"Sometimes, only one person is missing, and the whole world seems depopulated."-Alphonse de Lamartine

Jason DiLaurentis' disappearance on September 1st, 2009 rocked the small town of Rosewood Pennsylvania. The news ran with story of a young wealthy, handsome, teenage boy, and the national media descended upon the normally quiet town. The Police investigation was extensive, but no one could tell what had happened Jason had simply disappeared.

The ten people who saw Jason that night never spoke to police, because they were afraid. Afraid that their secrets would come out. So they crossed their fingers and hoped Jason DiLaurentis stayed gone.

2 years latter

Alison DiLaurentis tucked a dark brown lock behind her ear. Rosewood smelled the same like fresh cut grass, and thousand thread count sheets, wealth and isolation. Not much seemed to change the large mine-mansions still doted the landscape, giving the illusion that you were in Beverly Hills, not an hour outside of Philly.

Alison had changed though she had spent the last two years living and volunteering building an orphanage in Africa. Her time there had begun as a summer escape from Rosewood and her Brother Jason's disappearance, but in the end the orphanage had felt more like home then Rosewood and her fighting parents. The children in the orphanage had become like her siblings. The irony of losing her Brother had made her grow up and become a surrogate older sibling was not lost on her. Alison had never planned on returning to Rosewood until she received called two weeks ago.

Lunch time was always busy at the orphanage so Alison was surprised to hear she had a phone call.

"It's your mother," Sheena one of the volunteers said handing her the phone.

Alison frowned her and her mother talked only at night because of the time difference.

"Hello?" Alison said hesitantly.

"Alison."

It wasn't her mother.

"It's Mr. Hastings."

Mr. Hastings the family attorney, and her childhood friend Spencer's father.

"What's wrong?" Alison asks dread sinking in her stomach.

Mr. Hastings doesn't answer for what seems like forever.

"The police they found something," Mr. Hasting said, "I think you should come home Alison."

Alison couldn't be shore but she thought Mr. Hastings may have been crying.

As the cab pulled up to her childhood home Alison almost expected to see Jason to come running out the door. She shivered at the thought, ghost everywhere. The cabbie handed Alison her bag, and the beaded bracelets that the children at the orphanage clanked together making Alison miss them already. Her front door opened, and Alison was surprised to have Melissa Hastings rush into her arms hugging her tightly.

"Melissa?" Alison said hesitantly.

The last time she had seen Melissa, the oldest Hasting girl had told her she would cut out her tongue if Alison didn't leave her then boyfriend Ian Thomas alone.

"Oh you poor dear," Melissa said stroking her hair.

Melissa Hastings stroking her hair? What the hell was happening?

Alison pulled away trying to seem unperturbed by Melissa's behavior. She smiled tightly at Melissa.

"How are you Melissa?" Alison said trying to be polite.

Melissa frowned at her as though she had grown three heads.

"My dad's inside come on," Melissa said pulling leading her in the front door.

The house was full of people it reminded her of two years ago when they were hoping for a ransom call that never came. Alison was ashamed to admit she didn't recognize one person.

"Where's my mom?" She asked Melissa.

Melissa went stiff next to her.

"Do you want a sandwich?" Melissa said walking into the kitchen.

"No," Alison said.

Melissa takes out bread anyway, and Alison remembers way she disliked her so much.

"Where's my dad?" Alison asked this time her old bite coming out.

"Listen my dad is here he'll explain everything," Melissa said not meeting her eyes.

Alison was not patient by nature, but she somehow waited until Mr. Hastings walked in. Alison wasn't shore she'd ever seen him not in suit before today. He was looked like he hadn't slept in weeks, and was in need of a shave.

"Alison how was your flight?" Mr. Hastings asked.

"Fine," Alison said, "Is my mother here?"

"No Alison she's not Jessica had a-" Mr. Hasting paused his face pained.

"Episode," Melissa finished for him.

Alison took a seat at the kitchen table, her kitchen table twisting her bracelets absently. So her poor mother had lost her mind.

"Have they found-"Alison stopped she couldn't say body.

"No," Melissa said staring at her father who had covered his face with his hands, "but they did find a shirt."

A shirt Alison tried to remember what shirt Jason would have been wearing, but couldn't place it. She had been too focused on the sleepover and her friends she was ashamed to admit she barely remembered seeing Jason. The thought made her heart hurt.

"Is my dad here?" Alison asks.

"He's staying in New York until the test results come in," Mr. Hastings said his voice shaky, "I shore you can call him if you want."

"I think I will," Alison said.

She reached into her brown carry-on. Alison suddenly remembered what color shirt Jason had been wearing because it was sitting in her bag,Alison screamed.

What do you think? Should Jason be alive or dead? Is A the one who put the shirt in Ali's bag?