Chapter 37

The sun had long since set, casting a dark shadow over the village. Maya and I had been searching for Liam for hours, but every lead seemed to end in a dead end. We had asked every shopkeeper, every passerby, and every neighbor, but no one had seen him.

As we walked down the deserted street, I couldn't help but feel a sense of despair creeping in. Where could Liam be? Had Mr. Blackwood already found him?

Maya seemed to sense my worry and put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "We'll find him, Emily. I promise."

But as we turned the corner onto our street, I saw something that made my heart skip a beat. Our front door was open, and I knew I had closed it before we left.

"Maya, look," I whispered, my heart racing.

Maya followed my gaze, and her eyes widened in alarm. "Do you think it's...?"

I nodded, my mind racing with possibilities. Could it be Liam? Or had Mr. Blackwood somehow gotten into our house?