Chapter 8 - THE NIGHT NOAH DISAPPEARED
The trouble began on a Friday.
Noah was supposed to walk home with Ethan and Leo.
He didn't.
At first, I thought he had stayed late for basketball practice.
Then Ethan called.
“Mom?”
His voice trembled.
“Noah isn't here.”
My heart stopped.
“Where are you?”
“Outside school.”
“Stay with Leo. Don't move.”
I called the school.
Noah had left at dismissal.
I called his friends.
Nobody had seen him.
Then I called Adrian.
He answered immediately.
“Claire?”
“Noah's missing.”
Silence.
Then:
“Where are you?”
I gave him the school address.
He arrived within fifteen minutes.
Not with a convoy.
Not with armed men.
Just Adrian.
He went straight to the school office and asked to see the security footage.
The principal hesitated.
Adrian's voice remained calm.
“Please call the police. We need to report a missing child.”
The footage showed Noah leaving the school grounds.
Then stopping beside a woman in a dark coat.
My stomach dropped.
Eleanor.
She spoke to him.
He hesitated.
Then followed her toward a black car.
I felt sick.
Adrian stared at the screen.
His face went white.
May you like
Then he whispered:
“Mother.”
