Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have an online friend, whom you think you know much about but never really know anything about their location, what they look like, age, and mutual friends? What about if that friend suddenly disappeared? Not another status update, text, YouTube video, Twitter post, or picture taken. How would you react to this? Would you even realize they were gone?

Jonathan Moore was sitting at his computer desk. The dawn of August 24th, 2018. An unusually chilly morning, with the temperature only reaching a crisp 53 degrees Fahrenheit. He read the headlines on the webpage.

“New science museum to open in the KC Metro Area”

” ‘North Korea still a threat,’ says U.S. Secretary of State”

“Shocking murder victim found drowned in secluded lake”

Well, that last story was interesting. Jon was always interested in morbid things like that-The sort of kid who eats up dark humor. He clicked on it and started reading.

A 15 year old girl was found dead after inexplicably disappearing last night. Her hands were tied behind her back with a rope so tightly that they were pale and swollen. No indications of the cause of death was discovered by the autopsy, except for almost 5 quarters of water in her stomach and lungs. Local police are searching for the suspect, but there are no clues as to what happened. The victim was found shallowly buried under 7 inches of wooded ground, and was washed to the top after a large rainstorm pelted the area last night. Any one with information or clues regarding the murder is urged to come forward.

That was it. Jon shivered as if the comfy 72 degrees in the house had dwindled to the outside temperature. He laid back in his cushy swivel chair for a moment, reflecting over the story in his head. The chair gave a squeak of protest as he leaned forward again quickly, then snatched up his phone. He shot a quick text to his friend, who he only knew as Gabby.

just read the craziest thing ever. Some kid was murdered near a lake O.O ~Jon

No response. That was odd. Gabby always responded almost immediately. Jon texted again.

U alright?? ~Jon

Once again, no response. Jon narrowed his eyes. He tried once more.

Hey dude are u alive? Haha. ~Jon

5 minutes later, no response. Jon felt his breath come a bit quicker, his heart rate increased a bit. She isn’t responding. It was extremely unlike her to go 15 minutes without saying something. He read through a few texts that were sent between the two yesterday.

hey Jon, gonna go out for a while. brb! ~Gabby – 1:09 P.M.

Is back. 🙂 ~Gabby – 3:35 P.M.

hey Gab, what’s your favorite movie? ~Jon – 3:42 P.M.

don’t think i could pick just one. AND DONT CALL ME GAB!!! 😡 – 3:45 P.M.

Jeez, okay. Sorry, G A B . ~Jon – 3:50 P.M.

ugh watever, man. Not like I can stop you ;P ~Gabby – 3:53 P.M.

Oi I’m going to bed. blow up my phone and i’ll have ur head. ~Jon – 7:42 P.M.

K. I’m actually going fishing with jake for a while. What a great time it is for that, right? Goodnight, little bro ^^ ~Gabby – 7:50 P.M.

Gab was 15, 2 years older than Jon. He thought of her as a sister, and she thought of him as a brother. She obviously had a thing for Jake, or else she wouldn’t have gone fishing at 6:30 at night. Jon just felt awkward whenever the three of them were together, kind of the awkward-younger-sibling feeling, but he knew Gab for longer. Jon knew that they’d be happy together, if it ever came to it. But then he realized something. Gab was going fishing last night near a lake. In the woods. Secluded. He had a sinking feeling that something wasn’t adding up. Then he noticed the little envelope on the top right of the news website was open. An indication of an update on a story he subscribed to. It was the lake.

Another body has been discovered, while the girl remains unknown. Another child, who’s facial features cannot be identified. They were gagged with a kitchen towel and tossed into a ditch, with the hilt of a kitchen knife sticking out of their chest, just above their belly button. The only knowledge we have at the moment is that it has been identified as a male. No further personal information will be disclosed at the time, but police have linked DNA found on the knife to 37 year-old Adam Smith, who has had a history of violent attacks in the area.

Jon felt sick. It couldn’t be them. It isn’t them. Jake is extremely cautious. He would’ve had one of those bright flashlights with the power to blind people, and some kind of defensive object(pepper spray was his favorite). He also sewed a pocket into the back right leg of his jeans where he deposits a spring knife. He was also really tall and super strong, being 5 foot 10 inches. Some guy with a kitchen knife was no match for him. He was already calming down.

Then the phone dinged.

Jon had gotten used to the silence, it made him jump. He looked down, and his eyes widened in relief. It was a text from Gabby.

Yeah we heard about it. Made it home safe. Thanks for looking out for me! 🙂 – 8:36 A.M.

Jon texted back.

Fabulous, was getting worried! ^_^ ~Jon – 8:37 A.M.

Ding! Another text.

Yeah, a police officer walked by and asked us what we were doing. We said “Just leaving,” and went home. – 8:50 A.M.

well glad to know you’re safe! ~Jon – 8:52 A.M.

That was when Jon noticed it. Noticed that Gab was being oddly…Literate. She never texted in full sentences, or used full grammar. It was very odd. He texted.

Y r u talking like that? lol ~Jon – 8:55 A.M.

No text back.

Jon was shivering now. He was shaking as he read through the texts again. Then he realized. Gab hadn’t signed her name the way they always did. It was almost as if she forgot who she was. And she always called Jake by name, always. The realization of what had happened hit him like a bullet train. Tears crashed down onto the screen of his iPhone.

Even before the bodies were identified 5 hours later, Jon had already known that Adam had stabbed Jake and drowned Gab. He glanced at the text in rigid horror, then turned back to his computer screen, to the news report. He looked through it one last time, picked up his phone, took a screenshot, and typed one last number.

911.