"𝚆𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚘 𝚊𝚌𝚌𝚞𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚐𝚞𝚒𝚜𝚎 𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚟𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚜, 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚗𝚍, 𝚠𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚐𝚞𝚒𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚟𝚎𝚜."

The storm that day filled the sky with green and gray ominous clouds, it was as if God himself was giving a glimpse of what was to come. The rain wouldn't let up as it pounded into the ground below, creating small rivers that pooled at everyone's feet.

But no amount of rain could wash away the sorrow that replaced the oxygen in the air. It was impossible to keep it out as the thunder roared beyond the hills.

They had found Molly.

But not warm and safe in the arms of her parents. 

But cold, bruised and beaten as her naked body was partially covered with forest foliage. She had been dead for just days when they found her. Shedding new light on the theory that she was alive for much of the time that she was missing.

Her death was ruled a homicide.

The sheriff's department was keeping most of the details from the public. Just the basics of how she was found and the condition of her body were noted. But Anna knew her father and she knew how murder cases such as Molly's worked.

If they were withholding information, it was because they felt it wasn't necessary for the public to have knowledge of the gory details, for sake of the family and the integrity of the case. But that didn't stop the whispers and the rumors on what exactly might have happened to her.

The night the news broke, Reese made the smart decision to clear his party. 

And after Anna arrived home, she'll never forget her father's face when he stripped himself of his uniform.

It was as if he was shedding the hideous things he had seen in the woods after the grim discovery, concluding the rumors of the suffering Molly endured. The strong sheriff who spoke so confidently at the press conference, in front of flashing cameras and slimeball reporters, was a shell of his former self.

He didn't speak, only nodded to the few questions his wife had asked and disappeared upstairs for the remainder of that night.

In the days following, the town fell silent, preparing to lay Molly to rest. And everyone, including Claire and her pretentious family, came together to pay their respects.

The sea of black umbrellas crowed around the large white tent that housed Molly's family. The oak casket being the focal point of everyone's eye as the pastor blessed Molly's life, adding to the darkened atmosphere. The large while lilies laying on top of the oppressed wood were the only light reflecting against the downpour.

Anna stood close to her father, glancing to him once in a great while. Hoping that somehow, he'd show some form of emotion.

But his eyes remained blank. So empty that she wished her mind would take notes and free itself of the burdening questions she had, at least until the funeral was over.

Looking to her left, beyond the crowd, sheriff deputies waited near the line up of cars, watching and waiting for any suspicious activity. Turning to her right, past her mother and sister, her eyes fell upon Reese. 

He was dressed in a fitted suit, the dark fabric matching his olive complexion. She watched as his father, Nicholas, rested his large hand on his shoulder. He was a powerful man, not only being the sole heir of the town but in the way of his compelling and forceful nature. He was all business.

And Reese was the spitting image of him, down to their mannerisms.

She looked away quickly when he looked in her direction. She hadn't spoken to anyone since the night of they found Molly's body. 

Isaac stood next to Reese and his father, dressed to the nine's and wearing a pair of Rayan sunglasses in the down pour. Layla and Paige were close behind. She also noticed that Emmett was not in attendance, not a shock considering his piece of shit nature. 

It would have been more of a surprise to seem him amongst those who mourned or those who pretended to. 

The small sobs coming from the front made Anna turn her attention back to the pastor. Molly's mother stood next to the casket as it was being lowered into the ground, her husband, a stately looking man was consoling her with gentle strokes.

She was a beautiful woman, with the same fragile blonde hair that Molly was gifted with.

Her eyes were swollen, face raw and red from the silent tears she had spilled earlier. She wasn't a blubbering mess, as one would expect from a parent who was burying their child. Her grieving was controlled, in a way that was far more heartbreaking than her throwing her hands in the air to curse God.

Claire couldn't have been more wrong about Molly's family. They weren't trailer trash as she assumed. They were dignified people who chose to stay out of everyone's way, a trait Molly must have adopted.

As her relatives mourned in the front row, Anna noticed an empty chair seated beside Molly's mother. A seat that no one sat in during the entire duration of the service. 

A loud clap of thunder caused the ground to shake, concluded the funeral. And any fragment that was left of Molly, was gone.

Buried and sealed away forever.

The crowd disbursed faster than they had gathered. The show for them was over and it was time to get on with their normal lives.

Anna stood, watching as the picture of Molly's mother burned itself into her mind like a hot brand. It was agonizing to imagine the heaviness in her heart.

"Anna, are you coming?" Nora asked quietly, her hand reaching out for Anna's from under her umbrella. Grace and Scott were already making their way to the car when Anna noticed Claire starting up the hill of the cemetery towards the black SUV that waited for her.

"You go ahead, I'll be there in a second," before her mother could ask questions, Anna gripped her umbrella tightly and trudged up the hill.

"Claire!" Anna shouted before she could get too far. But her back remained turned as she continued towards her car. This time, Anna yelled over the roaring rain, "Claire!" Finally, she turned, confused as she looked around, "Can we talk?" Anna asked, raising her eyebrows.

It was important that they discussed some things, without interruptions.

The rain roared over the landscape, spilling down the hills and collecting into the pit that was the cemetery. Anna watched the water trickle down between the blades of green grass, the weather has been so unusual for the time of year. 

"Claire!" Her name rang from the haze of the rain in an impatient tone. Claire's father Michael, emerged from the partially washed out road, completely exposed to the downpour. His mouth was pressed in a straight line and he looked to have a permeant frown as his suit began to soak.

"It's time to go," he said flatly.

For as long as they had been friends, Anna never really interacted with Claire's father. It seemed whenever she tried to strike up some sort of conversation, he quickly brushed her off. She was sure he did not approve of their friendship. 

Claire looked back to him momentarily then back to Anna, "I have to go. But I'll call you tonight."

Anna watched as Claire neared her father. His face still painted with distaste, his eyes glared upon Anna in a way she didn't quite understand as he adjusted his suit. He was a strict man, who was only impressed with politics and money.

Or so she was told by her father.

Many people believed he won the title of mayor due to his close relationship with Reese's father, or at least that's what some of the adults liked to discuss over their overpriced salads and mimosas during Sunday brunch.

But Anna was sure that he was under pressure as of recently, with the murder investigation that was underway, but she was giving him the benefit of the doubt for why he looked so displeased. Without so much as a nod or wave, Claire and her father disappeared into the haze of the storm leaving her in the deserted cemetery.

With each pelt of the rain, Anna could feel parts of herself fade away as if she was one of the many souls buried in the hollow ground beneath her.

That night, Claire never called.

Leaving Anna to assume one of two things: she was still angry with her after the fiasco at the lake or her father was taking his anger out on her and whoever else he could. Both were a possibility for the lack of communication.

Though she needed to focus on the pile of homework spread out over her bed, Anna found herself glancing at the phone on her nightstand, waiting for the loud ring to penetrate the silence.

A call or text from someone. Reese, Claire, Nolan.

Nolan.

He had been Mia for the last few days and Anna was getting just as concerned as she was frustrated.

Leaning over, she reached for her phone to text him when something caught her eye. Her bedroom door was cracked just enough that she was able to see out into the hallway slightly as someone passed by it.

Though she didn't check the time, she knew it had to be well past 2am. So it was shocking that anyone was still awake. But perhaps, her father, being as disturbed as he was as of recently, was feeling restless.

"Grace?" she called out calmly. But no answer came, something she was starting to get used to. 

Pushing her chem book away from her, Anna uncrossed her legs and stepped off of her bed. As she neared the door, she was careful to tiptoe as to not wake up everyone else in the house. 

The hallway was dimly lit, only a lamp at the far end near the stairs, illuminated it. And although her family had lived in it for more than a year, the house never lost its creep factor.

Upstate New York was known for its rich history and grand architecture. And Anna's home was no exception, but sometimes history came with the little bumps in the night and eerie feelings between certain hours. It was simply something she never got used to.

The home was a colonial revival with beautiful bones, polished wooden floors, and a white picket fence that brought plenty of curb appeal. Though her mother spent time and money into updating the interior, it still had the history nestled in its walls.

To keep it simple and short, the house was charming despite its creaky nature. 

Of course, Anna's parents could never afford anywhere near what Claire or Reese's parents could. 

And she was okay with that.

Nearing the top of the stairs, she could hear the faint rummage of drawers in the kitchen. As her small feet slowly descended, the kitchen light clicked on, illuminating the small hallway along the stairs.

Slowly making her way into the kitchen, Anna expected to see Grace hunched over the large marble island with a slice of her mothers famous chocolate cake. But she nor the cake were anywhere to be found.

The room was empty.

Anna's lips parted as she looked around for her sister or anyone who would be responsible for the kitchen light. 

But there was no one.

A slight chill bolted up to her spine, raising the hair on the back of her neck for a moment as she neared the French doors of the patio. The night was dark, but the moon cascaded a silver shimmer along the glistening grass.

The door, to her surprise, was already unlocked.

Pulling it open, the wind hit her in the face like a freight train. Leaving her delicate skin chilled and stiff. Exhaling as her bare feet stepped out onto the cement patio, she could see her breath leaving her body. 

The small shorts and thin silk tank top she wore only added to the chills spread across her skin.

The frosty bite that was in the air was odd, it was getting cold quickly. The crickets that would once chirp a comforting tune, were silent as if they were hiding. Perhaps taking shelter from the extreme temperatures.

The edge of the patio dropped off, forcing Anna's feet to navigate through the dewy grass. Staring off into the distance, the tree line was a football fields length away from her home and it was quiet. 

Once brimming with sounds of nocturnal animals, the forest was mute.

Realizing that there was no one in the backyard, Anna turned and headed back towards the house. The quiet was becoming much too deafening to bare.

Eyes glued to her feet, she watched the footprints she left behind on the cold cement. Forcing the patio door open, she closed her eyes as she carefully shut it behind her. She could feel the warm air of the house incase her in a loving blanket as she let out a breath. The last of the cold leaving her lungs.

Resting her head against the door, she reached for the lock, securing her safety. 

But the safety of her home would only protect her from the dangers of a persons hand that she could see, not the ones she couldn't.

The unexplained moments she was having were a startling reminder of the last time she saw her grandma. The night she told Anna's father that she was seeing things that weren't really there.

Like souls that had become lost.