It had been twelve hours since Daisy's disappearance. I'd spent all night with the detective and nodded off - without wanting to - for about two hours this morning. It was now eleven am and I had to go see Amanda. Her lack of communication was strange. I'd presumed she would phone me back by now, but she hadn't. Maybe she didn't think it was anything serious? I didn't leave a voicemail or anything.

I exhaled as I slammed the car door and walked up her small drive. Her car was here, a good sign.

I knocked the door using my knuckle, and pressed the doorbell. The ding-dong noise went on forever and was louder than my morning alarm.

I waited impatiently for almost a minute, about to press the doorbell again, when she opened the door. She was flustered, covered in flour, and was shocked to see me.

"Nate?" She questioned. "Are you okay?" She pushed a piece of hair behind her ear and studied me intensely.

I gulped a huge lump as I realised she really had no idea what had happened, and I had to inform her.

I shifted on both feet before blurting it straight out. "Daisy and Hope are missing"

I gulped again when I saw her reaction. Her face dropped. It formed into terror and sickness, paling in seconds.

"W-what? I don't get it." She paused. "How?!" She cried as she shouted.

She knew exactly what that meant. They hadn't just left me, they were missing because of him and she knew.

"I'm sorry, I tried to call last night-"

"I know, I just presumed it was nothing because you hadn't called since" she interrupted.

I could see her body shaking as she stood in the doorway.

"Come in" she gestured, looking over my shoulder tensely.

"What is it?"

"Nothing"

I looked back and saw no one. She was clearly as nervous as I was, or was something worrying her?

"Tell me? What is it?" I asked, concerned that she was more scared than worried.

She shut the door behind me, walking off towards the kitchen. I followed.

"It's just, he never knew about me. What if he's found out? He could come here. I helped her. She would of had no where else to go."

I could hear the panic in her voice, her words laced with terror. She had a point. He could come here and do the unthinkable if he knows she helped Daisy get away.

"Don't worry. If you're that worried you can stay with me" I reassured her, squeezing her shoulder as she hunched over the kitchen table.

"So what happened?"

I told her everything. I started with the party and Hope, and then informed her about the text messages from Robert. As soon as I mentioned that he'd tricked her and grabbed her away before she got to the bridge, she gasped and shook even more. I knew the feeling. My insides were a sickening mess, all I wanted was them both safe.

"He's dangerous, Nate" she sobbed as she sat at the table wiping her tears away.

"I know" I muttered. I really did. I'd heard enough and seen enough from the way Daisy was. No woman should feel petrified the way she has.

"Look, I hate to make this short, but I have to get going. I told the detective I'd be back"

I felt guilty. The last thing I wanted to do was leave her in this state all alone. Especially when she was worried he'd come find her.

Realising I had to do something, I passed her my apartment key and password to get past the reception.

She looked up and started fussing, telling me to keep it. "No, no. I'm fine don't worry"

"No, You're not fine" I insisted. "Now take the key. Tell the receptionist you are a guest of mine. I'll tell them to expect you"

She gave me a small smile, eventually accepting the keys.

As soon as I left, I raced back to the station. I was two minutes away, ready to round the corner into the parking lot, when the detective called me.

"Nate?!" He sounded panicked. Desperate for my attention.

"What is it?" I turned into the parking lot, and turned into the first spot I could see.

"You need to get back here, where are you?"

Fuck!

"I'm outside" I grabbed my phone, and jumped out the car. I heard the door slam as I ran towards the sliding doors.

"What's happened?"

"They think they've been found"

I froze mid step. I was about to walk straight through the doors, but his words made me go into shock.

"Nate?"

"Nate?"

I heard his voice down the phone, and then it came from in front of me.

"Nate!" He yelled, standing before me.

"W-what do you mean? Found?"

All I could think about was how many ways those words could be interpreted. Found how? Found safe, found alive, or found dead. A panic attack swarmed my body, my chest ached, and my limbs tingled with pins and needles. I didn't want to hear him say the latter. I was too terrified he was going to.

"We need to go" he said, trying to guide me to a signed police car.

"W-what do you mean?" I repeated, but this time laced with anger and aggression.

"I don't know. I just know the hospital had two women come in. One being a little girl. They felt it matched the description"

But what did that mean? I couldn't help get frustrated at him. He wasn't telling me anything. The hospital could mean they were seriously injured, or worse. I inhaled and exhaled, shutting my eyes, before preparing myself for the answer of my next question.

"How? How are they described?" He didn't catch on. He looked confused.

"God dammit! I mean are they dead or alive!" I screamed, tears threatening to break through. The love of my life could possibly be dead and so could her little girl.

"They didn't say"

I saw as his face formed into sadness. He realised how distressing this way for me. She'd not been with him that long, so did that mean he took her, hurt her, and she'd been found lying in a ditch somewhere? I couldn't process it all. All my head wanted to do was think about the negatives. Possibly because I knew if I focused on the positives, my heart would be even more shattered when I found them. Especially if it wasn't good.

As he pushed me into passenger side of the car, I reminisced on all the good times. Since I'd met her she'd been the brightest star in the sky, lighting my world up. Picturing her beautiful smile, her paternal side with Hope, and then not to forget how strong she was. I loved that about her. Then my mind took a different route, focusing on how goddamn sexy she is. The first night I'd made love to her would forever be imbedded in my mind. I couldn't help the slight grin that formed on my face for a second, but faltered as soon as I hit back to reality.

I shut my eyes and mentally prayed that she was okay. That Hope was okay, and we could be a family again.

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