One by one, neighbors and strangers trickled onto her front porch. Some carried flashlights, others wore hiking boots and determined faces. Samantha’s heart twisted with gratitude. She hadn’t expected this—hadn’t thought so many people would care. The sight of them lifted her, if only slightly, from the weight crushing her chest.
The search party debated quickly where to start. The clearest lead came from a teenager who had messaged her earlier: he had seen an eagle flying toward the dense forest that bordered the town. With no better direction to follow, they agreed—the forest would be their first battleground.