Next Morning

I woke up and moved a bit and the pain was still there I got up and moved around in my room and changed into something comfortable as I began to exercise and stretch my arm as easily as I could.

And started working out and soon while in the middle of my workout as I had played volleyball in our high school a lot and was one of the famous players at that time so we used to work out a lot and, soon I remembered a few routines like cardio and push-ups even though I couldn't move my arm much I did as much as I could.

Then went for a bath after that and got into the clothes I had on earlier got dressed, combed my hair, and headed out for a walk in the hallway, and while looking around the lobby I saw Harry working on something as he saw me he approached me

"Hey Good morning," he said

"Hey, Hi good morning" I replied

"How are you and that arm of yours, I hope you had a good night yesterday," he asked me

"I am okay and it's okay the pain is still there, it will get better soon I hope. It was a bit different but I survived the night' i made the statement laughing off

We both started talking to each other and he started showing me the place where he works
as I was talking to him I saw Alec starring or more like looking at Harry talking to me

Everyone got back from the mission last night and went to sleep afterward in the morning got dressed and got ready for breakfast Alec met with Jace, and Isabelle in the hallway and was talking with them and waited for Clary and Veronica for breakfast while talking as he moved a little the right side he saw Veronica talking with Harry about something and smiling don't know what they were talking about but he started showing her around his work station and she had the smile and Alec somehow couldn't look away from her and soon he saw her laugh on something that Harry might have said or something and while he was starring at her she casually looked around and saw him starring at her and their eyes met as they looked at each other for a second and then Clary come out of her room.

Alec's POV :
As I was waiting for Clary and Veronica to come as we could all go for breakfast I was getting a little impatient and I started looking around for a bit and then suddenly my eyes landed on Veronica towards my right.

"There she was wearing a new different outfit and talking to Harry one of our members I couldn't keep my eyes off her as they both were talking and she had this smile on her face that I hadn't seen till now and then I saw her laugh probably Harry might have something funny to her and then suddenly our eyes met and she saw I was looking at her, we looked at each other for a while and for the first time when I looked in someone eyes I wasn't looking for something there. Her eyes felt calm or maybe they looked at me but I was still mad at her for it. Then I saw Clary coming out of her room finally."

"Hi, good morning everyone" Clary wished everyone

"Good morning Clary" Jace chimed looking at her

"Morning Girl" Isabelle winked at Clary as they laughed it off

"Morning Alec" she addressed the brunette hair who was looking at Veronica and Harry talking to each other to gain his attention

" Good morning Clary" he turned his gaze away from Veronica and looked at Clary

"Something bothering you?" Jace asked him

"Uh no..nothing" he shrugged

"Well, then why they're talking to each other and bothering you!!?" He raised his eyebrow in amusement asking Alec

"Who told you I was bothered by Veronica and Harry talking" he stated

"Hmm, if you say so, but why were you starring at them and btw I didn't even say her name in the first place and you knew what I was talking about, don't you" Jace teased raising his eyebrows at Alec as all of the others laughed

" I wasn't staring at them and yes it doesn't matter to me at all who she talks to. I'm just waiting for them to finish their chit-chat and I can go for breakfast" Alec said

"Okay, got it," Jace said

"Why was looking at me?, what does think of himself first he talks rudely to me and looks at me, or more like staring at me from afar and when I looked at him he just looked away what is wrong with this guy and that look of his Ahhhhhhh!!!! I hate that ."
Veronica thought to herself while looking at Alec as she saw everyone talking.

"Hi Veronica, Good morning, "  Jace said as he saw me coming

"Morning Everyone " passing a smile I wished him and also the others

"So where is everyone going ?" I asked looking at everyone

"Oh, we were just going to grab some breakfast, wanna join?" Isabelle asked " because let me tell you the food here isn't as good as it is to the place where we're going and we were also waiting for you"

"Oh, well I'm sorry to keep you guys waiting for so long"

"Hmm, as if like you even care" Alec mumbled under his breath

" You said something?" I turned towards him as I heard something

"No.. nothing, can we go and eat for now. I'm hungry " he remarked

"Sure, come on guys let's go" Isabell claimed

We started walking forward and we soon entered an elevator the atmosphere was of total silence for those 5 minutes there in the lift.

Everyone just waited for the lift to reach the ground floor and leave this silence, soon the lift hit the ground floor and we all got off the lift and went out of the institute and went towards the right of the institute and kept walking for I guess 20 mins now, and I was able to recognize the place as we were going forward on that path

" We are here guys," Isabelle said happily as she turned around to me and clary

" The place seems nice, the cafe looks good from the outside," clary said

"Wait till you see it from the inside," Isabelle said

"come on everyone" Jace exclaimed

We all went inside and took a booth in the back of the cafe and sat down as I looked out of the window it became quite clear to me where I was right now just near my neighbourhood and I could see the building I was in yesterday night with Emily. It made me worried.

"You okay, Veronica," Isabelle asked

"Uh yeah yeah I'm okay" I replied

Everyone started talking and eating I also started eating but I couldn't keep my eyes off that building I needed to look for Emily and notify Peter about her missing he also hasn't been in touch with me.

As the breakfast ended and everyone went over to pay I took an opportunity and quickly went outside the cafe without anyone noticing and quickly ran towards the building to look for Emily.

I reached the building and I remembered the floor we were on, the guard who was on duty stopped me to check me and I was getting anxious about going there quickly before these people find out that I have left. He completed his checking and I ran towards the lift, got in, pressed the B3 floor button, and waited for it to reach the floor.

Meanwhile, at the cafe, everyone was with Ms.Mitcher the owner of the cafe and discussing the food and the bill

"The food was great as always Ms. Mitcher," Jace said

"Thank you, Jace" the lady behind the counter smiled

"I loved the dessert here and the cupcakes were so delicious thank you for having us" Clary complimented the women

"Oh no worries darling, I like when people love my food. Btw Isabelle where did your new friend go"

"New friend?" Isabelle asked

"Yes the young lady you guys brought with you" Ms. Mitcher

"Wait now that I remember the girl who was with you" Ms. Micther stopped for a second and began thinking and then said, "she was Veronica wasn't she?" She looked at the four of them immediately and asked

"How do you know her Ms. Mitcher," Alec asked the lady

"Oh I know her even before you guys started coming in here I have seen her here since she was a little girl with her father. But the day he left my lovely Veronica she used to come here daily in the afternoons and wait for hours and hours just in hopes of seeing her father again. But would always leave with sadness and sorrow. I used to make special brownies just for her. While she used to wait here." 
Ms. Mitcher told Alec and everyone about how she met me and saw me grow into what I am right now

"Well thank you so much for telling us about her Ms.Mitcher we're grateful to you we'll bring her here again soon." Isabelle thanked Ms. Mitcher and everyone walked out of the cafe

"We didn't know that she was already going through so much in her life. And even now she still seems so strong" Clary said

"Well we can't fix what has happened with her in the past, but the main thing is that we need to find her first" Alec stated

"For now I agree with Alec, we need to find her as soon as possible who knows in what trouble she might get," Jace said folding his arms across his chest

"But where would have she gone off to?" Looking around herself Clary exclaimed

"I know where she might be. Come with me" Isabelle stated as everyone looked at her and asked, "Where?"

She pointed towards the building in front of them, the same building where they went last night to fight the demons

"Let's go"  Alec demanded and started walking towards the building in hopes of finding Veronica there

Meanwhile, Veronica was rushing up and down on the same floor where she was present with her sister and shouting out to her in hopes of somehow finding Emily safe anyhow.

Running back and forth she was shouting "Emily, EMILY!!! Can you hear me, baby?..."
she went towards the turn from where she disappeared and started to look around behind pillars and cars.

There was this big box stashed near a pillar I went behind it and pushed it aside hoping to find Emily being behind it but as I pushed it away there was nothing there behind it

I kept looking around asking people or the security guard there by showing them a photograph of Emily if they had any chance seen this young girl here last night somewhere or with someone and then I showed them the picture of Peter but didn't get a response I was looking for from them.

"I am scared and worried, I don't know what to do. I can't let Emily slip away from under my care, she's the only family I have left and she only has me to call a family too" As I was thinking about all this I wasn't able to settle in one place and started running and shouting her name while crying to find her somehow and to see her once again here so that I won't lose her.

As Veronica kept running somewhere near that floor and a little far from it to the place where she was shot, the elevator reached the floor and all four of them started to look for Veronica.

As they were searching the place for her they heard her voice or more like her scream and they all rushed towards the direction from where her voice was coming and found Veronica screaming Emily's name out loud and looking for her.

Everyone was standing and looking at her and how tensed she looked at that moment they all saw her calling out to someone and breaking down

I ran back and forth shouting Emily's name but didn't find her and felt like everything is over

We all rushed towards her as she broke down

"Hey, it's okay," Jace said

"No, it's not okay, Jace"

"I know it's not easy but we're here to help you, Veronica" Isabelle crouched down

"You can't help me, Isabelle, she is lost ... Emily is lost"

"Don't worry we'll help you out but first we need to get you out of here" Isabelle said

"I don't want to go back to that institute, please let me look for my sister"

"we will find her Veronica trust us," Clary said calming me and helping me to get up on my feet again

"but what if it's late, what if someone took her" I was getting stressed and started saying

"Nothing will happen to her Veronica, just trust us. Right now we need to take you back to the institute" Jace said

I didn't want to go back to the institute but I didn't have any other choice than to listen to them at that moment so I nodded and somehow got up as they helped me to settle

As we started walking Alec called from behind

"Guys, wait a minute,"  he said as I turned around and saw him reach to the ground and pick something up he turned around and showed it to me  "I didn't see this before, you know who this might be?"

"that is Emily's bracelet" I went towards him and took the bracelet from his hands and saw it, it was shining just like the one in my hand.

"well it looks like we do know your sister was here" eyeing me he says

"Even though, that you've been a jerk since the moment we met, thank you" I looked over at him and then saw Emily's bracelet

"Well I guess now we should go Veronica, you need rest." Izzy came forward

"I know guys, but I can't go back right now, especially not when I'm so close to my house" Closing my fist and hugging her bracelet I demanded "please give me some time. Maybe Peter found her. If not he'll be at home and might be looking for me too." Looking at all of them I walked to them.

"But Veronica-" I cut Jace off

"Please Jace, at least let me see if they're alright"

"I think you should let her, you guys let me go to my house when I came here, she also deserves to at least go to her house. I had Alec at that time and she has all 4 of us."  Clary spoke looking at me

"Thank you Clary" I hugged her and smiled and then looked at everyone they nodded. I looked back to see Alec and he kind of agreed even if he didn't want to.

"Fine, do what you want"

I looked back and then nodded to everyone and we all went out of the building and started going to the left from that building as we walked a distance a few houses came into our view, and soon after a while, we reached somewhere near my house. A dog came running towards me, I saw him and stopped as he started running in circular motions around me.

" do you know him?" Jace asked

I looked back and then nodded to everyone and we all went out of the building and started going to the left from that building as we walked a distance a few houses came into our view, and soon after a while, we reached somewhere near my house. A dog came running towards me, I saw him and stopped as he started running in circular motions around me.

" do you know him?" Jace asked looking at the dog

"Maybe he just likes her, saw you and came to her," Clary said,

"could be anything, who knows," Isabelle said and I went down to pet him as he barked waging his tale.

"how are you buddy, how has it been," I asked giving him a rub while barked happily and smiled and jumped. He then saw Izzy, Clary, Jace and Alec and started barking at them as Clary took a step back being scared.

"Oh no, buddy stay put. they're all good people" I settled the dog patting him as sat down "don't worry Clary he won't bite, he's quite friendly he just doesn't like the look of the person behind you" I stated as she turned and saw Alec glaring at the dog, and laughed "seems fair," she said

I was petting the dog and said "btw his name is Bruno, everyone. and he's 6 years old. I love him quite a lot" I said and looked at them as they smiled

"This buddy's got a great name," Clary said and came forward to pet him as he jumped a little to her to which she laughed and petted him. As we were petting him I heard someone from behind someone familiar, someone I know.

"I'm so sorry my dog, came up to you people running. I hope he didn't trouble you much-" she stopped the moment I stood up

"Veronica???, what.. what are you doing here? And where have you been gone? do you know how much Peter is worried about you, you both went missing a day before but you're here so where's Emily? Peter has filed a missing complaint for you both dear, you know that?" she looked at me started asking questions and then hugged me "I was so worried for both of you girls Veronica"

"I'm okay, Miss Lily, don't worry. I'm fine" I released her hug and said as I held her hand "is there any information regarding Emily that you might have heard or seen?" Looking at her

"I'm so sorry to disappoint you my dear, but nothing has come to know till now" she tightened her grip a little the moment she said it. It was like everything had sunk.

Emily... I mumbled under my breath, as I let go of her hands "but darling Peter is home. He would love to know that at least you're okay. You should meet him, my dear." I looked up at her and nodded.

"Well, I'm sorry that I can't be here for long. I have to pick George up" she said patting my left shoulder I winced for a moment and nodded she took Bruno with her and walked back as I just stood there for a minute and then went to sit on a nearby staircase.

"This can't be happening...-" Bringing my hands together to my mouth I said "I was supposed to take care of her when mom's not around" I buried my face in my hands in shock that I had betrayed mom's trust more importantly my own.

"We need to move. Come Veronica" I looked up seeing Isabelle standing with her hand out to me. I looked at her for a moment then took her hand and started walking by the path of my house to the institute.