Soveniour Villa

The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting soft golden streaks across the modest guest room. Brendon stretched, his ears flicking slightly as he sat up in bed.

"Uhh… let's see what this new day has to offer," he muttered to himself, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

Despite the exhaustion of his travels and the events from the previous night, he had slept surprisingly well. The bed, though simple, was comfortable, and the air carried the faint scent of the sea breeze from somewhere beyond the window. It was a rare moment of peace, but he knew it wouldn't last long.

After a quick freshening up, he made his way to the dining room, where Marina and Zoe were already seated at the table. The aroma of freshly made pancakes filled the air, making his stomach grumble.

"Good morning, Brendon," Marina greeted him warmly, setting down a plate in front of him.

"Morning," Zoe added, sipping on her coffee.

Brendon gave them a nod as he took his seat. "Morning. Smells great."

Marina smiled. "Eat up. Zoe told me you had a rough night."

He chuckled, picking up his fork. "Yeah, you could say that."

As they ate, Brendon noticed Zoe was quieter than usual. She was pushing her food around her plate, a pensive look on her face. Finally, she sighed and placed her fork down.

"There's something I need to tell you, Brendon."

He raised an eyebrow. "I'm listening."

Zoe exhaled deeply before starting. "It's about my brother, Carlos."

---

Carlos's Disappearance

"It happened two years ago," Zoe began, her voice laced with nostalgia and sadness. "On his 18th birthday."

Brendon listened intently, chewing his pancake slowly.

"That day was one of the happiest I'd seen him. He was excited, full of energy, talking about all the things he wanted to do now that he was officially an adult." She chuckled softly. "He had this long list of goals—traveling, working at a big company, even learning to surf."

Brendon nodded, urging her to continue.

"So, as a small celebration, Mom, Carlos, and I went on a trip to Lagooncrest Isle. It's a beautiful place—a coastal town with huge waves and coral coasts, perfect for adventure seekers. We booked a room at a lodge called Soveniour Villa, Apartment 101."

Brendon noted the name mentally.

"That day, everything was perfect. We explored the beaches, tried some local food, and even went diving near the coral reefs. Carlos was having the time of his life."

Her voice wavered slightly, and she took a deep breath before continuing.

"But the next morning… he was gone."

Brendon's eyes narrowed. "Gone?"

She nodded. "When we woke up, his bed was empty. We searched the entire lodge, the beach, the surrounding areas—nothing. It was as if he had just… vanished."

"No sign of a struggle? No clues left behind?" Brendon asked.

Zoe shook her head. "Nothing. Not even his shoes or his phone. It didn't make sense. And despite all our efforts, the local authorities couldn't find a single lead."

Marina, who had been silently listening, placed a comforting hand on Zoe's shoulder. "We've been searching ever since."

Brendon leaned back in his chair, processing the information. Soveniour Villa, huh?

---

Decision to Investigate

Brendon set his fork down, the last bite of his pancake forgotten. He tapped his fingers lightly on the wooden table, deep in thought. Zoe's story about her brother had struck a nerve—another unexplained disappearance, another person simply vanishing without a trace. And now, Amelia had gone missing after staying at the same place.

Something about Soveniour Villa didn't sit right with him.

Brendon finally met Zoe's gaze, his expression serious. "Alright. That gives me a place to start. I'll go to Soveniour Villa and see if I can dig something up."

Across the table, Zoe immediately straightened. "I'm coming with you."

Brendon hesitated, eyeing her carefully. "You sure?"

Zoe folded her arms. "Of course I'm sure." Her voice was unwavering, her expression resolute. "He's my brother, Brendon. If there's even a chance I can find out what happened to him, I need to be part of it."

Brendon sighed, rubbing his temple. "I get that, Zoe, but—"

"No 'buts,'" she cut in. "You're looking into this because you think something's off, right? So do I. And if Carlos's case is connected to Natasha's disappearance, then I can't just sit here and wait for answers."

Brendon leaned back, considering her words. He knew firsthand what it was like to lose someone, to live with the constant ache of uncertainty. He had spent years chasing ghosts of the past, searching for clarity in the middle of chaos. He wasn't about to tell Zoe to stay behind when he knew that kind of pain.

Still, he had to be sure she understood the risks.

"This isn't just a casual trip," he warned. "If something is going on at Soveniour Villa, we could be walking into a dangerous situation."

Zoe's jaw tightened. "I know."

Brendon studied her for a long moment. There was no fear in her eyes—only determination. He sighed. "You're stubborn, you know that?"

She smirked. "I've been told."

Brendon shook his head, exhaling through his nose. "Alright," he relented. "But stick close. We don't know what we're walking into."

Zoe grinned, a flicker of relief crossing her face. "Deal."

Marina, who had been quietly observing the exchange, finally spoke up. "Be careful, you two."

Brendon pushed his chair back and stood, rolling his shoulders. "We will."

Zoe finished the last sip of her coffee and stood as well, stretching slightly. "Guess we've got a lodge to visit."

Brendon glanced toward the window, where the sun had fully risen over the horizon. He had a feeling that whatever they found at Soveniour Villa wouldn't just be about Carlos or Natasha.

Something bigger was at play.

And they were about to walk right into the middle of it.

---

Meanwhile in Ridgecliff

At the Ridgecliff Sheriff's Office, Robert sat at his desk, scrolling through Amelia's phone. The images she had taken during her trip to Lagooncrest Isle flickered on the screen.

"Come on," he muttered. "Give me something."

He paused at a picture of Amelia standing on a pier, the ocean behind her. Then another photo of her at a seafood restaurant.

And then—he found it.

A short video.

In the footage, Amelia was laughing with some friends, the camera spinning playfully before settling on the background—a large building with a distinct sign.

Soveniour Villa.

Robert sat up straight. "Bingo."

He quickly pulled out his phone and composed a message to Brendon.

Robert: Brendon, check out Soveniour Villa. Amelia stayed there before she disappeared.

A moment later, his phone buzzed with a response.

Brendon: Got it. On my way.

Robert leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. His mind raced as he pieced together the information.

Brendon had come to Lagooncrest Isle to investigate Natasha's disappearance. Then, after arriving, he learned about Zoe's missing brother, Carlos, who had vanished from Soveniour Villa two years ago.

And now, Amelia had gone missing after staying at the same lodge.

Robert frowned. His gut twisted as a troubling thought took shape.

Three disappearances. All tied to Soveniour Villa.

Could they be connected?

The idea sent a chill down his spine.

---

En Route to Soveniour Villa

Back on Lagooncrest Isle, Brendon and Zoe were making their way toward Soveniour Villa.

The sun hung high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the coastal town. The scent of saltwater filled the air, and the distant sound of waves crashing against the shore added to the serene atmosphere.

But Brendon wasn't feeling serene.

He had a bad feeling about this place.

Zoe walked beside him, a determined expression on her face. "You think we'll find something?"

"We'll see," Brendon said. "But I wouldn't be surprised if there's more to this place than meets the eye."

As they approached the villa, the large building loomed in front of them. It looked well-maintained but had an eerie stillness to it.

Brendon glanced at Zoe. "Ready?"

She nodded. "Let's do this."

With that, they stepped inside.