Lyric stood outside the strip club, she always walks up and down the alley to look for any clues. She knew that Cris is behind Ember's disappearance, but Lyric is going to get her back.

She has to.

The manager threw Lyric out and told her not to return until she got help. Foxy had been rushed to the hospital with severe jaw damage.

Lyric couldn't be any more happier that some weight has been lifted off her shoulders.

She shoves her hands in her pockets as a cigarette flapped out of her mouth, she stared down at her phone, the lock screen showing a picture of Ember flipping off at the camera with her tongue hung out and Lyric caught in the background lighting a cigarette.

Ember had been Lyric's backbone for so long, she was the reason for Lyric's confidence.

Her phone vibrates and she squints to see the bold black words: Adam.

Lyric eagerly swiped the answer button and put out her cigarette, putting the phone to her ear.

"Sup Adam?" Lyric answers.

"You sure are chipper tonight." Adam answered through the phone.

"I think I have something that will catch your interest Lyric." Adam says, gaining Lyric's attention, she leans against the wall.

"All ears." Lyric says.

"Are you down for staying at my place? Could use some company." Adam joked earning a good natured eye roll from Lyric.

"I'm around Sara's Night." Lyric says. "I could use some good news about now." She groans, glancing at the ambulance outside her workplace.

"Trust me, after hearing this your whole day will change." Adam says before hanging up.

--

Ember stared back at the wall, her eyes fixated on the broken pipes which had rats escaping through. Her eyes dart to her left to see a man in a ski mask pointing a gun at the side of her head.

"Dial the number." Cris ordered behind Ember.

A pair of cold firm hands massage her shoulders, Ember almost flinches but she stops herself to avoid giving Cris the satisfaction that he broke her.

"Hey sweetie, I'll need you to play along for the phone call." Cris coaxed, tucking a strand of Ember's red hair behind her ear.

"Or I'll send that cute footage to your best friend....maybe even your head in a box the choice is yours Ember." Cris threatens, Ember's breathing became steady as Cris pressed the phone against her ear.

"Leave a message, let her know that you're still alive." Cris ordered, his hands trail down to her back.

"Hey....I'm still alive and I know you're out there stressing...p-please stay safe..." Ember says, trying not to break down as Cris snatched the phone away from her ear.

"Good job Ember, this is what I like to hear..." Cris whispers tauntingly, his breath warm on her neck.

"Does she know?" Ember asks, her voice low. Cris cocks an eyebrow.

"What?" Cris asks.

"Does Lyric know about the money?" Ember croaks, her voice shakes as she turns her head over her shoulder with all the strength she could muster.

Cris chuckles as he tosses the phone up and down.

"She'll find out eventually. Did you keep it a secret?" Cris asks, he was actually curious about why Ember is so terrified of Lyric finding out.

Cris paces around, smoking a cigarette as he pretends to have some sort of sympathy for Ember. "I'll put Lyric on notice once we get a hold of her." Cris says, Ember trembles.

"What do you want with her?" Ember asks, shooting her head up.

"It's not about what I want with Lyric,  even though I would love to pry out one of her cute little brown eyes." Cris taunted.

He turns around and shrugs. "Honestly....I could care less about Lyric, it's not about her it's about that power that benefits the gang." Cris explains earning a look of confusion from Ember.

"Since I'm not heartless I've decided to leave the little one alone, Lyric would definitely catch her father's attention." Cris added as he faced Ember.

"The plan is for the Bloodhounds to paint this bitch red." Cris goes on holding Ember's chin. Before Ember could spit in his face Cris smiles and opened his mouth. And these last words scared Ember the most.

"...And if you're lucky, you'll get to watch."

--

As the night continued Lyric follows Adam, she stared in amazement as he opened his rustic door to his place he called his home. Her eyes ran over the three numbers painted in gold: 422.

Adam lived in a two story apartment, the entire place is painted in a faded real color with dead bushes, the old sign that said 'Sophie's Luxurious Apartments' was faded out and you would have to squint in order to see it.

"My grandson may still be here so may need to steer clear of him." Adam mumbles as he groped the wall for the light switch.

"Why?" Lyric asks, a bit thrown off after what Adam said.

"He's...going through a tough time and he spends his days mostly in his room." Adam answered, flicking on the lights only to reveal a spacious kitchen that had nothing but collected dust on the counters, the stove looked like it hadn't been clean in weeks, the floral wallpaper was starting to peel.

There were no decorations anywhere so the entire kitchen looked empty.

"Adam, no offense but your kitchen could use some care." Lyric says as she placed her duffel bag on the small foldout table next to the wall.

Adam chuckles as he shuffles across the wooden floor.

"Let me order something then we'll start preparing you for tomorrow." Adam explains, grinning as he picks up several dumbbells.

Lyric pauses, glancing over her shoulder to see Adam walking over with weights in his arms.

"Lyric, if you want to be stronger, you have to make yourself stronger." Adam lectures, Lyric throws off her jacket and throws on a t-shirt, putting her hair in a tight low bun.

"And with that said...you'll need to start working out." Adam adds.

"I see a lot of potential in you, and within a month, you'll change...physically and mentally." Adam explained.

Lyric nods, her face changing.

Ember...once I get stronger, I'll come after you...I promise.