Julia couldn't help herself; she chased after Alyssa but in the blink of an eye, Alyssa had vanished without a trace.
Julia and Michael searched all night long to no avail.
Yet, come morning, a few men in slick suits and dark shades arrived to collect Alyssa’s luggage.
Frantic, Julia demanded, "Where's Alyssa?"
"Miss Whitfield has been sent back to her house," they replied coolly, easing Julia's worried heart that had been suspended in dread through the night.
Michael sat slumped in the yard, his head bowed, the image of defeat.
The men in black suits carted away Alyssa's belongings without further ado.
The sight of their SUV, a beast of a vehicle that seemed out of place on the country roads, drew the villagers to Julia's yard, gaping in curiosity.
Exhausted from the overnight search, Julia sank down beside Michael and finally asked, "What in the world happened?"
Michael sighed, "Julia, she's out of our league. Promise me you'll stay away from her."
"But I still don't know what happened," Julia protested.
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