We followed Alvin down the dark streets and away from the main city. As much as I hated isolation, I knew this was for the best. The further away we were the less likely we would be found by those agents if they were following us. The last thing I needed were those guys to rain on my parade and prevent me from finding my sister.

On the other hand, I could feel the tension surrounding Melissa and I in the car. I had a feeling she was worried about me after my outburst with Alvin, but could she really blame me?

I had been blindsided by everyone. My mother, my father, Derik, Willi, Paige and even her. The stab wounds in my back were still very much bleeding, and I was afraid I would never be able to trust someone's word again.

Why should I have thought Alvin was any different after showing up unannounced and acting sketchy as ever?

"When we find Anna, and this is all said and done..." Melissa started. "We can go anywhere you like. We can start over."

I allowed the image to flood my mind.

"We can move back to Arizona, back to your hometown..." she continued. "I've always wanted to go to Phoenix. Plus, my dad can come too since he has work connections there."

I visualized the image of me, Anna and mom moving into a three bedroom. Anna would probably hate the idea of relocating, but maybe after this she would be up for a change of scenery. New people, a new school... away from our old life in Los Angeles.

Because there was no way I was letting her out of my sight again any time soon.

"We could get normal jobs, and after some time you and I could move in together," Melissa offered. "We'd have a spare bedroom for Anna to come over and stay the night..."

I felt my heart beat calm down as I smiled. It was such a nice image that I almost believed it was real. I could see Anna walking through the door with an overnight bag slung over her shoulder and a messy bun on top her head. She would have her favorite movies in one hand and her pink cellphone in the other.

I looked at Melissa. "That sounds great."

"Does it?"

I nodded and wished I could be a better person for Melissa right now, but I couldn't. I was just grateful that she understood that.

We finally made it to the motel, and the sight of a flickering vacancy sign made my skin crawl. It was one of those shabby motels with the room doors on the outside of the building, facing the parking lot. Melissa must've seen the look on my face.

"It probably won't be that bad," she reassured.

"And if it is?" I asked.

She gave me a hopeful look before exiting the Hyundai. We grabbed our bags as Al watched us walk over.

"I know it looks like a dump, but it's really not all that bad," he claimed. "Just a little...outdated."

And if by outdated he meant in need of a serious renovation about ten years ago, then he was absolutely correct.

He led us to the front lobby where a man stood, ready to take our money for the night. He gave a smile, but I couldn't look past the old portrait of a woman hanging on the wall behind him.

"We need a room," Melissa said.

"Sure..." He pulled out his log book. "One bed or two?"

"One's fine," I claimed.

This earned me a smirk from Melissa and a raised eyebrow from Alvin.

"Do you have your ID?"

Melissa's guard went up.

"It's just for book purposes," the tenant claimed.

She revealed her fake ID and allowed him to write down her fake name.

"It'll be eighty."

The cash exchange was made and we were handed our key before escaping back towards the rooms.

"Honestly, I think I would've rather taken my chances closer to the city," I expressed.

Melissa just grabbed my hand reassuringly.

Alvin walked us to our rooms. "Did you find anything? At the gravesite?"

I fumbled with the cellphone in my jacket pocket. There still had been no reply.

I held it up for him to see. "A cellphone."

"If you get anything, you let me know," Al said. "If I can track her before she decides to shut that one off, it might lead you right to her."

It was a hopeful offer, and maybe Al was right. If Paige didn't know we had a hacker on our side, that meant we were a step ahead.

We made it to what seemed to be our room as Alvin gave us a smile.

"Try to get some sleep," he said. "Tomorrow, we'll put our heads together and figure out what our next move is."

"Alright," I agreed.

He turned and went into his own room.

Melissa led the way as I observed the bed. It wasn't as bad as I expected, but it surely wasn't getting five stars. Maybe not even four.

The carpet was dark, and in the corner, was a stain that I prayed wasn't blood. The box TV sat on a scuffed dresser, but at least the bed looked clean. Even though the bedspread seemed to be pulled out of a nineteen-seventies home catalog.

"Did it exceed your expectations?" Melissa wondered.

"Yes." I threw my bag down. "But that stain over there is making me nervous."

Melissa eyed it before smiling through her nerves.

"It's probably nothing."

"Keep telling yourself that." I chuckled. "In the meantime, I'm gonna check our bed for roaches."

The bed was clear, and the bathroom seemed to be the cleanest place in the room, so I had no problem agreeing to a quick shower.

I allowed the water to heat up, or at least get as hot as possible before stripping and standing under the warm water. After this long day, it seemed to help my tensed muscles relax, even if it was only a little.

I rested my head against the wall of the shower and thought about my sister. Where was she? Was she sleeping on the cold floor? Or a dirty mattress in the basement of some house? When was the last time she had eaten? Was she dirty from head to toe due to Paige's lack of humanity?

The images that were forming in my head made my eyes burn. If not for the shower water running down my face, the tears would've been blatantly noticeable.

How could I have let this happen? How could I think that after camp, Paige wouldn't have come after me? After everything that had happened, you would think I would've been more careful.

But I had grown comfortable. I had let my guard down for once in my life, and that was all it had taken. And it was now the very reason I hadn't let it down since. I was just so exhausted.

There was a knock on the door before I heard Melissa step inside the bathroom.

"Hey, you okay in there?" she asked.

"Y-Yeah," I lied. "Just... taking my time."

I heard the sink start up and I figured Melissa was probably just as ready for bed as I was. This whole situation hadn't been easy on her either. How would I have survived any of this without her?

I turned off the shower and grabbed a towel from the rack. My tired arms wrapped it around my torso before I stepped out of the shower.

Melissa finished up brushing her teeth as she watched me from the mirror. She was studying the contours of my chest, which was exposed. I was noticeably skinnier, which I knew worried her, but what was she to do? I was a grown woman, and she was trying not to be my mother.

She turned and faced me. Those soft silver eyes scanned my body quickly before they met my own. I felt myself thanking God that she existed.

My heart fluttered as she stepped closer to me. Maybe that's why I needed her so much. She reminded me that I was human. That I could still feel something other than empty and sad.

Her hands gently cupped my face as I held my breath. Just the thought of how we had gotten here made me want to cry. When had I become such an emotional mess?

Her full lips pressed against mine as I sighed into the kiss. It felt like a breath of life. It was exactly what I needed and she already knew that.

Melissa pulled away after a few seconds, even though her eyes remained closed. We savored the moment just a little longer before saying anything.

"We are going to find your sister," she repeated. "I promise that we will."

I just gave her a sad smile and a nod.

Melissa readied for bed and joined me not long after her shower. The aching in my muscles now seemed to have traveled into my bones as I lied on my left side. My body instinctively curled into a fetal position as Melissa pulled me into her.

Ijust prayed I could find a few hours of sleep and that the nightmares aboutAnna stayed far, far away.