(Hey guys, miss me? Or well, Scarlet, anyway? Sorry about not uploading for forever, but I honestly just can't with this story. Don't be surprised if I try to bring it to an end soon, because not matter how much I love these characters, I just can't think up a good story for them. But, since I've been into the Sims 4 lately, I do plan on making them. If you want them in the gallery, just let me know! Warning, though. I'm addicted to custom content, so they'll be covered in that. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the chapter!)

(Also, I literally wrote this as like 2 or three a.m., so I apologize if something doesn't make sense. But I was proud of it when I wrote it, and now I'm sharing it with the world! Love you guys!)

A few more days went by without any word from Grell, and I was beginning to worry about him more and more as time went on. I'd never went this long without seeing him, and it was eating away at me. Where was he? What had happened to my big brother?

Jazz was always giving me concerned glances when she thought I wasn't looking, but I always saw them out the corner of my eye. I never expressed my thoughts to her about Grell, so she didn't know what was wrong with me. She simply noticed me always staring down at my hands, thinking.

When a week had passed, and there was still no sign of or word from Grell, I finally felt myself breaking down. I couldn't do it anymore. I couldn't live with not knowing if he was alright. Whatever he was doing, it was to help me. If something happened to him...

"Scarlet?"

I was startled out of my thoughts by Jazz, who had just woken up. It was still early morning, and I'd been too worried to sleep for the past couple of days, so I simply sat on the spare bed, thinking.

"Are you alright? What's wrong?"

It was then that I noticed the wetness of my cheeks, and my hiccupping breaths. I wiped my eyes and hugged my knees. I'd cried in front Jazz once, when the fog had been too thick, and I'd feared something had happened to her. She must've thought something terrible was wrong, if I was crying.

I stayed silent. I felt the mattress on the bed shift as she crawled next to me. Her arms wrapped around me, but I didn't move or speak. How was I supposed to tell her these tears were just me being worried about my brother? The image I'd made for myself the past few years, that I was strong, and that I could be the first, and best, female reaper, would come crashing down around me.

But this was Jazz. This was my best friend. She was the one I was supposed to be able to break down around; the one that was allowed to see the weaker side of me. The one to keep my secrets.

I took a deep, shuddering breath, then slightly raised my head. "It's been a week."

I felt Jazz nod and hold me tighter. "Yup."

"Where do you think he is?"

"Somewhere wishing he could get away and let you know that he's fine." She took a deep breath. "You haven't been sleeping."

I wasn't very surprised that she knew. I must've looked like a wreck.

"Jazz, I promise you, he's alright. If he wasn't, we would have heard something."

I nodded. Then a thought hit me. "Unless Mom knows, and she hasn't been able to reach me."

"Everyone would know if something happened to Grell. He's popular, remember?"

I let out a small laugh. Yeah, he was popular, if that counted for just about everyone despising him. I sat up and wiped my eyes again. "Thanks."

"No problem." She released me a moment later. "Now, can you try to get some sleep. Mom and I have been really worried about you lately."

I gave her a small smile. "Yeah, I'm sorry about that. I've just never gone this long without seeing him before. I didn't really know what to think."

Jazz returned my smile. "I understand. The first time Jay went away on a mission, I was terrified. But you know better than anyone that nothing can take Grell out with trying really hard."

"You're right," I said, feeling my smile grow a little brighter. I lay down on the bed and watched Jazz crawl back to her own. Glancing out the window, I noticed it was dawn, but my eyelids suddenly grew heavy, and before I knew it, I fell asleep.

*

When I woke up, the sun was bright in the sky. I rubbed my eyes and stood, still exhausted, making my way out of the room and down the stairs, searching for Jazz.

I found her in the dining room, helping her mom put away dishes. She glanced my way and frowned slightly. I yawned and entered the room.

Jazz glanced to her mom, put down what she'd been holding, and came over to me.

"What time is it?" I asked her through another yawn.

"It's not even noon. You should still be sleeping. You didn't for three days."

I shrugged. "I can't. I need to know when Grell gets back."

"Scarlet we talked about this already. You'll be the first to know when he's back. And we'll wake you if we hear anything, you know that."

I shook my head. "I know you will, but I can't wait anymore. I have to find him."

"You can't leave here! You know they'll just attack you again if you go back."

"I don't care. I have to find him. If I don't, I'll go insane."

Jazz glanced from me to her mother, who gave her a worried glance along with a reluctant nod, then she turned back to me. "Then I can't let you go alone."

Here we go again, I thought. "Jazz..."

"Scarlet... I know you're just trying to protect me, but it won't work this time. It's been a week since those people have heard from you, and they are going to want an update as soon as you're within their reach. I know I won't be much help, but please, just let me go with you. They did drag me into this, too, after all."

I sighed, too exhausted to argue. "Fine. But please, if anything happens, you'll leave."

"I promise that if something happens and I can't save you, I'll run. But I'm going to help you. You can't stop me."

I shook my head, smiling. "I know I can't. Let's go."

Jazz grabbed my arm as I tried to leave the room. "Sleep first. We'll go tonight."

I tried to argue, but my protests came out as a big yawn. My shoulders slumped, and I nodded, before turning and heading back up the stairs.