That night, the town convened an emergency meeting. People nearby could no longer ignore the grunts and soft roars. Wildlife officers promised action. Elise sat silent in the crowd, heart pounding. When the word “panther” slipped from someone’s lips, her breath caught. The secret had become a common fear.
At dawn, she discovered the shed empty. Shadow had finally fled. Panic clamped her throat. Muddy prints led into the forest, wide as her palm. She grabbed a coat, whispering his name into the still air. From behind, a neighbor’s voice broke her focus: “Have you seen Theo? He’s missing.” Elise froze.