Texting Abby

At 20:42, Riley’s phone buzzed. The contact at the top of the screen read Abby. The green dot beside her profile picture glowed brightly. Riley frowned. Abby hadn’t spoken to anyone for weeks after disappearing on a trip with a group of friends. She wasn’t missing exactly—people occasionally got short texts from her—but nobody knew where she was. An hour later, Riley stood outside the abandoned aquarium overlooking the ocean. The building had been closed for years, its glass tunnels cracked and covered in salt stains. Inside, a flashlight beam cut through the darkness. Riley turned. Abby stepped out from behind a broken display tank. Abby pulled a flash drive from her pocket. Before Riley could ask another question, headlights swept across the aquarium’s windows. Abby’s expression changed instantly. The two sprinted deeper into the building as footsteps echoed behind them. And for the first time, Riley realized this wasn’t going to be a normal night. It was only the beginning.