Chapter 10

• The first day back at school was the same as always—chatter in the halls, lockers slamming, teachers already handing out assignments. But today, something felt different.
• Whispers floated around me as I made my way to class. "Andre's out of town," one girl murmured to another. "Business stuff, apparently."
• "Yeah, but isn’t it weird? He just disappeared," another voice added, quieter, as if sharing a secret not meant for just anyone to hear.