The Lavender Letter

The quiet afternoon of your suburban subdivision is shattered by the arrival of police sirens. Across the street, at Jasmine’s blue house, cop cars line the lawn. A year ago, on Valentine’s Day, your best friend vanished without a trace.

You stand in your front yard, watching the scene alongside hesitant neighbors. Their whispers reach you – speculation, judgment, and blame directed at Jasmine, and even at you. Ignoring them, you cross the police line, driven by a need to be close to the investigation.

Inside Jasmine's house, the air is heavy with grief. You find her grandmother, eyes red from crying, and a detective named Shawn. As you recount the last time you saw Jasmine, guilt gnaws at you. She'd been excited about a secret admirer and a date she never told you about. You hadn't even texted her that day, too caught up in your own life.

The detective’s questions are pointed, especially when Jasper McKinley's name comes up. Your long-standing loathing for him is evident. After the police leave, you stay with Jasmine's grandmother, who asks you to take care of Spot, Jasmine's golden retriever.

Later, in the quiet of your own home, a strange note arrives, echoing the question Jasmine asked the day you met: “Do you wanna play a game?” This unsettling message, coupled with the arrival of a lavender flower and Jasmine's blood-stained watch, signals that someone is watching, someone knows more than they are letting on, and they are targeting you.