**Chapter 3: The Accident**

The evening air was crisp and cool as Elijah waited for Lucas to pick him up. He had texted Lucas hours ago, reminding him that they were supposed to meet at the mall at 5 pm. Now, as the minutes ticked by, Elijah's anxiety grew. He checked his phone for what felt like the hundredth time, but there were no new messages from Lucas. As the darkness deepened, Elijah decided to walk home. He lived only a few blocks away from the mall, and he didn't want to wait any longer. The streets were deserted, and the only sound was the rustling of leaves in the wind. As he walked, Elijah's thoughts turned to his family. He wondered what they were doing, and if they were thinking about him. He felt a pang of loneliness, but he pushed it aside. He was almost home, and he couldn't wait to get there. But fate had other plans. As Elijah walked, a car turned the corner, its headlights illuminating the dark street. The driver, distracted by a phone call, didn't see Elijah until it was too late. The car screeched to a halt just inches from Elijah's body, but it was too late. Elijah was hit, and he felt himself flying through the air. Everything went black. Meanwhile, Lucas was oblivious to the accident. He had been running late, stuck in traffic, and hadn't noticed the time. He pulled up to the mall, expecting to see Elijah waiting for him. But as he looked around, he realized that Elijah was nowhere to be found. A sense of unease crept over Lucas as he searched for Elijah. He called his phone, but it went straight to voicemail. He tried calling the others, but no one had seen Elijah. As the reality of the situation sunk in, Lucas's anxiety turned to panic. He rushed to Elijah's house, his heart racing with fear. When he arrived, he saw Elijah's parents, frantically searching for him. "Have you seen Elijah?" they asked, their voices laced with worry. Lucas's heart sank. He knew something was wrong. He quickly joined the search, calling out Elijah's name, but there was no response. The minutes ticked by, and the reality of the situation began to sink in. Elijah was missing, and no one knew where he was. As the family waited, they couldn't shake off the feeling that something was terribly wrong. They had taken Elijah for granted, assuming he was always there, but now he was gone. And as the darkness closed in, they knew that their lives would never be the same again. The hours that followed were a blur of fear, uncertainty, and desperation. Elijah's family and friends combed the streets, calling out his name, but there was no response. The police were notified, and soon, the streets were filled with sirens and flashing lights. As the night wore on, the reality of the situation began to sink in. Elijah was missing, and they might never see him again. The family was consumed by grief and guilt, knowing that they had taken Elijah for granted. They had assumed he was always there, but now he was gone, and they were left with the haunting question: what if? The darkness closed in, and the family was left to face the possibility that they might never see Elijah again. The thought was unbearable, and it weighed heavily on their minds as they waited for any news of his whereabouts.