The Inheritance of Shadows

Chapter 4

The afternoon slipped away faster than I expected—so fast, in fact, that I didn't even realize it was nearly 9:00 p.m. until I finally peeled myself away from the computer screen. My eyes burned slightly from staring at it too long, and my back was starting to ache. I stretched my arms above my head with a yawn, then reached for my phone to check for messages.

As I walked into the kitchen, intent on putting together a simple dinner, I unlocked the phone and saw five WhatsApp notifications pop up on the screen. I placed a pot of water on the stove, turned on the burner, and opened the app.

One message was from Noah—he said his mom had finally agreed to let him come over Friday night. I smiled faintly at the thought. The other four messages were from my mother.

The moment I read the previews, my stomach dropped. My grip on the phone loosened so much that I nearly dropped it onto the wooden floor.

No... no, this had to be a joke.
But my mother wasn't the kind of person to play cruel pranks, especially not like this.

I read the messages once. Then again. And again. For what must've been a full minute, I don't think I even breathed.

Long story short, the messages said not to wait for her tonight—she was at the police station. My cousin Star had come home from swim practice and found the house empty. My aunt was nowhere to be found. Her phone was off. No one had seen or heard from her since that morning.
Star...

She's not just a cousin. She's more like my sister. She's only a year younger than me and probably the kindest person I know. She's the kind of girl who apologizes to furniture after bumping into it. We both know what it's like to grow up without a parent, our experiences were different, sure, but still, the ache is mutual. She and I share a bond that goes beyond blood.

I rubbed my eyes and tried to focus. I had to stay calm.

Turning my phone back on, I reopened the chat and typed out a message to my mom, asking for updates. I barely had time to hit "send" before a hiss and a sharp sting reminded me of reality. A scalding droplet of water had landed on my arm.

I glanced sideways to see the pot boiling over, water spilling in every direction like a chaotic waterfall.

"Shit!"

I rushed over and killed the flame, then carefully drained the pot into the sink. Great. I had officially burned dinner. Not that I was even hungry anymore.

Once I was sure the stove was off and everything was dry, I gave up on the idea of a proper meal. I opened the fridge and grabbed whatever I could to make a sandwich—something quick and mindless.

I didn't care that my mother said not to wait for her. I parked myself on the couch, sandwich in hand, and turned on the TV, barely watching the flickering images. My eyes stayed glued to my phone. Every vibration, every notification from a different app made my heart leap.

But none of them were from her.
Minutes turned into hours. The silence was unbearable. It was almost midnight when the screen finally lit up with the familiar name: Mom.
I snatched the phone like it was a lifeline, unlocked it, and devoured the message.

She apologized for not writing sooner—she'd just gotten into the car, and Star was with her. They were on their way home. Star would be staying with us for a while. My aunt was still missing. No trace. No news. No idea what had happened. And we were her closest relatives.

That hollow feeling expanded inside me, clawing at my chest. I tried not to imagine what Star must be feeling, but the truth is, I already knew. I'd been there. And the worst part? I couldn't do anything about it.