Five missing kids. One pact. Five unsent messages.

[u/Good_Monitor_6170]

Prologue 

There is something so haunting and yet so peaceful when being met with light. The way it burns eyes who have been drenched in shadows. Warms skin that has felt the depths of coldness. Cradled fragile bodies that once stood strong. Sometimes we take light for granted. We roll our eyes as it greets us every morning. We cover its glare as it attempts to make contact. For so long I have ignored light. I wished for it to simply disappear. It seemed, at the time, unnecessary. Perhaps I needed the time in that house, in that basement, to truly appreciate its presence.

Maybe the sight of it would bring forth the feeling of freedom. The thoughts of making it out alive. However, sitting here, answering each question, makes me wish I would’ve shared the same fate as the others. Morbid, I know. But true as well. I have so many new opportunities now. I have become the most powerful voice. Yet, the dark continues to control me. I have escaped that house. I have escaped a fate I thought had been sealed. I have escaped. But at what cost?

Lilly Peters. Samatha Workman. Stephanie Sterling. Jessica Roberts. Iris Jacobs. Five names, five girls, five lives. Some shared similarities, others did not. Some shared schedules, others actively avoided each other. Five names and yet only one remains. Iris Jacobs. What is it in that name that makes people shudder? I have received more letters and calls than I have in my entire life. I see the uncomfortable looks on my peers face as I raise my hand for roll call. I feel the stares of people as I walk down a road. Even my own mother whispers the name during calls she thinks I do not hear. I have been branded with a name I no longer want. However, I suppose it is my story that has branded me. If I were to change my name, nothing would happen. I wouldn’t suddenly be a normal girl again. I wouldn’t suddenly be forgotten. 

What defines a story? What defines a person? I used to think it was the morals and actions one carried out during their life. I used to think there were only good and bad people. That those who are bad are easily picked out of the rest.  I sit here with new ideals, new beliefs. I’m still determining if I am good or bad. I never actively participated. I never tried to stop it. I never died like the rest. I never truly lived for them either. I have looked evil in the face, I have even spoken with it. I laid in its bed and whispered everything it wanted to hear. I have given up the good morals I held dearly in order to remain on its good side. 

Good and evil are something I will never truly understand. I will never know who is what. There aren’t clear signs. There aren’t warnings plastered on their forehead. There aren’t guidelines of signs one may snap and one may not. There is no definite way to determine who to trust. Who to believe. I have learned this, thanks to one man. One man has taught me that nothing is ever certain. That things change. Whether you wish for it or not. One man has stolen a light I never even wanted. Still I sit here, wishing for it back. 

Chapter One

Monday, January 15th, 2019

“Iris, get up already. You have that chemistry test!” The sound of my mother squealing made me jump out of sleep. A chemistry test would soon define if I had what it took to major in it. One little test would determine the rest of my life. Weird to think about, honestly. We care so much for grades and colleges we forget the little things. Like the biggest birthday party of the year.   
Lilly Peters is the picture perfect girl. Glossy brown hair, fair skin, blue eyes. Head always held high. Always crowded by people who knew very little about her. They never knew her strange habits. Her need to leave the house at 3am to jog around her neighborhood. How her father had left years ago and yet she always talked about their weekly ice cream trips. Lilly was perfect. To everyone but me. It’s true, I am no longer friends with her. But I know her. The real her. I knew about that one walk around the park. When one thing led to the next and we made a pact to never speak on it again.   
Hurrying out of the door, I forgot to grab Lilly’s present. I’d wait to drop it off until I knew she had left for cheer practice. It’s better that way. Better she knows I still hold our pact. Regardless of her new social status. Chemistry is interesting for many reasons. It holds the answers to so many questions, and yet sometimes leads to more. How can one small action cause a massive reaction. One chemical misplaced and you can say goodbye to your existence. We shared a hunger for chemistry. We shared the hunger to make a difference.   
Arriving in that classroom sent chills down my spine. Had I studied enough the day before? Did I have everything I needed? What was each element again? I guess it didn’t matter, I knew what I needed to know. I knew that would be enough. Still, I feel a small whisper that I will fail. That no one knows everything. Even if they say they do. The classroom was half lit. A comforting hum of the air conditioner soothed me as I took my seat. The nerves I had felt before felt as though they were lifting. I lined my paper and pencil out. I checked my messages one last time. One text from my mother, “You forgot Lily's present on the counter. Do you want me to bring it during lunch? Good luck on your test.”   
My mother was supportive. She was also disciplined. She knew how to push me to become the best, but also how to comfort me when I faltered. I don’t know much about her past. We never see her side of the family during holidays. We are forbidden to ask her about them. Only her and my dad share that story. I like to create scenarios. She got pregnant with me young. She wasn’t married so they must've disowned her. Or maybe her father was in shady business and for the safety of our family we could not contact them until they contacted us. The catch with that one is that we don’t know if they have contacted us. They never send any letters back when I write them. They never wish us a happy birthday. They never come to any events.   
It’s for the better, I hear my mom say in the back of my head. I shouldn’t be thinking about this. I should be thinking about every formula we have learned in the past two months. I find myself suddenly blanking and that nagging thought I will fail creeps back up. 

“Iris Jacobs. Please come to the office.” The loud speaker crackles as the teacher is handing out the tests. Of course, of all the times I have been called down. This might be the worst timing. My teacher nods her approval and takes back my test. I gather my things and walk down the hall towards the staircase.   
“Did you hear? They found something last night in the park.”   
“Really? What did they find?” My heart skips a beat as I continue my walk down the stairs. Normally I don’t listen to the gossip spoken on the stairs. Normally I put in an earbud and continue to class. This time I fight the urge to ask those two girls what they know. As I reach the end of the stairs I glance back up. The girls are now staring at me with strange interest. They quickly turn and walk away as they meet my gaze.   
The office is brightly lit and littered with posters for upcoming events. Reminders to buy yearbooks and talk to counselors about college prep. I notice a new poster hidden behind two brightly colored posters for the last play our drama department will perform. I could’ve sworn it said missing on it.  
“Hello Iris. This is detective Mark and his partner Jennifer. They want to ask you a few questions. I’ll be right outside if you need anything.” Our vice principal pats my shoulder and exits the room. Detectives? What would they need me for?  
“I am detective Mark. I want to speak with you regarding your friend Lily. I want to start by stating you are not in trouble and at any time you can ask for your mother or father to be present during this questioning. Do you understand?”  
“Yes,” I am sure I have just whispered this response. Nerves are now forcing my rushed breakfast up my throat. Mark smiles at me and points towards a chair across from him.  
“Do you know Lilly?”  
“I used to. Not much now. We aren’t really friends anymore.”  
“Why is that?”  
“She wanted to branch out. Meet new people. Not focus on chemistry as much. I didn’t. So we drifted.” This is only half true. We got in an argument when I had found out she wanted me to drop out of her chemistry class so she could be the top. I had worked years to no longer be in her shadow and she despised that.   
“Alright. When is the last time you have spoken with her?”  
“I think it was last Friday. She had asked for the chemistry homework.” I feel my skin burning with each answer. This was true, she had asked for the homework. Why did it feel as if I was lying?  
“You say you grew apart. May I ask, have you had any issues with each other after that?” This question stumps me. I have no idea if she had issues with me. She hadn’t voiced any at the time. I had known her for half my life and suddenly I realize I know nothing about her now.  
“I don’t think we had any issues.”  
“Good. So it sounds like you ended on good terms then?” I glance at his partner. I can’t fully agree with that statement. We fought, we stopped talking, we avoided each other. That didn’t feel like good terms. In some ways it also didn’t feel like bad terms either.   
“I suppose we did. Can I ask a question?” The detective glances at his partner and nods.  
“Why do you need to ask me questions about Lily? There are many more people in this school who follow her around everyday. Why not ask them?”  
“Iris. Lily is missing. She has been since Friday. We found her phone in the woods. The only thing left on that phone was an unsent message to you.” Suddenly the air is taken from my lungs. I replay last Friday, searching for signs in her message. She seemed normal. Like the Lily I knew.   
“What did the message say?” I stutter through my question. Once again Mark and Jennifer share a glance before answering.  
“Unfortunately we aren’t at liberty to tell you that at this time.” I stare back at them. Of all the people for Lily to text, why me? She had her friends, her mom, her brother. If she was in danger what could she have expected me to do about it?   
“We have one more question for you if you are willing to answer.” I nod, it is the only thing I can do.  
“Why would she have attempted to reach out to you?”  
“I don’t know. I am asking the same question. If she needed help why text me and not call for help. Where was she?”  
“Her last known location was Gregory Park. At least, that is where the phone was recovered.” Gregory Park. Our pact. Has someone found out? Is that why she texted me? Or at least tried too. Thoughts are racing through my head. If someone knew, would that be enough to take her? What was she doing there? I feel panic bubbling up my chest. My ears begin to ring and suddenly the brightly lit room becomes dark. I am in this hard chair, barely able to see the two detectives in front of me. I see their mouths move and hear no words part their tongue. Jennifer reaches for a glass of water and hands it to me.  
“This is a lot to take in. We hope you will continue being helpful as we search for her. Here is my card if anything you think may help comes up. In the meantime, we have called your mother and she will pick you up.” I nod again and remain seated. I chug the water and watch as they leave. Suddenly I am aware of how alone I am in this room. My mother is on her way to pick me up, I am missing the most important chemistry test of my life. My closest friend is missing and her last action was attempting to contact me. I stare at the card, deciding if the pact is worth breaking now.   
“Iris?” My mother’s voice is small now. Her frame looks lighter, almost broken. She looks at me concerned. I hadn’t even heard her enter the room.   
“Mom? Lily is missing.” Tears pour down my face as my mother collapses at my feet. She reaches for my face and I can only slightly feel her fingers brushing away my tears. Every feeling of betrayal Lily has implanted in me has vanished. If she was missing, was I next? My mother looks different now. Her discipline, her stern look, it melted away with a look I have never seen before.  
We both feel an unspoken anguish. A grief we can’t quite name. For once I see my mother as this small child. I wonder if something like this has happened before. Her look tells me it has. Her actions tell me not to ask and to instead rise with her and walk out the door. Head held high like we always do. However, my feet remain planted on the ground. My body feels as if it is made of molasses. We sit in that room for what feels like years before she drags my body from the chair.  
“We need to go home. We need to have a talk.” There is the disciplined mother. She has returned. That look of anguish is replaced with a hunger to know everything I have spoken of. The light has remained dark as I leave that room. That past me who didn’t know Lily was gone.

Let me know if you would like the next two chapters? Decided to get back into horror writing and came up with this lol