Nora sat in front of her computer, scrolling through Ivy’s social media. Ivy had always been the kind of person to post everything, from casual selfies to cryptic quotes about freedom and the importance of secrets. Nora paused on an old photo Ivy had posted just a few months ago. In the background, there was a shadow of someone—someone she couldn’t quite place.

Nora zoomed in on the figure, her heartbeat quickening. Who is that?

She continued scrolling, coming across an unsettling post: “The shadows are closer than they seem. Stay out of the dark.” It was one of Ivy's last posts before she went missing.

“That doesn’t make any sense,” Nora muttered. She went to Ivy’s private messages, hoping for something that could explain more. There, she found an exchange with an anonymous user. The messages were vague but alarming.

“Don’t trust them.”
“I’m meeting someone tonight. It’s the only way out.”

Nora’s breath caught in her throat. Ivy had been meeting someone in secret. Could it be Alex?

A new message popped up on the screen. A notification from Ivy’s phone: Location: 10:15 PM, Old Mill Road, Cabin #13.

Nora grabbed her coat and headed out, determined to find out more. When she reached the address, her breath misted in the cold air. The cabin was small, hidden between a thicket of trees, almost like a forgotten place.

She stepped closer, scanning the area. Her eyes widened when she saw it—the journal. It was tucked behind a loose board near the cabin door. She opened it, trembling. The pages were filled with Ivy’s frantic handwriting.