Chapter 3 - A Threat in the Distant Noise
Two weeks after Ethan’s return, subtle anomalies began to disturb the family’s fragile peace.
Richard noticed a dark gray sedan parked near the end of their driveway during his morning runs. Whenever he approached, the vehicle would roll slowly away, its tinted windows obscuring the driver. Calls to the local police department yielded little help; without a license plate number or an explicit crime, there was little officers could do beyond increasing neighborhood patrols.
Ethan’s behavior also grew increasingly skittish. Whenever a heavy delivery truck rumbled down the street or a sudden knock sounded at the front door, he would instantly dive under the dining table, cover his ears, and mutter a name under his breath: "Mister Carver."
"Who is Carver, Ethan?" Elena asked gently one afternoon as they sat in the kitchen making lunch.
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Ethan froze, his glass of juice halfway to his mouth. His eyes darted toward the window, trembling. "He... he finds people who run away. He said if I left, he would take my family too."
Elena felt an icy chill cascade down her spine. The people who had kept her son were not just a distant memory—they were actively looking for him.
