Chapter 1
Detective Alden had been on the case for a week now, ever since the news of a missing girl, Alice, had reached the police station.
A fierce determination to find the young girl had driven him to follow every lead, no matter how small.
His investigation had led him to a cabin in the middle of the forest, surrounded by tall trees and an eerie silence. The ‘No trespassers’ sign hanging on the gate only added to the ominous atmosphere.
Alden cautiously approached the cabin, his hand resting on his gun. He had been warned that whoever had taken Alice was dangerous, and he needed to be prepared for any situation.
As he reached the front door, he noticed the lock was rusted and old. Without hesitation, he took out a key from his pocket and inserted it into the keyhole. To his surprise, it fit perfectly, and the door opened with a creak.
Entering the cabin, Alden’s keen eyes scanned the room, taking in every detail. Furniture was overturned, glass was shattered, and there were bloodstains on the floor.
there was no sign of Alice. Alden searched the cabin, every room and every corner, but she was nowhere to be found. That was until he came across a strange red rug, neatly placed in the middle of the room. It seemed out of place amidst the chaos.
He crouched down, and ran his hand over the rug, feeling for any abnormalities. And then he noticed something. The floorboards seemed to be jutting out in some places, as if covering something underneath. lifting the edge of the rug, his heart beating faster with each passing second. His suspicions were confirmed when he found the pattern of the wooden floorboards underneath, forming a square.
With a pinhole placed unsuspiciously at the edge.
It’s a door.
So even if it was broken through it would not matter much, would it?
With a click, his gun was loaded.
Bang
And a smoking hole was embedded into the layers of wood and metal.
The door was thrown open, his boots thudding down into the darkness.
Eerie silence.
As he reached the bottom of the stairs, he switched on his flashlight and was met with a sight. There, in a huddled in a small corner, a person.
Quiet. Frozen.
Like a porcelain doll.
The pale skin spotting poopy bruises.
Eyes glassy and unseeing.
A sick sort of beauty.
The light flashed straight at her eyes, but they remained dull. Barely responding.
The girl was too far gone.
Alden hulled her onto his shoulder. Not wasting time Alice was rushed to the nearest hospital.
