Solved Murders - True Crime Stories - Friends Unite in Search as Tanya Escapes to California Seeking a Fresh Start PART13 #13

Episode Date: August 30, 2025

#horrorstories #reddithorrorstories #ScaryStories #creepypasta #horrortales #newbeginnings #runawayhorror #friendshipsearch #californiadread #freshstartgonewrong  In Part 13, Tanya's escape to California feels like the start of something new… but peace doesn’t last long. Haunted by memories and something far more sinister, she tries to outrun the past. Meanwhile, her friends begin a desperate search, but what they find may be darker than they ever imagined.  horrorstories, reddithorrorstories, scarystories, horrorstory, creepypasta, horrortales, runawaytale, friendsearch, emotionalhorror, californiatrip, freshstartfails, hauntedpast, mysterythriller, missingfriend, fearreturns, desertdrama, westcoastterror, femalehorrorjourney, strangeevents, part13story

The residual energy from the talk still buzzed in the air of the Lakinta in conference room, but it was a nervous, frantic energy now. Richard, ever the patriarch of their disparate group, stood with his arms crossed, his gaze fixed on some distant point beyond the stucco walls of the Mesa Hotel. It settled then, he said, his voice leaving no room for argument. We're going to L.A. We're going to find her. Beside him, Ella crumpled.

A fresh wave of sobbed shook her. small frame. Poor Ella! The guilt was a physical weight, pressing the air from her lungs. I had no idea, she whispered, her voice thick with tears. I just... I didn't think, Priscilla wrapped a comforting arm around her. Shoo, it's not your fault. We'll find her. Tanya's strong, but we'll find her. Mary, ever-observant, nodded. I did notice she was more on the side, she said softly, more to herself than anyone else. Josh and Alex, standing near the door, chimed in with their agreement. Yeah, we noticed that too, they said, almost in unison. I guess we're not going to Dallas, Josh said with a shrug, a note of resignation in his voice.

Yeah, we can do that another time, Alex added, already shifting into problem-solving mode. A natural leader was emerging. Look, I live in the L.A. area. San Fernando Valley. I've got lodging for everyone. My family and I own two houses, there's plenty of space. The group turned to him, a collective sigh of relief rippling through them. The first logistical hurdle was cleared. We should leave within the hour, Richard commanded. What are we taking? Whose car? Ella asked, wiping her eyes with her shirt. Josh held up his hands. Don't look at me. I took the Greyhound up here. My Toyota Sienna Fit 7, Alex offered. It'll be me, Josh, you, Priscilla, Mary, and Richard. Richard's face tightened. The thought of being crammed into a minivan for a six-hour drive was clearly unappealing. I don't want to be squished. It's better to have two cars. Alex's mind worked fast. Okay, idea. Richard, you and your family can stay at the house my mother owns.

Me, Josh, and Ella can stay at my father's house. He pointed to his friends. Josh, you can take the office. I've got my room. My dad can sleep on the couch, and Ella, you can have his bedroom and bathroom, and at your mother's house. Mary asked, already picturing the arrangement. Richard can have my room and bathroom.

Priscilla and Mary, you can take the master bedroom. My mom will take the couch. They're flexible people, Alex assured them. They'll understand, and just like that, it was set. The chaotic energy transformed into focused action. Ella checked out of her hotel, her suitcase rattling behind her as she rode with Josh and Alex to Richard's Airbnb. It took an hour of frantic packing, of throwing clothes into bags and consolidating.

consolidating toiletries before the two-car convoy was ready. They made one last stop at Alex and Josh's hotel for their things, and then, with the Arizona Sun beginning its slow descent, they were off to L.A. I'll take the lead, you guys just follow me, Alex called out to Richard as he pulled his sienna onto the freeway. In Richard's car, the mood was tense but functional. They cycled through their California road trip playlist, the infectious beat of fits and the tantrums 6 a.m., the smooth groove of Amber Marks, Love Me Right, the nostalgic pulse of Zoom, the music a familiar balm over their shared anxiety. But in Alex's Sienna, the air was thick with unspoken questions. The music was just a low hum in the background. As they passed the sprawling new

developments of Verado, the desert stretching out into a bleak, beautiful expanse, Alex broke the silence. He glanced at the rearview mirror, his eyes finding Ella's in the back seat. He said, his tone gentle but direct. What happened between you and Tanya that night? Josh, in the passenger seat, turned his head slightly, listening intently. Ella took a shaky breath. Well, Tanya was being really bossy, she began, the words tumbling out. She wasn't willing to compromise on anything.

Then, then she said something really mean to me, and it just hurt. In that moment, I was just, finished. I didn't want anything to do with her. But it was just a in-the-moment thing. I had no idea she would leave like this. I know she has a tendency to run from her problems, but I didn't actually think she would. What did she say that was so mean? Josh asked quietly.

Ella's voice trembled. She called me a, a numpy who just wants to shop and see boring tourist attractions. She said my idea of a vacation was toxic for her. Her. Alex's knuckles widened on the steering wheel. Wow. That's harsh, he said, genuinely shocked. He paused, choosing his next words carefully.

You know, Ella, sometimes we all say things we don't mean. You two were in a fight. But, maybe you didn't have to do what you did and walk out like that. It was the final straw for Ella's composure. The gentle critique, however well-intentioned, pierced right through her. Fresh tears streamed down her face, silent and heavy. As if on cue, her phone rang, its shrill tone cutting through the car's quiet interior. The screen read, Tanya's father.

Her heart leaped into her throat. Oh my goodness, she whispered, fumbling to answer. The voice that came through the speaker was a crackling bolt of fury and fear from across an Tanya's father was beyond worried, he was furious. Her phone is off. It goes straight to voicemail. What is happening, Ella? Where is my daughter? Ella, sobbing, tried to explain the fight, the misunderstanding, their frantic search. It was a torturous, circular conversation that ended with the father wanting to fly to the US, work be damned. No sooner had she hung up than her own phone rang again. Her mother. Another round of pained explanations, another wave of parental disappointment

and worry washing over her. When the calls finally ended, the car was silent again, save for the hum of the tires on the asphalt. Alex let the quiet hang for a few miles before speaking again. I had an ex-friend, he started, his eyes on the road. His name was Andy. We had a huge falling out. Out of everyone I've ever forgiven, he's the one person I can't. He said some really unforgivable things to me. He glanced at Ella in the mirror again. You seem like a forgiving person, Ella. You have a big heart.

I hope Tanya is okay, and I really hope we find her. Tell me more about Andy, Ella said, her voice small, desperate for any distraction. Josh shot a dirty look at the windshield, as if the memory of Andy had just splattered across it. Okay, Alex said. So Andy lives in the Dallas area. He was the person I told you we'd have to be careful about running into. I was trying to be nice. I went to visit, invited him to the mall to catch up. Another friend, Bobby, who I was planning to see later, he can't stand Andy and didn't want to invite him. Andy is controlling, abusive. When he found out I was going to see Bobby without him, he sent me this vile, nasty text message while I was sitting

in a restaurant, trying to enjoy myself. I know he was sorry later, but I didn't accept it. I'm not mad at him anymore. I'm just done with him. Forever. He's someone I hate. Alex took a breath. But what I'm telling you is, Tanya is nothing like Andy. She's a good person with a good heart who just didn't know how to compromise in that moment. And the big difference is, I don't care what happens to Andy. But you, you care about Tanya. That's everything. Andy was a terrible friend, Josh muttered, confirming the story with grim finality. He sounds awful, Ella agreed, feeling a strange sort of comfort in the shared story. They kept driving, the miles melting away as they talked, a fragile bond forming in the cramped space of the Sienna.

Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Tanya was breathing it all in. She'd booked a room at a Fairfield Inn in Orange County, near Disneyland, for a whole week. And so far, she was in heaven. The first thing she noticed was how nice everyone was. The kindness felt like a warm blanket compared to the prickly heat of Phoenix or the brusque efficiency of El Paso. After collecting her luggage at LAX, she'd navigated the public transport system like a pro. She rode the metro Green Line as far east as it would go, then seamlessly summoned an Uber to her hotel. On the train, Tanya was fascinated by the pleasant, futuristic chime that announced each stop,

a sound that seemed to confirm she was in a great, new place. And, interestingly enough, she had met a really nice person on that ride. A stranger who smiled, asked her where she was from, and wished her a wonderful time in California, with no agenda, no judgment. Tanya smiled to herself as she checked into her hotel. This was the right decision. This was the start of something new. She had no idea a caravan of her friends was currently crossing the desert, their hearts heavy with a worry she couldn't even begin to imagine. To be continued.