It was the afternoon of December 31, 2025. Florence sat in the living room with her mom and dad, planning their evening. The next day was not just New Year's Eve, but also her eighteenth birthday.
Her parents smiled, their eyes shining with a mix of joy and nostalgia. "It feels like you were born just yesterday," her mother said softly. "And tomorrow, our little girl is officially an adult."
After sharing a warm, quiet lunch together, they all decided to get some rest. Her parents headed to their bedroom, and Florence went to hers.
A short while later, the doorbell rang. Florence rushed down the hall and pulled the door open. Her face immediately lit up with excitement. Standing on the doormat was Scarlett.
Scarlett was more than just a childhood best friend; she was like a sister to Florence. They lived in the same building—Scarlett's family was just one floor above them. They attended the same college and had practically spent their entire lives together, sharing toys, taking trips, and simply enjoying each other's company.
"Hey!" Scarlett greeted, stepping inside. "I came to invite you to a midnight New Year's party. One of my friends is hosting it at their flat."
Florence hesitated, shaking her head. "I can't. I already made plans to bring in my birthday at midnight with my parents."
But Scarlett wouldn't take no for an answer. She kept insisting, nudging Florence playfully. Hearing the commotion, Florence's parents stepped out of their room.
"You should go, sweetie," her dad said with a warm smile. "Enjoy the night with your friends."
Her mom agreed. "How about this? We can all celebrate your birthday here right at midnight. Scarlett, you stay and join us for the cake. Then, you two can head out to the party afterward."
Florence finally smiled and agreed. "The party is close by," she told her parents. "I should be back around two in the morning. If it gets any later than that, I'll just crash at your friend's flat, Scarlett."
With the plan settled, Scarlett followed Florence into her bedroom. The two girls chatted and laughed for hours. Around 9:00 PM, they all sat down for dinner.
After they ate, Scarlett snuck out to the living room to help Florence's parents. They were setting up a surprise birthday decoration. Florence was strictly banned from leaving her room until it was time.
When the clock finally struck midnight, her parents opened her bedroom door and led her out. Florence gasped. The living room was beautifully decorated with balloons and lights. Overwhelmed with happiness, tears pricked her eyes, and she pulled her parents into a tight, emotional hug.
She cut her birthday cake, feeding slices to her parents and Scarlett. Then came the biggest surprise of the night. Her father handed her a small box. Inside was a shiny set of keys. He had bought her a brand-new car for her eighteenth birthday.
At 12:30 AM, Florence and Scarlett finally left the apartment. They drove to the party in Florence's new car. When they arrived, the flat was packed with people, and the two friends jumped right into the celebration, having a great time.
Back at the apartment, Florence's father watched the clock. By 2:15 AM, Florence still wasn't home. Remembering she had promised to be back around two, he picked up his phone and called her. The line rang and rang, but went unanswered.
She must be tired, he thought to himself, setting the phone down. She probably fell asleep at the friend's flat like she said. Feeling reassured, he went to sleep.
Morning came on January 1, 2026. It was Florence's birthday. At 6:30 AM, a thick winter fog blanketed the streets outside.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
Florence's father woke up with a start. That must be Florence, he thought. He rushed out of bed and hurried to open the door.
But it wasn't his daughter. Standing in the hallway was Scarlett's father, their neighbor and close friend. The man was in a complete panic. Despite the cold morning air, he was sweating profusely, his eyes wide with fear.
Florence's father rubbed the sleep from his eyes, a heavy knot of worry forming in his stomach. "Is everything alright?" he asked.
"You need to come with me to the hospital," Scarlett's father blurted out, breathing heavily. "Florence was in an accident. She has serious injuries. Scarlett has some minor injuries too. They took them to different hospitals."
Panic seized Florence's parents. As they threw on their coats and rushed to the hospital with Scarlett's father, they prayed silently, begging for their daughter to be safe.
When they arrived at the hospital, Florence's father noticed several police officers standing in the hallway. His fear deepened. He approached them, his voice trembling as he asked if his little girl was okay.
The officers exchanged heavy glances and slowly bowed their heads.
"We are so sorry," one officer said gently. "Your daughter Florence was brutally murdered. She is no longer with us. We are doing everything in our power to investigate this case, and we will catch whoever did this to her."
The words hit Florence's parents like a physical blow. Their world shattered in an instant. All the joy from just a few hours ago vanished, leaving them feeling completely empty.
When they were allowed to see her body, Florence's father broke down. He sobbed uncontrollably, crying out, "Why? Why did this happen to my daughter?"
Outside the room, the neighbors and friends who had rushed to the hospital stood in shock. They murmured quietly to one another, recalling what a brave, curious, and kind girl she had always been. Who could possibly do something so evil to her? And why?
What truly happened at that midnight party? Florence walked through those doors full of life and joy, but she never came back. To unravel this dark mystery, we must look backward into Florence's past. Stay tuned for the next chapter to discover how that midnight party changed everything forever.
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Thanks for reading!