What did you sa—"
Inspector Ratan's phone buzzed sharply, cutting him off. He picked it up immediately, his face turning tense as he listened.
"Yes? …Where? …How long ago?"
He ended the call and turned to the Masked Detective, voice clipped.
"Another girl's gone missing."
The Detective straightened. "Where?"
"South Lane. A ten-year-old girl named Ishita Basu. Her parents just reported it."
---
Within minutes, they arrived at a modest apartment building. The nameplate read: Basu Family.
The door opened to reveal a tall, tired-looking man—Animesh Basu, a schoolteacher. His spectacles rested low on his nose, and his expression was heavy with worry. Standing beside him, Mrs. Reema Basu looked pale and shaken, her green cotton sari slightly wrinkled.
"She went to buy chocolates," Reema said, her voice trembling. "Just around the corner. But… she never came back."
"No suspicious calls? Any kind of ransom demand?" the Detective asked.
Animesh shook his head. "Nothing. Not a word."
The Masked Detective stepped inside and headed toward the child's room.
It was quiet. A soft teddy bear lay on the bed. Schoolbooks sat neatly stacked on a shelf. But something was missing.
One notebook was torn—a page had been ripped out.
The Detective scanned the room. "Has she drawn anything unusual lately?"
Reema hesitated, then slowly nodded.
"Yes. A… flower. With five petals. She said she saw it in a dream."
The Detective froze. Then she looked at Ratan.
"It's the same mark. Just like the others."
Her voice was low now, thoughtful.
"We're missing something. Something deeper. Something that ties them all together."