**Chapter 8: The Unseen Caller**

The darkness of the night seemed to close in around us as Maya's face paled, her eyes locked onto the phone in her hand. The string of missed calls from the unknown number seemed to hang in the air, a sense of foreboding settling over our little group. I could feel the weight of Charlie's gaze on Maya, his expression a mixture of concern and curiosity. "What is it?" Sabrina asked, her voice barely above a whisper, as if she didn't want to break the spell that had been cast. Maya's eyes flicked up to hers, a look of uncertainty etched on her face. "I don't know," she said, her voice soft. "But I think we should go." Charlie nodded, his eyes never leaving Maya's face. "I'll drive," he said, his voice firm. "We can figure out what's going on once we're away from here." The group quickly scrambled to gather our belongings, the sense of unease palpable as we prepared to leave. As we piled into Charlie's car, the darkness of the night seemed to press in around us, the only sound the hum of the engine and the distant crash of the waves. The drive was quiet, each of us lost in our own thoughts. I couldn't help but wonder who could be calling Maya at this hour, and what it could mean for our little group. The tension was palpable, and I could feel the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air. As we drove further and further away from the beach, the streets grew darker and more deserted. I glanced over at Maya, her eyes fixed on the window, her expression lost in thought. I reached out and took her hand, trying to offer what little comfort I could. The car finally came to a stop in front of a small, nondescript building. Maya's eyes flicked up to the sign above the door, a look of recognition flashing across her face. "What is this place?" Sabrina asked, her voice soft. Maya's eyes hesitated for a moment before she pushed open the door. "This is the local police station," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. The group exchanged uneasy glances, and I could feel a sense of trepidation settling over us. What could the police possibly want with Maya? And what had happened while we were out on the beach? As we stepped inside the station, the fluorescent lights overhead seemed to flicker to life, casting an eerie glow over the room. A officer behind the desk looked up, his eyes locking onto Maya's face. "Maya," he said, his voice firm. "We've been trying to reach you." Maya's eyes narrowed, a look of concern etched on her face. "What's going on?" she asked, her voice soft. The officer's expression was grim. "We've had a report of a missing person," he said, his voice low. "And we think you might be able to help us." The room seemed to spin around me, and I felt a sense of unease wash over me. Who could be missing? And what did it have to do with us? As the officer began to explain, I couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding, a sense that our little group was about to be torn apart by secrets and lies.