Following the last place Dillon had seen Eliza, the two men set off in search of her. The streets were deserted, but there were too many intersections to know where she might have gone.
"Dillon, you check this way, and I'll go that way," Casper said, glancing at his watch as the night deepened. "Call me if you find anything."
"Alright, Mr. Casper."
They split up, combing through every street and alley, leaving no stone unturned.
Finally, after a grueling search, Casper spotted a fleeting white shadow near the entrance of an abandoned shopping mall.
Was it Eliza?
Why would she go in there?
The place was marked for demolition, filled with scaffolding and debris—a dangerous maze where one wrong step could lead to injury.
Without a second thought, Casper sprinted toward the shadow.
The darkness was suffocating, like being swallowed by a pitch-black wilderness. Eliza’s white nightgown shone like a beacon, guiding him closer.
He followed her cautiously, maintaining a careful distance, not daring to blink for fear she might vanish.
She turned a corner and headed up the stairs of the ten-story building. The railings had been removed, leaving only the bare, treacherous steps.
What was she thinking?
Casper pulled out his phone and called Dillon.
"I found Eliza. Something's off. Go get help, just in case."
He feared the situation might spiral out of control.
"Got it," Dillon responded.
After hanging up, Casper climbed the stairs behind Eliza. She reached the rooftop effortlessly, as if the climb hadn't fazed her at all.
Casper, on the other hand, was gasping for air, completely winded.
Watching her step toward the edge, his heart pounded in his chest.
"Elle, what are you doing?" he called out.
She paused slightly, not turning back. The cold night wind blew through her hair, carrying an eerie sense of despair.
She took a step, positioning one foot over the edge.
"Eliza…"
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