The rain never stopped that night.
But by morning…
Daniel was gone.
No calls.
No messages.
No trace.
Lena stood outside his house again, her heart pounding.
Something felt wrong.
Too quiet.
Too empty.
She knocked.
No answer.
Again.
Still nothing.
"Daniel?" she called softly.
The door creaked open slightly.
Unlocked.
Her breath caught.
Slowly… she stepped inside.
The house felt different.
Cold.
Lifeless.
No voices.
No laughter.
No family.
Just silence.
"Hello?" she tried again.
Nothing.
Her eyes moved around the room—
And then she saw it.
A single photo frame… lying broken on the floor.
She walked closer.
Kneeled.
Picked it up.
It was a family picture.
But something was wrong.
Daniel's face…
Had been scratched out.
Her hands trembled.
"What…?"
Suddenly—
Footsteps echoed behind her.
Lena froze.
Slowly… she turned.
A man stood there.
Cold expression.
Sharp eyes.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"I—I'm looking for Daniel," she said.
The man's gaze darkened slightly.
"Daniel?"
He let out a quiet scoff.
"There's no one here by that name anymore."
Her heart dropped.
"What do you mean?"
The man stepped closer.
His voice low.
Final.
"He's gone."
A pause.
"And if you're smart…"
He looked directly into her eyes.
"You'll forget he ever existed."