Jacob’s breath caught in his throat as he stared at the television screen, his body going still. The breaking news banner read: “Ethan Taylor Missing.” The image accompanying the report was of a young man—Ethan, the same person he had picked up just hours ago.
Jacob had been enjoying a quiet drive when he saw a hitchhiker on the remote road. A young man, his messy brown hair tousled by the wind, stood waiting for a ride. He pulled over and offered him a lift. He introduced himself as Ethan and said he was heading to Whistletown.
As they drove, the silence between them was heavy. Ethan seemed nervous, glancing at the rearview mirror, and Jacob couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. He dropped him off at the bus station, noticing how desolate the place felt, but Ethan thanked him and hurried off.