Areeba didn't sleep that night.
The message. The dog. The moving shadow.
It was watching her.
By morning, she was exhausted. Zoya and Sana met her at a café, their faces just as pale.
"You got a message too?" Zoya asked.
Sana nodded. "It said the same thing. They know what you did."
Areeba swallowed. "They're coming for us."
Zoya pulled out her phone and slammed it on the table. "Then we fight back."
Areeba blinked. "How?"
Zoya pointed to the screen. "I did some research. The first girl who disappeared decades ago? Her name was Mehreen Farooq."
Sana frowned. "So?"
Zoya leaned forward. "She wasn't just a victim. She was the first sacrifice."
Areeba's heart pounded. "Then maybe… maybe she's the key."
Sana shivered. "If we find out what happened to her… maybe we can stop this."
But before they could say another word, Areeba's phone buzzed.
A new message.
Unknown Number: It's too late. The next girl has been chosen.
A picture appeared on her screen.
Areeba's stomach dropped.
It was a girl.
Wearing a green dress.
The same color they would find in the alley tonight.