Chapter Two: Unanswered Questions — Three Years Later

The worn-out book kept him company—its pages wrinkled and soft from countless readings. He sat on the same old bench, its weathered wood cool against his skin, as autumn leaves drifted by.

Lost in thought—his fingers brushed the edge of a hidden sketch tucked among the pages. When he revealed it, he recognized a familiar face—Luna. Drawn on the page, she stared back at him, stirring thoughts of their childhood.

In this bittersweet moment, he was carried away. Memories of her smile, the way her eyes crinkled at the corners, and how her hair cascaded in gentle waves flooded his mind.

They used to spend hours running around these playgrounds, coming up with games—and telling each other secrets. They laughed, they sobbed, and built a thousand memories in those fleeting moments, until she vanished.

He traced the doodle with his thumb, feeling the paper's subtle texture. As the breeze swayed the branches, the questions in his mind persisted—where had she vanished to? Why had she left without a word?

Like the eternal cycle of a carousel, the questions spun endlessly, offering no resolution. He sighed, the burden of uncertainty weighing him down like an anchor. Perhaps it was time to abandon the questions and start searching.

Placing the book in his backpack, he stood up and surveyed the playground. The ancient rusty chains creaked in the wind—and the swings hung motionless.

The sun was setting—casting long shadows. A wave of melancholy settled over him as he turned to leave, the houses behind him growing smaller and more run-down. He knew these streets, corners, and alleys they once explored together. It felt like he was walking in their old footsteps, retracing their paths.

As he wandered through the familiar roads, his steps led him to Luna's abandoned house, unvisited for ages. Memories tied to that old doodle—urged him to face the past.

At the entrance, his throat tightened—heart racing like a caged animal. Its windows were like big, empty eyes staring back.

What could possibly lurk within? Would he enter this tomb of memories? Would long-sought answers emerge, or only more questions that haunt the silence?