CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN – THE MISSING PIECES

At first, Kayla brushed it off, attributing the occurrences to her own forgetfulness or Lance's occasional absent-mindedness. But as the incidents grew in frequency and severity, a gnawing sense of unease took root, a whisper of doubt that perhaps Dr. Foster had been right all along. "Lance, have you... noticed anything strange happening around the house lately?" Kayla asked one evening, her brow furrowed with concern. Lance glanced up from his book, his expression puzzled. "Strange? Like what?" Kayla hesitated, worrying her lower lip between her teeth. "Things... moving. Getting misplaced, or just... not quite right. Like someone's been here, messing with our stuff." Lance's brow furrowed, and he set his book aside. "Kayla, I haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary. Are you sure you're not just... overthinking things?" Kayla's jaw clenched, frustration flickering across her features. "So, what, you think I'm imagining it? Going crazy, like Dr. Foster suggested?" Lance's eye