WHERE IS MADDY? MAY 20, 2021 JACKIE [JACQUES LUSTRADO | 24] “MADDY IS MISSING!”  I unconsciously gave a sneering smile at Zack; the first person who startled me because of his horrifying face and because of the way he yelled at me as if it’ll be his last breath, the moment I opened the door of our room. After I had a heavy drink last night, a hangover is now my companion. Because of that, there’s an enormous amount of headaches troubling me. Honestly, I don’t really like getting drunk. After I started my teaching career, I stopped drinking the way I often do before. And last night feels like my first time drinking alcohol again—I lost control of myself.  “Did you see her went out last night?” Zack shouted once more when I wandered straight to the kitchen to brew a coffee. Soberness would soon kick in as long as I drink a cup of

LOST BOY [PART ONE]May 20, 2021 West Lake is just a small province. Years ago, it was almost isolated because of the job opportunities deflation, which caused the locals to take risks in other towns. But their primary reason upon leaving was because this place was infamous for missing cases with two convicted serial killers. Adding in those darkest eras of West Lake, women's population slowly decreases, naming us the scariest and unsafe place in the country.My mother lived here and left at thirteen to work in a brothel in the city, where she met my father. She used to tell me stories about this place, how it's not simply full of grotesque creatures. Her face brightened up when she said to me that this was where she found her happiness because this is the place where she gave birth to me. I am her happiness.

TRAITOR May 20, 2021 GABBY For the first time in my life, I committed a heinous crime. I deceived the person who trusted me. No, she was not just a simple person in my life. She had been a part of me—we've known each other since we were kids. I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive myself, not after what I did. "Gabby, please stay awake." Lizzie's voice tries to keep me awake while lightly tapping my face. I shiver uncontrollably, feeling the cold on every inch of my flesh. Perhaps this is my karma for what I did to Maddy. I never expected to find her there, and I never imagined Santi could do such things to innocent girls. But what I didn't expect was

THE CONTINUATION... "Julius, you friggin' traitor!" When we came upon a wounded cop with blood splattered on his thigh, Santi ordered me to pull over with a gritted-teeth grumble. "Santi! Help!" Cried by the man on the ground. "I'm coming back for you! I simply need to—" He didn't get a chance to finish his sentence when I hit him in the jaw, causing him to collapse against the car door as he accidentally relinquished the gun, which fell to the floor. For a split second, I considered grabbing the gun lying on the floor in front of his feet while he's dizzy. But I was hesitating and thought that it would just be a trip to hell, so I opened the car door and tripped on the mud, but I quickly dragged myself to my feet a

THE CONTINUATION... Zack took a step forward toward Santi, saying, "Do you know how Debbie constantly abused me when I was a kid?Debbie, who was sitting on the bed with Chloe next to her, scoffed in disdain."She's your grandmother!" Santi yelled like an older man demanding respect in return."Yet she didn't act like one!" "Zackary! I'm just trying to keep myself under control right now. Don't test my patience!" I noticed Santi's fist clenched in rage, and his lips curled in contempt."Stop accusing me of abusing you. You're a scoundrel; I just did it because I want to remove the horns from your head! Zackary, you were such a stubborn child. There was