Chapter 5 - The Empty Seat
The following morning, Maya did not show up at her bus stop.
Arthur waited for three agonizing minutes before honking the horn.
The front door of the house swung open.
The boyfriend stepped out onto the porch, glaring at the bus.
"She's sick today!" the man shouted aggressively.
Arthur felt a chill run down his spine.
He nodded slowly and closed the bus doors.
Throughout the day, Arthur could not focus on anything else.
Why was she suddenly sick after their conversation?
Did the boyfriend find out she was talking to the bus driver?
Arthur decided he needed a way to communicate with her safely.
During his lunch break, he bought a small, discreet notebook and a pen.
He wrote a short message on the first page.
"You are not alone. If you need help, write it here. Hide this in the vent."
He folded the notebook and placed it deep inside the metal heating grate.
May you like
Now, all he could do was wait and pray she returned to school.
The suspense was eating him alive.
