**Chapter 2: Silent Voices**

The days passed, and Finney couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had been growing inside him. He had been having a good time with Ariah, and their friendship had deepened. But as they walked home from school, Finney noticed that the atmosphere in town seemed to have changed. People were whispering to each other, and the police were driving around in pairs. "Hey, have you heard anything about what's going on?" Finney asked Ariah, his voice low. Ariah's expression turned serious. "You mean the kids who have been disappearing? Yeah, I've heard it's getting out of hand. The police don't seem to have any leads." Finney's heart sank. He had heard rumors, but he hadn't thought much of them. Now, he couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. What if he was next? As they approached Ariah's house, Finney noticed that her mom, Celeste, was standing in the front yard, her eyes closed as if in prayer. Ariah followed his gaze and shook her head. "My mom's been trying to help the police find the kids," she said. "She has...abilities that might help." Finney's eyes widened. "What kind of abilities?" Ariah hesitated, looking around nervously. "Let's just say that my mom knows things. And she can sense things too." Finney's curiosity was piqued, but before he could ask more questions, Ariah's mom called out to her. "Ariah, sweetie, come inside for a minute." Ariah nodded and went inside, leaving Finney alone in the front yard. He waited for a few minutes, then followed her inside. As they sat in the living room, Celeste took Ariah's hands and closed her eyes. Finney watched, fascinated, as Ariah's mom began to speak in a low, hypnotic voice. "I see...visions of children, taken from their homes. I see a house, dark and foreboding. And I see...a boy, with a bruise on his nose." Finney's heart skipped a beat. The description sounded like him. Ariah's eyes locked onto his, and she took his hand. "I think my mom's trying to tell us something," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. But before they could discuss it further, Finney heard a loud noise outside. He turned to see a black van pulling up to the curb. The next thing Finney knew, he was being dragged into the van, a cloth covering his face. He struggled and kicked, but it was no use. When the cloth was removed, he found himself in a soundproof basement, with no windows and a single, flickering light bulb. Panic set in as Finney realized he was trapped. But then, he heard a faint ringing sound. It was a black rotary phone, hanging on the wall. Finney's heart sank as he realized he was not alone. There were others here, trapped just like him. And they were trying to communicate with him. As he picked up the phone, he heard a faint whisper on the other end. "Hello? Hello?" Finney's eyes widened as he realized that the voice on the other end was not of this world. Meanwhile, Ariah was frantically searching for Finney. She had a bad feeling, and she knew she had to find him. Using her clairvoyant abilities and her mom's hoodoo practices, she began to track Finney's location. As she walked through the deserted streets, Ariah felt a sense of unease growing inside her. She knew that she was getting close, and she steeled herself for what she might find. The visions and dreams she had been having were becoming more vivid, and she knew that Finney was in grave danger. She had to find him before it was too late. As she turned a corner, Ariah saw a house that looked eerily familiar. It was dark and foreboding, with overgrown gardens and boarded-up windows. Ariah's heart skipped a beat as she realized that this must be the house. She took a deep breath and approached the front door, her senses on high alert. And then, she heard a faint cry for help. Finney's voice was on the other end of the phone, and Ariah knew that she had to act fast. She was not going to let Finney down. Not when he needed her most.