Jack's POV

I sat at the kitchen table and cried. I know she has that... thing. But it still hurts when she yells. I heard the door slam and ran out.

Ellie was running towards the woods, and I ran after her.

"Ellie! Wait!"

But either she couldn't hear me, or ignored me.

Mark came out, Chica following.

"Jack? What happened?" He asked, breathless.

"It's Ellie. We had a fight and she ran and..." My voice faltered. I didn't know what to say. It was all my fault she ran off. Mark pulled me close as I cried. Chica whined and ran after Ellie, but none of us paid attention.

Mark took me inside and set me on the couch, then went off to his room. I sat there for what was probably an hour, doing nothing. Staring at the wall.

It was another hour later when Mark came in. His face was worried.

"Jack? She hasn't come home in two hours. Neither has Chica. I think we need to go look for her."

I nodded and hopped up, grabbing my coat. Mark got his and we went out the door.

When we reached the woods, Mark called out "Ellie! Chica!" but got no reply. Now I'm worried. Usually, Chica comes running whenever she even smells Mark. But not a sound came from the trees.

We kept walking until it got too dark. The freezing night air hit me like a rock, making me huddle close to Mark, who wrapped his arms around me. I wasn't used to cold weather. Most of the time in Ireland, it was either pouring rain or scorching hot.

"Ellie! Elizabeth! Chica!" I called, but nothing happened still. It was a few minutes later, however, when a faint bark came from somewhere to the left.

Leaving Mark, I ran in that direction. Another bark came, and I stopped in a clearing where a willow tree sat. Up in the branches I could just make out Chica growling down at the bushes in the other side of the clearing.

I started forward, but was stopped by a gunshot. Chica let out a bark and all was silent.

I jumped when I heard noises behind me, but turned to see Mark.

"Merk..." I started but he ran towards the tree before I could finish.

"Chica!" He screamed and started climbing the tree. I followed.

When I got up there, however, Chica was sitting in the branches, tail wagging. "What da hell..." I breathed. Ellie was nowhere to be seen.

Mark looked at me, his eyes wide. I didn't know what to say. I scooted back up to a branch and hugged my knees to my chest. Ellie has to be okay. I don't know what I would do if I lost her...

We sat like that for a few minutes, and Chica had fallen asleep.

"Come on, Jack," Mark said softly, "Let's go home. She might show up in the morning."

I nodded and got up, my body numb, but not from the cold. If Ellie's dead... the last thing we had done was fight.

Oh Ellie, please come home.

Sorry it's so short lol I wasn't sure where I was going with it.