Missing Girl (Prologue)

It was a late night at the farmhouse located outside the small town of Nelview. It was a peaceful town, known for its landscapes and festivals. It's a place where people would start a family and a place with great education. However, what was about to happen would change everything.

It was an October night. The rain was pouring down heavily and the wind was blowing overwhelmingly to the point where it woke up the animals. The noise was sharp, the pace growing faster and faster, yet it didn't bother Josie who was chilling in her bedroom watching movies. Zoey, her border collie, was taking a nap next to her, wrapped in a fluffy blanket, ignoring the loud banging coming from the tree outside of the window.

Her parents were out and her younger sister, Naomi, was hanging out with her teammates after winning a swimming competition against another high school, leaving Josie all alone in her big house with nothing to do. And as much as she is used to this, she couldn't help but feel off about tonight. She always stayed home by herself from time to time, what makes this night so different, she wondered. Was it the storm that was making her uneasy? Or was it perhaps the creaking coming from her stairs?

Creak. Creak. Something was off. Yes, the house was old and would always produce some type of sound. However, the stairs were making a lot of noises. It sounded like someone was coming up.

Josie paused her movie and climbed out of bed, making Zoey wake up from her nap. Peeking out the pitch-black hallway, she could make out a silhouette holding a pointy object. It was tall and big, she could've sworn she knew this person from somewhere, but she didn't have time to waste. She closed the door and hastily made her way to the closet, planning to hide. Her hand covering her mouth as she tries to silence her heavy breathing.

Creak. Creak. Stop. The door of her bedroom opens, making Zoey bark furiously at the intruder. Still, he kept going.

Creak. Creak. Stop. She heard the covers roll over and the sound of her laptop falling to the ground, making Zoey whimper.

Creak. Creak. Thump. She hears the sound of knees hitting the wooden floor. He was checking under the bed. She knew this was the place where he would check.

Creak. Creak. Creak. And finally, creak. His shadow was engulfing the closet door. Zoey barked even louder, knowing that Josie was in danger. The man chuckled, sending shivers down her spine. She knew who this person was, but couldn't find out who when the door of her closet opened up,

Revealing...