" asked Marinette, who suddenly appeared a moment later. 

"Do you remember when I told you and Alya about someone sending me these weird emails?" Nino asked her, looking around the room to make sure the other students weren't listening. 

Marinette nodded, her pigtails bobbing with the movement of her head. 

"The stranger sent another email," he told her. "I think its the psychopath."

Marinette gathered her eyebrows. "You mean that creepy guy we saw at the ice cream shop?"

"Yes," Nino extended his hand that held his phone to Marinette so she could see the message. "Don't tell anyone about this though, okay?"

"I won't, don't worry," she promised. She took Nino's phone and began to read the email. Both Nino and I exchanged nervous glances as we waited to see what kind of reaction she would give afterwards. 

To our surprise, her expression remained calm as she read. "Hmm," she said thoughtfully a second later. "This same thing was in the newspaper the other day."

"The newspaper?" Nino and I asked in unison. 

"Yeah, my dad was talking about how the newspaper had a new 'daily quotes' column, where anonymous people submit their favorite quotes and the newspaper sometimes features them...or something like that." She explained. "But anyways, he talked about how this quote inspires people to chase their dreams and grasp everything life has to offer, because life doesn't last forever."

That sounded way better than what Nino and I had been speculating. The uneasiness in my stomach finally began to disappear. 

But the seriousness on Nino's face didn't. His eyes met mine as he said, "Come to my house after school."

                                                        ****************

     As soon as we were dismissed from out last class of the day, Nino and I immediately hopped onto our bikes and proceeded to ride home. 

"So basically," he said as we both pedaled down the road. "The psychopath is using quotes from the newspaper as codes to tell us something. We just need to figure out what."

"I still don't think it has anything to do with that guy, Nino," I told him. "And besides, it doesn't make any sense why it would be him," I replied.  "Because first, he has no reason to send you emails. And second, how would he know your email?"

"Maybe he's some sort of hacker?"

"Or maybe the person doing this is someone we actually know who has your email address."

"Probably," said Nino, biting his lip thoughtfully as he considered what I had said. "But I still want to know what's the deal with that guy. And I kinda think Mrs. Cadavre has something to do with this too."

"How?"

Nino shrugged. "I don't know. She just gives off really weird vibes to me."

When we arrived at his house, we dismounted from out bikes and leaned them against the porch before walking up the steps. Nino twisted the knob on the front door, expecting it to be unlocked, but to his surprise the door didn't open. 

He sighed as he fished for the spare key in his pocket, and I sensed that he was annoyed that his mother had locked him out of the house again. 

When Nino unlocked the door, we both walked in to find that both his parents were gone. 

"Mom?" he called, peeling off his bookbag and his orange jacket. "Mom, where are you?"

"She probably went to the store or something," I said, setting my own bag down onto the floor before rotating my shoulders to relieve the aching in my back. 

"She would've texted me." Nino now began to look worried as he continued to search around the house. He finally pulled his phone out and checked his messages before adding, "She didn't send any texts since yesterday. Something's not right."

The uneasiness in my stomach that has disappeared earlier returned once again...this time with a familiar sinking feeling. 

Nino raced upstairs while I went to look in the kitchen. I didn't find Mrs. Lahiffe, but I did find two envelopes lying on the kitchen table. One was addressed to Nino, while the other was addressed to Mr. Lahiffe. 

When Nino came back down, I showed him the envelopes. He tore his without a second's thought and read the letter out loud. 

"Dear, Nino. Dinner for you and your dad is waiting in the freezer. Please make sure you set the table and clean up properly after meals. And please don't slack on your chores. Remember to always do your best in school, and remember that I'll always love you no matter what. Love, Mom."

He placed the letter back onto the kitchen table, his expression changing from worried to completely confused. 

"Why is she telling me this instead of telling me where she went?" He asked. 

When his dad arrived home an hour later, Nino showed him the envelopes. Mr. Lahiffe opened and read his, before immediately placing it back onto the kitchen table and grabbing his phone to call his wife. One look at his face and I immediately knew that whatever Mrs. Lahiffe had written, it definitely wasn't good. 

Alarmed, Nino picked up the letter and read, "I can't stay here. I need to leave. I love you."

A nostalgic feeling of dread washed over me like a wave. 

Mom had said the same thing before she left. 

(A/N):

Hey guys! Thanks so much for reading!

If you liked this chapter, please feel free to comment down below and let me know your thoughts! And also don't forget to become best friends with that little star up in the corner :-)

I hope you guys are having an amazing 2020 so far! Can you believe that a whole decade has passed just like that?? Time flies so fast I swear...

Anyways, I'm working on another chapter right after this one, so expect another update soon. I'm also gonna update my other books, so be sure to keep an eye out for those too!

I love you guys so much and thank you for all your support! I can't wait to see you in the next chap <3

Until then, STAY MIRACULOUSSSS <3<3<3