"Baby?" Nicah's mom called out, with a shaky voice, after not getting a response from her daughter for a few seconds.

Nicah's eye lids were trembling, and her body froze while her mind was racing, trying to process what she just heard.

Her mom and dad had never been physically present in her life as long as she could remember. It's always been just her and Nana in this foreign country. No family or distant relatives. Though she'd met Stacey and her family.

Her parents had made an effort to provide a good life for her, and always made sure they would want for nothing, financially. They'd also flown to attend her graduation ceremony, even though they didn't stay long. They've always sent her presents on every occasion worth celebrating.

One thing they never granted her was her wish to live alongside them. They never explained why she had to live so far away, alone, deserted, in a different country. Eventually she'd gotten tired of questioning them and quietly accepted the life that was thrust upon her.

But even then, Nicah couldn't help the emotions running through her at the moment. All of it was making her numb. The little girl inside of her, who wanted her parents' validation more than anything was reeling from shock, upon hearing that her strong father is missing.

Stacey always called her rash and reckless, but one thing Nicah never attempted to do was go against her parents' wishes. Even though she was already 28 years of age, her inner child was still wounded and lonely, waiting for her parents to acknowledge her and call her back to their side. Be a real family, living together. 

Stacey gently nudged Nicah, which broke her out of her reverie. "Maybe you're... overreacting mom. Maybe he's just passed out somewhere tired from work," Nicah responded impassively, her mind going numb.

"He's been gone for more than two days now", Nicah heard her mom's silent voice from the other end of the phone.

As long as Nicah remembered, her Dad had a magnanimous presence. He was built strong, with muscles toning his body. He was tall, and had sharp features that she always compared them to an eagle's. She couldn't imagine such a man disappearing.

Moreover, he wasn't an ordinary man. He was the CEO and shareholder of Cruidan's, her home country, largest pharmaceutical firm. He had security, bodyguards, people looking out for him, so how did this situation happen.

"It's going to be okay, mom. You'll see", Nicah comforted after a pause. But even to her ears, the words she muttered felt hollow and fake.

"Uh, mom, I'll... call you back later. Is that okay? I'm at the hospital right now. Nothing major. Just a flu. We'll figure out dad's situation together, okay? "

"Oh baby, I didn't know you were sick. I'm so sorry to dump this on you when you're not feeling good. Yes, I'll call you back. And yes, I'm sure it's nothing. Your Dad...he's...a strong one. I'm sure he'll turn up today or tomorrow saying he lost his gps or whatever nonsense", her mom rambled, chuckling, though it sounded forced to Nicah. But there was nothing else she could say or do to comfort her mom just through a call.

"Love you mom."

"Love you too, baby. Take care, okay. Make sure you take your medicines. Of course you would know , since you're a pharmacist. I've never told you enough of how proud I am of you, have I?" Nicah's mom quietly contemplated. "Call you back later", she continued after a small pause. A click and the line went dead.

Nicah slumped in the bed, handed her phone over to Stacey, and laid her head back and closed her eyes. She needed time to process all that was happening. Her Dad's been missing since two days, and she was attacked today.  Maybe it wasn't a coincidence. But Nicah couldn't comprehend what she was missing here. What connections might these two incidents hold?

"Bear, I'm petrified. What's going on? Talk to me" , Stacey's voice broke through the haze of thoughts in Nicah's mind.

Seeing Nicah so quiet and frozen made Stacey fall into panic. She couldn't understand what was going on and it was driving her crazy. Even though Nicah had an unpredictable character, she wasn't someone who would invite trouble enough for someone to want her dead.

Unless there was something Stacey missed. Which was unlikely, cause the two were together most of the time and shared gossip like no other.

Nicah sighed, knowing she couldn't put off telling Stacey the whole truth any longer. "My Dad's missing", she started.

Stacey nodded solemnly, already gathering as much from the phone call she overheard. But she didn't interrupt, prodding Nicah to continue.

"And today's attack...it wasn't an isolating incident. They were after me, purposely. And I overheard them, that they needed to....unalive me", Nicah paused, taking a deep breath.

Everything was muddled inside her brain. Getting her head banged to a wall didn't help, of course. But things were moving too fast for her to keep up with.

Stacey made a small noise, which prompted Nicah to look over at her. She was frozen in shock. "We need to call that officer back. Where's the number ? Why the heck did you not tell him that bit? Oh my God, I..." Stacey was clearly panicking, losing her grip on Nicah's phone, as it clattered to the floor. But she was in a state of hysteria to notice. She grabbed at Nicah, to pry the little piece of paper from her friend's fist.

"Wait, calm down and let me finish, would you?" Nicah retorted indignantly, pulling her arm away from Stacey, and glaring at her.

"Don't give me that look! They were trying to kill you! When will you ever take your life seriously ", Stacey hissed, her hands flying wildly in the air.

"I'm alive, aren't I? That's besides the point right now... my dad's missing and someone wants me dead. And I think these two aren't coincidences", Nicah retorted, staring down onto her lap.

She needed to connect the dots fast. Who would want both her and her dad to disappear?

"I don't really care about points right now, Nicah Rhoswen. Your life is in danger, and we're going to report it. Or I'm telling my dad. It's your choice", Stacey asserted, crossing her arms over her chest.

Stacey's family were big on the political side, and her Dad was the Chief of police. And there was nothing he wouldn't do for his 'Pumpkin' aka Stacey. And it also extended to Nicah. He was like a father to her, more so than her own.

And while she was grateful for his protection and love, Jeremy Delace can be a bit over the top sometimes, much like his daughter. And Nicah didn't want it to be blown out of proportion. She didn't like depending or being a burden for someone else.

But Stacey just called her by her full name, that meant she couldn't be appeased. And when her best friend had her mind set, nothing could change it. Except for...

"How about neither, but instead I come and stay over with you, while we decide what to do next? My apartment is a wreck, my door is barely hanging onto it's frame and there might be a bullet hole on there somewhere. So... " Nicah trailed off, already seeing the wheel in Stacey's mind whirling. Stacey and her family always loved having her over, especially Stacey's Grandparents who lived next door to them.

While she didn't want to burden them with her problems, she also didn't have an option with her apartment being a wreck. She could go stay with Nana at their own home her parents bought for them, but seeing Stacey out of her mind, the next best thing was going to her place.

Stacey never took the chance to say no to a sleepover, and Nicah figured this would be a good way to placate her for the time being. Moreover, her dad was the chief of police. Nicah couldn't be safer anywhere else than at Stacey's place.

"On one condition", Stacey affirmed, holding out her right forefinger, with the other arm still crossed over her chest. "You'll apply for leave from your job for at least five days".

"Wait, that's too lo...", Nicah didn't finish her sentence, threatened by the dirty glare she got from her friend. She sighed and shrugged her shoulder, before slumping further into her bed. "Fine", she grumbled.

Stacey's face instantly lightened up, her lips pulling apart from one end to the other of her face. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and for the first time that day, Nicah finally  glimpsed her friend being her real self, rather than the worry ridden and over bearing version she was subjected to till now.

"Alright then. I want you to rest for the day. I'll go by your apartment, along with my brother and we will take care of it as best as we can. And I'll also pack a bag for you. So you just sleep and rest the whole day, okay? There should be an officer outside, so you'll be safe. Just don't do anything stupid for some time. Deal?"

Nicah simply rolled her eyes at her friend before closing them, and letting darkness consume her.

"You know it's okay to lean on your loved ones when you're going through a difficult time, don't you? I always see you trying to do everything on your own, and it's unhealthy. So remember, I'll never let you back out of my help when I offer it. Because you're an idiot that I want to be friends with, even when I'm old, gray and wrinkly. So just focus on recovering for now, okay? We'll figure things out. Together. "

Nicah didn't respond. It was hard for her to lean on people, but Stacey never let her do things on her own. And hence why Nicah was hesitant to even include Stacey in all these craziness. But all the twists and turns of the day really exhausted her, and she needed a power nap. She couldn't think anymore.

She let her mind slip into oblivion, as the soft click of the door resounded in her quiet room, wrought with only the beeping sounds of the machine checking her pulse and heartbeats. They said it was to make sure she wouldn't go into shock.

Stacey's absence in the room felt like a vacuum. And however over-bearing she was, Nicah was grateful to have her in her life.

Those thoughts and the beeps of the machines slowly lulled Nicah into a deep slumber.