Biana's P.O.V

"Guys, I'm really worried. It's been hours now and Mr. Forkle still isn't back," Biana told the group when they were sitting on the couches.

"Should we call the police?" Linh asked, who was nervously biting her nails.

"No! We are not gonna cause any commotion," Tam said from his dark corner.

"Then I'm going to go search for him now," Keefe said, getting up.

"What about us?" Fitz asked, getting up too.

"You can come with me if you want," Keefe said, sliding on his shoes and jacket.

"But don't you see? It's not um...safe out there!" Tam argued, pointing outside.

He wasn't wrong. It was dark and stormy outside. Rain was pouring down hard and lightning was flashing across the sky.

"But Mr. Forkle could be in trouble! Especially out in this weather!" Linh cried out.

"Exactly, which is why I'm going now," Keefe said.

"Keefe you can't go alone," Biana said.

"I can handle this myself," Keefe defended. Biana noticed he seemed to be in a rush.

"No, we either all go together or no one goes. We are a group and we have to stick together," Biana said.

"So we're going then?" Fitz asked, but he seemed to be directing it more towards Tam.

"Whatever," Tam bickered, putting his dark hood over his face.

It was Biana's mission to bust that kid's secrets but now she had to focus on finding Mr. Forkle.

Everyone then put on their jackets and shoes and followed Keefe out the door, who was sprinting.

"Linh, pull up the address on your phone of where that flame marking is," Keefe instructed.

"On it," Linh said, pulling out her phone.

"Where are you kids going at this hour?" The door man asked.

"Um..." Linh mumbled.

"Guys c'mon! We don't have time for this," Keefe exclaimed, running out of the glass doors.

"Sorry," Linh exclaimed as they rushed past the suspicious doorman and out of the hotel.

Immediately, Biana got shivers from the freezing rain. The rain was causing her hair to get soaked and ruined and her makeup was running down her face.

She could have sworn she heard Keefe bicker something about the Hair being ruined.

"Let's go! Let's go!" Keefe exclaimed, hopping in a cab that was already ready for them.

"Don't be so loud!" Tam hissed. "No need to get all crazy."

Everyone that turned their heads and gave Tam a look.

"What?!" Tam hissed, glaring at everyone.

Everyone rolled their eyes as they shoved Tam first into the taxi. "OW!" He cried out, sending murderous glares at everyone.

"Just you wait till we get back," Biana heard Tam say under his breath over and over again.

Linh then gave the taxi driver the address of the place they needed to go and they sped off.

Biana nearly had several heart attacks from the close crashes they almost had in the rain.

The rain was absolutely terrible and it was making everything worse!

Eventually, the cab driver screeched to a stop and dropped them off.

They quickly ran out of the car. "Alright! Where is the flame?!" Keefe asked, having to raise his voice since the rain was so loud.

"Uhm— maybe we should first ask anyone if they saw any old man earlier today before we even look for where the flame is," Linh suggested.

"Good thinking. Let's go in here," Fitz said, pointing to the drug store in front of them.

They rushed into the small store, dripping lots of water onto the ground.

"What are you kids doing out here in this horrible weather?!" The lady asked from the register.

"We are looking for someone. Did you by any chance happen to see any man near your store here today?" Biana asked.

"Uh you need to be a bit more specific. I see a lot of men here all day," the lady replied.

"Uhm he's old," Biana said.

"He's wrinkly," Keefe added.

"He kinda smells," Fitz added under his breath. Tam snorted.

"Jeez, maybe it's a good thing Forkle isn't here to hear this," Biana mumbled.

The lady chuckled. "You basically described any old man that comes around this area."

"Though there was this old dude earlier who wouldn't stop shouting 'YOU KIDS!' I swear he looked like he was going to have a heart attack," the lady added, shaking her head.

"THAT'S HIM!" Everyone in the group shouted at the same time.

"Where did he go?!" Biana asked.

"Uh...I think he went left? I don't know. I just remembered seeing him running like he was chasing someone," the lady explained.

"Chasing someone?" Biana asked, narrowing her eye brows. The lady shrugged.

"Alright, let's just go left then," Keefe said.

"Thank you!" Linh thanked as she headed out the door.

They then started to make their way down the sidewalk on the left side.

The observed the buildings around them, trying to look for any specific markings.

"Look!" Biana exclaimed at one point. She ran up to the side of the building where she noticed some dark ink dripping down the building's wall.

"It looks like the shape of a flame was here and now it's fading and rinsing off because of the rain," Fitz observed, kneeling down to take a look.

"Hmm...so maybe the marking was spray painted?" Linh guessed.

"Hold on...that's a bit weird. Why would they make the mark temporary like this?" Keefe asked.

"Guys, this place is shady. We have to get out of here," Tam warned, looking around.

"Not until we find Forkle," Biana said.

"But we definitely should hurry," Keefe said. Biana noticed that he seemed to be looking around nervously too now.

Biana looked around and realized that the part of the city they were at now was super dark and shady. There were shadows looming everywhere and junk all over the ground.

"Where do we go now?" Fitz asked. "This building is boarded up," he said, trying to kick the door to the building the faded mark was on.

"Maybe...we have to go down this alley," Biana said, pointing down the dark and narrow alley next to the marking.

"Oh yeah, let's just go straight to the alley of doom. Just a heads up, there might be murderers that will pop out of garbage cans but no big deal," Tam said sarcastically.

"Yeah...I'm gonna have to kind of agree with Tam here. It does look shady," Linh mumbled, moving closer to her twin.

"Of course I'm right," Tam said, rolling his eyes.

"Maybe we should come back here in the morning?" Linh suggested.

"No, I'm going in," Keefe said, taking a deep breath and stalking straight into the alley.

"KEEFE! Are you crazy?!" Biana squeaked, grabbing him by his jacket and yanking him back.

"Yes, I am crazy. I'm pretty sure this was established already," Keefe replied, yanking Biana's arm off of him.

"You're looking to get killed," Biana said, staring straight into Keefe's eyes.

"I'll go anyway," Keefe said, spinning back around and heading straight into the alley.

The rest of the group then looked at each other and scurried after him.

Biana's eyes darted around as she heard creaks and thumps around her.

Suddenly, something quickly ran past her feet and squeaked. "OMG I THINK A RAT JUST SCURRIED PAST MY FEET! EWWWW!" Biana shrieked, sprinting for her life and crashing right into Keefe.

"Ooooo where?! I bet it was so cute," Linh gushed.

"UH NO!" Biana exclaimed, gagging.

"Aw Biana don't be too harsh to the rat. I bet he just mistook you as another rat," Keefe said.

"HEY!" Biana shouted, punching Keefe in the arm.

EVEN IN THE DARK SHE COULD STILL SEE HIM SMIRKING!

"Guys, we need to focus. Maybe we just call Marella's group for help. Maybe they know any additional information that could help us locate Forkle," Fitz suggested.

"Okay, I'll call Marella," Biana said, pulling out her phone. She dialed her number and put her phone up to her ear until Marella picked up.

"Marella!" Biana exclaimed.

"Oh hey Biana! Why is it so loud where you're at?" Marella asked.

"It's pouring rain here!" Biana said.

"Oh that's just wonderful," Marella said.

"Yeah I know!" Biana said. "Listen, we need your help," she added.

"With?"

"So did your mom see anything else other than the flame marking? Or maybe was there a specific place your mom heard people talking about near this area? Forkle went searching and—"

"Woah woah woah— hold up," Marella said, cutting Biana off. "What are you even talking about?!"

"What do you mean?" Biana asked.

"Like what's the deal with my mom and this marking? I have no idea what you're talking about," Marella said.

"Wait what?!" Biana exclaimed. "You called us earlier this morning and gave us a lead!"

"Uh no— earlier this morning I was being chased by desperate market sellers, speaking with a witch, being chased down by the Neverseen, witnessing a magic act from Grady—"

"SAY WHAT NOW?!" Biana exclaimed, now really confused.

"Ah it's a long story," Marella sighed.

"So wait— let me get this straight. You never called us this morning?!" Biana clarified.

"Uh no..." Marella said, now sounding confused.

"Uhm— then you was—"

"GUYS!" Linh shrieked.

Biana looked up to see Linh kneeling down on the ground of the alley.

There was a figure laying on the ground in front of her and Biana squinted to see who it was.

Her heart stopped when she realized it was Mr. Forkle bloody and unconscious on the ground.

DUN DUN DUNNNN!!!

HMMMM SO IT WAS NEVER REALLY MARELLA THAT CALLED WITH THAT LEAD???

UH OHHHHH! AND NOW FORKLE IS UNCONSCIOUS!!!

WE SHALL SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT...

Next update is Friday!