Anna's image was now plastered across the expanse of Ireland's cityscape, a visual plea from the police for help in locating the missing girl. Amid the ongoing search efforts, Anna's parents decided to remain at the hospital with Kylie and Julia, both of whom had been discharged that morning. The girls were insistent on not returning home without the comforting presence of their mother, and so they chose to remain within the hospital walls, despite the doctor's assurance of their improved health and stability.

Conversely, Greg and his wife steadfastly resisted the idea of returning to their motel until their beloved daughter was located.

"I can tell, even without words, that you two haven't had a proper meal since yesterday. How about allowing me to treat you to a nearby restaurant? Once you're replenished, we can swing by your home so you can change into fresh clothes. How does that proposition strike you?" Mrs. Greg inquired with a warm smile, the words exchanged in the hospital's waiting room.

"I'm not hungry ma'am" Kylie replies with a sad frown.

"Neither am I" Julia responded.

Greg and his wife shared a glance and his wife sighs weakly. "C'mon girls, you are too beautiful not to eat something now. Please, a simple meal will help you girls retrieve your strength so you can care for your mom."

Both girls shared a glance and then shrugged. "Okay," they both agreed in unison smiling.

"Yes! Good girls! My wife will take you girls to a good restaurant where you can eat any meal of your choice, while I'll stay back and watch over your mom."

"Are you sure you don't need me to stay here with you?" Kylie asks.

"Not at all! Don't worry, I'll watch over your mom for you. Just go ahead and enjoy yourselves" he replied.

"Thank you," Kylie said.

"Alright girls, let's get going" Mrs. Greg stood up and the girls joined her. She bent low and pecked her husband on his cheek. "See you later" she whispers.

"You take care" he kissed her back and she exited the hospital with the girls.

Mrs. Greg and the girls had their breakfast at the nearest cafeteria. Shortly thereafter, she took the girls home just like she had promised them.

"Okay my cuties, we are here at your home. You girls should go ahead and have your bath and then change your clothes while I wait right here for you to do that," she said to them.

Kylie nodded while Julia stared blankly at the walls. "Julia?" Kylie nudges her slightly startling her from her thoughts.

Julia gazed up at her sister with a sad frown. "I miss my brother and my mom, the house is so lonely and quiet without them," she replied at the brim of tears.

Kylie glances briefly at Hannah and returns her gaze down to her sister.

"Oh, Julia" she sighs and embraces her for a moment.

"Do you think mom would make it out alive?" Julia asks and Kylie slowly released her from the embrace and stares into her eyes.

"I'm sure your mom will make it out alive. You have nothing to worry about, she's a strong woman from what I saw back in the hospital. Please do me a favor and not worry so much right now, please?" Mrs. Greg intruded.

"Okay," Julia replies with her head bowed low.

"We'll be right back ma'am," Kylie told and took her sister's hand.

"Alright. Take your time. I'll make coffee before you're back" Mrs. Greg replied with a broad smile.

"Thank you" Kylie nodded and exited with her sister to their room.

Thirty minutes later, the girls were back downstairs and Hannah has already prepared three cups of coffee for herself and the girls.

"Hey, you girls look so pretty in your dress" she complimented.

Their cheeks flushed, and they mumbled a "Thank you."

"You girls should come over to the dining, I made coffee for us. I forgot to ask where I could find the coffee box, so I invaded your kitchen on my own and found some coffee" She chuckles and led them to the dining.

"You're so nice, Mrs. Greg" Julia smiled at her and Hannah laughed softly.

"You're too sweet to say that. C'mon, sit here and drink some of this, it'll help calm your nerves" Hannah replied and adjusted the seat for Julia while Kylie helped herself out with one of the chairs.

The three of them sat down and began sipping out the coffee. Julia suddenly touched her neck and she noticed the beautiful gold necklace her brother had gifted her on her 5th birthday wasn't on her neck. She dropped the mug on the table and gazes up at them.

"My necklace, I think I forgot them in the bathroom or on the table in our room" she announced and stood up while they stared up at her. "Let me go get it, I'll be right back" she continues.

"Sure, go ahead" Hannah replied and Julia scurries off to her room upstairs.

"She's always like that when her necklace isn't with her for a minute, she values it so much" Kylie snickered.

"I can imagine. That's what happens when a gift is so dear to the owner, especially knowing it's not just anyone but your brother" Hannah smiles.

"Yeah, that's right. He also gave me this bracelet" Kylie flaunts the silver bracelet on her left wrist smiling widely.

"You see! I'm sure you'll never wish for it to go missing just like Julia who doesn't want hers to go missing" Hannah said and both of them laughed and took a sip of their coffee.

Julia got to her room and went straight to the bathroom before coming out of it to search on the table beside her bed. Panic and fear of not finding her necklace in the two places she had hoped it will be hit her like a heavy wind. She began searching the cupboards and scattered her bed if she'll find it.

"Looking for this?" a deep masculine voice asks right behind her scaring the living daylight out of her. She jerks and fell on her butt to the bed. She gaped with wide eyes at the man behind a black mask who was standing in her room.

"Who...who..are..you and...and why do you have my necklace?" she stuttered shakily.

He didn't answer her question, rather he stood there toiling around with the necklace on his palm. "Give me back my necklace" Julia grumbles.

"Come. Take. It" he replied slowly and held the necklace up for her to grab a hold of it.

Julia stood up and sluggishly walked forward close to the wardrobe where he was standing. When she reached out to get a hold of the necklace, he raises it and swings it around beyond her reach.

"Stop toiling with my necklace and hand it over to me!" she snaps at him.

"Fierce" he grunted quietly with a smirk and covered his left palm where the necklace was dwelling and he slide his hand into his pocket.

"Give me back my necklace and leave my room or I'll scream for everyone to hear" she threatens and he snorted.

"There's no need for that little doll because I-" he paused and hastily brought out a white towel and covered it on Julia's mouth while he held her still with his right hand.

Julia tries to struggle from his grip but it only lasted a few seconds and she passed out. "I don't like attention" he groaned.

He stared down at her body for a minute and then carried her and placed her on his shoulder. He glances around his surroundings before he made his way out through the window.

"Julia is taking so much time to search for her necklace, maybe she needs some help" Hannah calls Kylie's attention after several minutes of Julia not showing up downstairs.

"I wonder why she's taking so long to find it. I'll go check up on her" Kylie replied and stood up.

"Okay, I'll be waiting right here. But if you need me to join in the search I'm very much available" Hannah giggled and Kylie smiled and made her way upstairs.

When Kylie got to her room, she had an odd feeling something was wrong. Her eyes scan the half-scattered room that was caused by Julia. "Julia?" she called for her sister and silence was the response she got.

She went to knock on the bathroom door. "Julia are you in there?" she requested but no response was forthcoming. She held the doorknob and wiggled it open. "Julia is not here?" she mumbles and fear cribbed in.

"Julia please this is no time for games, come out of your hiding!" she half-yells and waited for a response. She searched the wardrobe and under the bed but to her detriment, Julia was nowhere to be found.

She ran downstairs crying, "Hannah, Hannah!"

Hannah dropped the mug of coffee she was holding and rushed up halfway to the stairs. "Honey, what is it? What happened, why are you fidgeting and crying?"

"Julia is gone! My sister has gone missing!" Kylie wails.

"Wha...what do...you mean Julia has gone missing?" Hannah stutters holding Kylie by the arm.

"She's gone missing! She is not in the room. I searched all over the room for her but she's not in there."

"That can't be. Where could she possibly go without passing the front door?"

"I don't know...all I know is she's not in the room and the room was in a mess when I got there."

"Just calm down, she can't possibly be missing. She must still be in one of the rooms here in this house. Did you search your mom and your brother's room?"

"No."

"Then you just have to stay calm. Let's go search it right away before you conclude."

Kylie nodded nervously and led her to Drake's room while she went to search her mom's room. A few minutes later, they both came out without Julia in hand.

"I told you she's gone missing" Kylie sobs with her hands on her head.

"Kylie please don't say that, you are scaring me. Julia can't just go missing. Let's still search around the house in every corner you could think of."

Kylie nods silently with a sniffle and they both searched all around the house for Julia without finding her at the end of the search.

"Did you see? I wasn't joking when I said my sis has gone missing. First, my brother is dead, second, my mom is lying lifelessly in a coma without any hope of surviving and now it's my baby sister" Kylie wails bitterly.

"I can't believe this, how did it happen?" Hannah asks in disbelief holding her forehead.

"I don't fucking know! I don't know how or who took her! We are yet to find your daughter and my brother's killer and now is my sister. What is going on? Why me?"

Hannah was petrified at how Julia could go missing under her care. She went to the couch and picked up her phone and dialed her husband's line.

"Julia has gone missing" she announced the moment he picked up the call.

"What!" Greg exclaims in shock.

***

"We accept" Jay announced.

Nicole and Brad shared a horrified glance at each other. "What!" they exclaimed in unison.

"What? I said we will do it!" Jay replied with gritted teeth.

"Are you out of your mind?!" Nicole half-yells.

"No, I'm not. You guys don't want to do it?" Jay asks with furrowed brows staring at Nicole and Brad.

"Of course not! I can't believe you are cool with what this guy just said about us getting a gun" Brad grunted and Jay snorted.

"Are you guys fucking kidding me? What is wrong with you two? I thought you both agreed to do anything just to get rid of that bastard that killed our friend Drake?"

"Not by having a gun" Nicole answered.

"Oh really? Then is by having what? Because I don't understand how you two want to get rid of him without a gun!" Jay raises his voice.

"There's another way to get rid of him. We can get a dagger, a rope, sword, iron-"

"Stop stop stop!" Jay cuts Nicole short. "What do you think this is? A war zone or what? Are you going to fight a Kung Fu King or what?"

"You never can tell who he is" Nicole shrugs.

"Nicole this is not a joke! We can't go hunting for that guy with a sword, rope, or all those things you're listing out. Besides, none of us here is trained for handling those weapons you are listing. A Gun is the simplest way to eliminate that psychopath. My friend here is going to teach us how to use it within 20 minutes."

"10 minutes" the green hair guy corrected Jay.

"You heard that?" Jay asks Nicole and Brad.

"But won't we get arrested if we are seen getting a gun?" Brad asks worriedly.

"Don't worry about that, I have a secret place I get my guns. I'll take you guys there so you'll pick your choice. Bills on me" the green hair guy answered.

"That's a relief I guess" Nicole sighs.

"You see, that wasn't so hard to get over with" Jay flashed his friends a crooked smile. "Thanks, man," he said to his friend Jasper.

"C'mon, let's get moving, we'll talk about who the motherfucker is on our way there," Jasper let out and grabbed a shirt on the couch.

***

The door creaked open, revealing the sinister figure of the serial killer as he stepped into the dim basement. On his shoulder was a young girl, his mask now absent from his face. The door shut behind him with an ominous thud, the lock securing them within. He advanced toward the chair where Anna was bound, gently placing the young girl on the floor before her.

Anna remained ensconced in a deep slumber for the past two hours, a result of the sedative her kidnapper had administered before departing. The effects of the drug still coursed through her veins, holding her in its tranquil embrace.

Approaching one of the tables, he retrieved a water bottle, the same one he had used earlier to administer the drug. With calculated intent, he returned to Anna's side, pouring the water over her face. In an instant, Anna jolted awake, a sharp gasp escaping her lips as she convulsively panted for breath.

She gazed up at him in a panic wondering what next. Meanwhile, she hasn't noticed the girl on the floor yet.

"Welcome back, I have a surprise for you" he announced in a deep voice and gave a cocky smirk.

"What surprise?" Anna asks weakly her lips quivering.

He squats in front of her and his hand touched the sleeping young girl's leg. Anna's gaze follows his hand and she squeals in shock when she saw the girl.

"Who...who...you...kidnapped another girl?" she croaked out.

"Nah, not just any girl. It's a surprise. Now close your eyes" he ordered and Anna furrowed her brows at him confusedly. "Are you deaf? I said you should close that damn cat eyes of yours!" he snapped at her and she shivered and closed her eyes instantly. "Good girl" he commended smiling.

He reached out for the young girl's hand and sat her up. He held her head and turns it to face Anna. "Your surprise is ready doll face. Open your eyes and see it" he said and Anna flutters her eyes open slowly.

"Oh my God!" she clamors at the sight of Julia.

"Do you like my little surprise?" he grins wickedly at her and lay Julia back on the floor.

"No, no, no. Why? Why did you bring her here? I told you-"

"Oh shut up!" he shunned her mid-sentence. "You want to remind me how you told me not to hurt any of your loved ones and hurt you instead? No, I don't want you to remind me because it doesn't matter to me. You are in no position to tell me what to do, you little tramp. I realized hurting you doesn't excite me like it's meant to, you are acting too stubborn to give me the excitement that I want that's why I brought her here."

"Please don't hurt her like you are hurting me, please I beg of you. She's too young to go through this kind of torture, please I'm begging you. I'll do anything you want me to do, I'll scream, I'll cry, I'll beg, anything you want I'll do. Just don't hurt her" she wails.

He chuckles and then erupted into fits of laughter. Anna stared at him weirdly as he kept laughing. "Just what I wanted. I was never going to hurt your sister-in-law, she's too young for my games. But I knew she was going to be a strategy to make you compromise with me and just look at how smoothly it worked" he said and continued laughing.

Anna gasps in disbelief and glared at him with disdain, the tears stopped flowing instantly. "You're such a heartless bastard! I wished the cops had caught you when you went to kidnap my sweet little angel!" she spat angrily.

"One more word from you and I wouldn't think twice to go back to my words and torture this little girl just as I've been doing with you!" he snarls.

His threat sent Anna mute and she glances down with a sad face at Julia's unconscious body. "What did you do to her? Why isn't she awake?"

"That shouldn't be your business. She'll wake up whenever she wants, so stop asking me silly questions. And whenever I do something, don't question me because you are not the boss that I'll be accounting to" he retorted harshly.

"I just wanted to-"

"Shut your mouth!" he grunted cutting her off mid-sentence and he stood up to his feet.

"Where are you going?" the words slipped out of her mouth before she could control them. She bows her head low in embarrassment and waited for his lashing words.

"I know what is best for you" he scoffed and went over to one of the tables and took a cello tape from a small box.

"Oh please don't seal my lips again, that stuff is sophisticating" she pleaded.

He ignored her and cut out the cello tape. "Please can I ask one question before you sealed my lips?" she asks.

He gazes up at her with a deep scowl and said, "Just one."

"Why did you tie her legs and hands up?" she asks and his gaze fixed on her for a moment and then he snorted.

From snorting, it erupted into laughter. While he was still laughing, he sealed up her lips and then his laughter quiets down. "You think I'm a fool, don't you?"

"Mmm-mhmm" she made a sound shaking her head.

"Don't worry, I don't wish to hear your stupid voice again so don't stress yourself." That was all he said before he exited the basement.

Anna was still stunned by the surprise given to her. How did he find Julia? Was she all alone? What about Kylie and her mom? Are they safe? My parents, he said my mom and dad are in this city looking for me, is that true? How did they find out about my disappearance? What about Nicole, Jay, and Brad? Are their lives also in danger because of me? Is he going after them too? So many questions troubled Anna's mind and she wished she had answers to those questions.

Julia stirs up and made a sound distracting Anna's thoughts. Anna's attention was drawn to Julia and her feelings of hope were renewed a bit. "Mmm-mhmm" she made a sound for Julia to hear her. Thankfully Julia did hear her and she flutters her eyes open.

When she flutters her eyes open, everything was blurry to her including Anna's face. She blinks repeatedly and flutters them open again and her vision became clear. Stunned by the sight of Anna, she weakly mumbles her name, "Anna".

The sense of recognition by Julia sent a slight relief to Anna.

***

Hannah and Kylie traversed from one doorstep to another within the neighborhood, inquiring whether anyone had spotted Julia leaving the house or noted any unfamiliar individuals in the vicinity. Regrettably, their efforts yielded only negative responses. Throughout this ordeal, Kylie's tears remained a constant stream, a reflection of her inner turmoil. She couldn't help but wish she had accompanied her sister when she left the dining area earlier.

Soon after, Greg arrived at the house in the company of two police officers, Alice and Jack. Following his conversation with his wife, he had promptly contacted Officer Alice to report the case of Julia's disappearance. Shortly thereafter, Alice appeared at the hospital to pick him up.

"Honey!" Greg embraced his wife tightly, a sigh of profound relief escaping him. "Are you alright?" he inquired, and she nodded in response. His gaze shifted to Kylie, who continued to weep, and he gently released his wife from his embrace. Approaching Kylie, he enfolded her in a comforting hug. "Kylie, are you okay?" he whispered, his hand gently patting her back.

"They took my sister" she weeps on his chest.

"Kylie I'm sorry. I'm sorry I wasn't here to protect your sister, you don't know how bad I feel right now" he said with a sad frown.

"What happened here? How did your sister disappear when you two were right here with her?" Alice asks glancing from Hannah to Kylie. Kylie was drowning in her tears and doesn't have the voice to give any statement.

"We were having a cup of coffee here in the sitting room when Julia said to us that she forgot her necklace in the room. She left us and went upstairs to get the necklace, then we sat down here waiting for her to come back downstairs with the necklace but she didn't show up for more than 10 minutes. When Kylie went to check up on her, that was when we noticed her disappearance. We've searched all over the house and even asks the neighbors but none of them saw her" Hannah narrated.

"This is so unbelievable. How did it happen? Did she go through the window? Do you think she chose to run away from all that is happening with your family now, Kylie?" Alice asks and Kylie releases herself from Greg's arms.

"No. I doubt my sister would ever think of doing that. She's just too young to even think of running away. The window was closed how I'd left it. I don't have an idea how she disappeared. Perhaps she must have been kidnapped just like Anna was kidnapped" Kylie replied between sobs.

"Kidnap? Who must have kidnapped her and for what reason would he/she do that? Why didn't he leave any footprint or something that will convince us she was kidnapped?" Hannah asks.

"What if it's the same psychopath bastard that took our daughter? He must have done a clean job so we won't have any traces on him" Greg's tone sounded aggressive as he asks the question.

"No no no, that can't be, he's going to kill my sister!" Kylie sobs.

"Just calm down, he's not going to touch her, we'll catch him before he does" Alice intruded.

"You've been saying that regarding my daughter since yesterday when I got here!" Greg sneered.

"You are being rude, Sir" Jack cautioned.

"And so what? Are you going to arrest me for challenging your so-called boss for delaying rescuing my daughter from that damn murderer?" Greg retorted.

"You have to watch it" Jack continues.

"Stay calm, Jack. Just let him be, his words mean nothing to me. All I'm concerned about right now is the safety of his daughter and now we have Julia to worry about as well. I have somewhere to be right now, I'll inform you when there are any updates. Meanwhile, I need you guys to leave this place right this minute, it's no longer safe. You can stay at my house until everything becomes calm. Jack will go with you guys" Alice said.

"No, it's fine, we'll stay in our lodge. Kylie can move in with us" Greg interjected.

"Okay, I'll send two of my men to guard you in your lodge" she replied and Greg nodded in approval.

"Thank you. Please do all you can to catch him and whoever he's working for or is working with him" Greg said.

"I'll do my very best. Please excuse me" Alice exited the house and walked down the street. She hailed a cab and it stopped right in front of her. "Barntown Street" she called the address to where she was going.

"Get in" the cab driver replied and she hopped in.

...

Jasper has been briefed on Drake's murder and Anna's disappearance but what he's finding difficult is how to capture the assassin since there was no lead. The four of them were now at the gun shop of Jasper's friend.

"What's up nigga?" his friend greeted and did a handshake and a brief hug with Jasper.

"I'm good, man. I'm here to get some babies for my friends" Jasper replies.

"Babies?" Nicole half-yells and Jasper together with his friend chuckled.

"Not that babies you think. He calls his guns babies to avoid suspicion when he's out there" Jasper's friend explained with a grin and Nicole's mouth formed an 'o'.

"Guys, meet my friend Pinto. Pinto, meet my friends Jay, Bruce, and...."

"Brad, not Bruce" Brad corrected with an eye roll and Pinto snorted.

"And I'm Nicole before someone changes my name to Nelly" Nicole butts in and the guys laughed while she smiled.

"I like her already," Pinto said and Brad grunted.

"That's her boyfriend standing right next to her" Jay scoffed.

"It doesn't mean we can't-"

"No, thanks. I don't need a third party" Nicole cuts Pinto short and Jasper snorted and Pinto groans in disappointment. "Why is your name Pinto anyway?" she asks.

"That's my nickname. Why, you don't like it?" Pinto asks and Nicole shook her head.

"I do, it's cool" Nicole responded.

"Okay guys, no time for casualties, let's get to business" Jasper called their attention.

"You know where to find what you want," Pinto said and Jasper nods.

"Come with me," Jasper said to Jay and his companions and they followed right behind him.

The four of them arrived at a display where an assortment of various types of firearms were meticulously arranged in rows. "Wow!" The three of them exclaimed in awe.

"You like what you see?" Jasper asks staring at the three of them.

"I think so. This stuff looks captivating. I've always seen these kinds of guns in the movie but it's so surreal that I'm looking at them now in real life. Can I touch them?" Nicole asks.

"Of course, feel them and choose the one you like" he replied and the three of them reached out for different guns feeling the weight, and the smoothness of some of the guns.

"What's the police saying about your friend's disappearance?" Jasper asks while watching them select different types of guns.

The three of them paused and turnaround to stare at him. "They are delaying. The worst part of it all is they don't have a clue of where this guy is" Jay answered.

"And do you?" Jasper asks.

"Do I what?" Jay returns his question.

"Do you know where to find him?"

His question sent Jay mute. He shrugs and replied, "I don't, but with your help, I will."

Jasper snorted and raised a brow at him. "With my help? What makes you so sure that I'll know where this unknown guy is keeping your friend?"

"Because you're notorious?" Nicole answered rhetorically.

"Are you fucking kidding me? Who told you I'm notorious?"

"You don't have to tell us before we know that" Brad replied.

"You two are just the same, so judgemental" he shook his head in disappointment.

"Let's forget about you being notorious or not, it doesn't matter right now. What matters now is how to find Anna" Jay said.

"What's your plan?" Jasper asks.

Jay thought for a moment and his face beams up with a smile. They all raised a brow at him at what the smile on his face meant. "We can start our search from the woods close to Anna's house, they might be a lead there" he suggested.

"Brilliant idea!" Nicole and Brad said in unison.

"I wouldn't agree less," Jasper said and the three of them shared a smile.

Right on time, Jay's phone rang and he digs his hand into his pocket and brought out the phone. He glances up at Nicole and Brad.

"What?" Nicole shrugs.

"It's Kylie" he replies.

"Tell her we'll see them later and that we are trying to fix up something," Brad said and Jay nods and picks up the call.

"Hey Kylie, how are you?" Jay asks and the response he got from the other end was loud sobs.

That caused Jay to be more attentive to the call while his gaze narrowed to Brad and Nicole. "Kylie, why are you crying? Are you okay?"

"Jay...it's Julia...Julia has gone missing" Kylie announced.

"Wha...what did you say?" he stutters.

"Julia has gone missing. It's like someone has kidnapped her" she repeated slowly.

Jay was dumbfounded by the news, his gaze narrowed blankly at Nicole and Brad.

"Jay, what is it?" Nicole asks.

"Julia has been kidnapped."

"What!" Nicole and Brad cried out in alter despair.