**Chapter 7: Shadows Revealed**

The face that was revealed was one I had never seen before, yet it was etched in my memory like a scar. It was my sister, Emma, who had gone missing three years ago. I felt like I'd been punched in the gut, my mind reeling with questions. How was this possible? Why was she here, with Mike? Emma's eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, we just stared at each other. I could see the pain and fear in her eyes, and it broke my heart. I took a step forward, my hand reaching out to her, but Mike's grip on my arm held me back. "Rachel, wait," Mike said, his voice low and cautionary. But I shook him off, my eyes never leaving Emma's face. "Emma, is that you?" I asked, my voice shaking. Emma's gaze flickered to Mike, and then back to me. She nodded, a small smile on her face. "It's me, Rach," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. I felt a mix of emotions: shock, joy, and confusion. I had so many questions, but before I could ask any of them, Emma's eyes darted to Mike, and her expression turned cold. "You," she spat, her voice venomous. "You're the one who's been looking for me." Mike's face was impassive, but I could sense a tension in his body. "I've been trying to find you, Emma," he said, his voice calm. "For a long time." Emma's gaze lingered on Mike, and I could see the anger and hurt in her eyes. "You've been searching for me, or just using me," she said, her voice dripping with malice. I felt a surge of confusion. What was going on? Why was Emma so angry with Mike? I took a step forward, trying to intervene, but Mike's hand on my arm stopped me. "Let's talk about this, Emma," Mike said, his voice soothing. "We can work through whatever issues you have." But Emma just laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "You think we can just talk about this?" she said, her voice rising. "You think you can just waltz in here and fix everything?" The air was thick with tension, and I could sense that things were about to escalate. I tried to think of something to say, something to calm Emma down, but before I could speak, Mike's phone rang, shrill in the silence. He hesitated for a moment, and then answered it. His face went white as he listened to the voice on the other end. "I have to go," he said, his voice urgent. "Now." And with that, he turned and ran, leaving Emma and me standing alone in the darkness. I turned to Emma, my mind reeling with questions, but before I could ask any of them, she turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving me alone and scared.