Desperate Searches

The tension in the Laurent household was palpable, suffocating anyone who walked through the doors. Claire barely left her seat by the telephone, hoping for a call from the police with news about Sophie. François spent his days pacing the living room, muttering prayers under his breath, while Adrien oscillated between bouts of anger and despair.

It had been a week since Sophie's disappearance, and the silence from the authorities was unbearable. Every knock on the door sent Claire rushing to answer it, only to be met with disappointment when it wasn't Sophie or news of her whereabouts.

"She's out there somewhere," Adrien said, his voice hoarse as he stared blankly at the coffee table. "Why haven't they found anything? It's like she vanished into thin air."

"She didn't vanish," François replied, his voice steady but his hands trembling. "Someone took her, and they'll pay for it when we find them."

"But when?" Claire whispered, her voice cracking. "It's been too long. What if—"

"Don't," François cut her off, his tone firm. "Don't even think like that."

Adrien stood abruptly, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "I can't sit here anymore. I need to do something."

"Like what?" François asked, his brows furrowing. "The police are already looking."

"Clearly not hard enough," Adrien snapped, grabbing his jacket. "I'll go to Annecy myself if I have to."

Claire's tearful voice stopped him. "Adrien, please. What if she comes back, and you're not here?"

Adrien froze, torn between the desperate need to act and the guilt of leaving. He sank back onto the couch, burying his face in his hands. "I feel like I'm dying, Claire. Every second she's gone, I lose another piece of myself."

Before Claire could respond, the doorbell rang. François moved to answer it, revealing a uniformed police officer on the doorstep.

"Any news?" François , Sophie's father asked, his voice tight with hope.

The officer shook his head. "I'm afraid not. We've expanded our search radius and are coordinating with other departments. We're doing everything we can."

Claire's shoulders slumped, and Adrien turned away, unable to hide his frustration. "Everything you can?" he muttered. "Clearly not enough."

---

Meanwhile, in a small café in Annecy, Chloé Lefevre sat at a corner table, scrolling through her phone. She froze when she saw the headline: "Young Woman Missing in Annecy – Police Seek Information."

Her heart sank as she read Sophie's name. The article detailed her last known whereabouts, confirming her disappearance.

Chloé's mind raced. "Sophie… no," she whispered, her chest tightening. Guilt hit her like a wave. She had seen Sophie just before she vanished. Had she missed something? Could she have done something to prevent this?

Without hesitation, Chloé grabbed her phone and called the Laurents. Claire answered almost immediately, her voice trembling.

"Chloé?"

" Mademosielle" Chloé said, her voice breaking. "I just saw the news. I… I can't believe this. How is this happening?"

Sophie's mother's voice cracked with emotion. "We don't know, Chloé. She was with you before she disappeared. Did she say anything? Was she acting strange?"

"No," Chloé said quickly, tears streaming down her face. "She was her usual self. We talked, laughed. She was so excited about the wedding. I… I don't understand."

Adrien took the phone from Claire, his voice steady but cold. "Chloé, do you remember anything unusual? Anything at all?"

"No," Chloé repeated, her voice trembling. "But I'll do whatever I can to help. I'll talk to the police, retrace our steps. I'll find her, Adrien. I promise."

"Thank you," Adrien said, his voice softening.

As Chloé ended the call, she stared out the café window, her mind racing. She couldn't shake the guilt or the growing fear that time was running out.

"I'll find you, Sophie," she whispered to herself, determination hardening her features. "I won't let this be the end."