Chapter 1: The Missing
The cold, sterile air of the police precinct hung thickly around Detective Finley Nolveth as he sat across from his partner, Samantha “Sam” Hayes. The morning had begun like any other, but as the minutes dragged on, tension mounted between them, igniting a clash that had been brewing since the beginning of the case two months ago. A folder with Jorren Nolveth’s photograph stared up from the desk—a reminder of the void left by Finley’s missing younger brother.
Sam broke the silence, her tone edged with concern. “Finley, you’re too close to this case. Every lead feels personal to you. It’s affecting your judgment.”
Finley’s hands tightened into fists; his knuckles white against the desk. “My judgment is fine, Sam. This is my brother we’re talking about. Don’t you understand? Every minute we waste could mean—”
“Fin, I understand more than you know,” Sam interrupted gently, her usual bluntness softened. “But you’re letting your emotions blind you. You want answers. I get it. But it’s clouding your objectivity. You need to let someone else handle this.”
“Let someone else handle it?” Finley scoffed. His eyes were sharp, almost accusing. “Do you think anyone else cares about him like I do? They’ll sweep it under the rug, call it a runaway case.”
Sam sighed, running a hand through her hair. “We’re all committed to finding him. But Finley, you’re already in trouble with Captain Edwards for grilling Jorren’s friends harder than protocol allows. We have procedures for a reason.”
Finley glanced away, feeling the weight of her words yet unwilling to accept them. The “College Cool,” as Jorren’s friends called themselves, had become a source of festering frustration for him. Every interview with them yielded the same responses: feigned confusion, calculated innocence. Something about their synchronized alibis gnawed at him. Jorren had been different from them, more driven, studious, and quieter. He hadn’t fit the image of a reckless adventurer. So why had he been with them that day?
Before he could respond, Captain Edwards walked by, throwing him a stern glance. “Nolveth, in my office—now.”
As Finley reluctantly followed the captain, Sam’s concerned gaze lingered on him, her heart torn between empathy and professionalism. She knew how much Finley was suffering, but his desperation to solve the case threatened to consume him.
Across town, in the shadowy, cluttered art club room of the university, the “College Cool” had gathered, tension thick in the air. Dorian Halvorn, their self-assured leader, leaned against a paint-splattered table, arms crossed, his jaw clenched.
“Alright, everyone’s here,” he said quietly. His voice was flat, a stark contrast to the confident, persuasive tone he was known for.
The group exchanged uneasy glances. Marek Dorvian adjusted his glasses, the dark circles under his eyes betraying weeks of sleepless nights. Selene Corvanni, quiet and guilt-stricken, shifted uncomfortably, looking down at her hands. Nyssa Belmorin slouched in her chair, her normally defiant posture softened by something close to dread. Liora Vexley, the timid one of the group, seemed on the verge of tears, her gaze flickering nervously around the room. Zara Lathros and Iris Valtoria stood to the side, arms folded, their expressions unreadable.
Dorian cleared his throat. “We need to talk. About...what happened that night. The detectives are circling in closer. They’re going to figure something out sooner or later.”
Nyssa scoffed, crossing her arms. “Let them. We agreed not to say anything, right? It’s too late to turn back now.”
Selene spoke up, her voice barely above a whisper. “I—I still think we should go to the police. Jorren didn’t deserve...any of this. What if he’s out there somewhere—hurt or...” Her voice trailed off.
Marek leaned forward, his voice cold and practical. “And ruin our lives in the process? We did what we had to do. Panicking now will only get us caught. Besides, we don’t even know if he’s...gone.”
“That’s exactly why we need to go back to the mountain,” Iris interjected, her tone clipped and precise. “We need to make sure of what happened. The detectives won’t rest until they get answers, and neither will Finley.”
At the mention of Finley, an uncomfortable silence settled over the room. Dorian’s gaze hardened. “We go back, confirm everything, and put this behind us for good. Agreed?”
A murmur of reluctant agreement passed through the group, but Selene’s eyes brimmed with unspoken fear. The thought of returning to that mountain, to where it had all happened, made her stomach turn.
Back at the precinct, Finley sat in the captain’s office, his eyes unfocused as the captain’s words about objectivity and boundaries washed over him. The lecture seemed distant—his mind consumed by thoughts of Jorren. His brother’s face lingered in his thoughts, his worry and determination to uncover the truth twisting inside him.
Once the meeting ended, Sam caught up with him in the hallway. Her eyes were filled with concern, and there was an unspoken understanding in her gaze. “Finley,” she said quietly, “I think it’s time to start considering other options. Have you thought about... seeking help elsewhere? Maybe something a little... outside the usual channels?”
Finley looked at her, brow furrowed. “You mean... something unconventional?”
Sam gave a small nod. “I know it sounds strange, but there are people out there who deal with things... differently. Maybe one of them could help us piece this together. It’s a long shot, but we’re running out of leads.”
He hesitated, a mixture of doubt and reluctant curiosity flickering across his face. “It’s... worth a try.”
That evening, as Finley pondered Sam’s suggestion, the “College Cool” members prepared to revisit the abandoned mountain resort. The tension between them was palpable as they gathered outside under a gray sky that seemed to mirror their apprehension.
Dorian glanced at his friends, forcing a grin that lacked his usual confidence. “One last adventure, right?”
No one laughed.
