Three years prior

Alandra leant against the doorway to her older brother's (messy) room, with pursed lips and knitted brows. She had this bad feeling gnawing at her insides all day. She had tried to dismiss the feeling but that was easier said than done. Her eyes followed her brother's figure as he moved about the room, packing things into his hiking backpack.

"Don't forget anything this time," Alandra reminded with a smirk on her lips as she stepped away from the door and into the bedroom.

Seth glanced at her from over his shoulder, stuffing a few changes of spare clothing into his bag. He snorted back his laughter and rolled his eyes. "Sure thing mum," he replied sarcastically.

Alandra poked her tongue at him in return and moved to sit on the end of his bed. She threw herself backwards onto the mattress and groaned loudly… and exaggeratedly. She snatched the backpack away from and hugged it to her chest.

"Don't go!" She whined, her voice taking up a playful tone. Seth chuckled and went to grab his back pack, but Alandra rolled over and off the bed, away from his reaching hand.

"And why is that?" He asked with a laugh.

"Because I don't want you to," she answered.

Seth rolled his eyes and went to snatch back his pack again but Alandra quickly moved out of the way.

"C'mon, I won't even be gone that long."

"What, like last time?" She teased, walking over to him and bumping his shoulder with hers, her smile a lot wider. Seth rolled his eyes and slung his arm around Alandra's shoulders.

"Okay, last time wasn't my fault." He defended with a smirk of his own.

"Yeah, you keep telling yourself that," Alandra joked with a laugh. Seth playfully shoved her away before finally taking the bag away from her and zipping it up.

Alandra sighed and it didn't take Seth long to figure out that something was bothering her. Dropping the bag by his feet, he wrapped his arms round her smaller form and brought her into his chest. Alandra instantly wrapped his neck.

"What's on your mind?" He asked softly.

"You know that feeling when you sense that something is off and no matter what you do, that feeling doesn't go away?" She questioned. Seth nodded.

"Well," she continued, "that's the feeling I'm getting at the moment."

Seth broke the hug and held her at arm's length, his hands resting on her shoulders. He looked into her eyes and saw the worry in them. He smiled softly and ruffled her hair, making Alandra smile a little bit back.

"I promise I'll be fine, Al. I'm just going for a week this time. I'll stay in contact ok?" Despite her brother's words of reassurance, it still didn't ease her inkling but she smiled for him anyway.

"Good," he said.

Lifting the backpack, he slung it over his shoulders and gestured Alandra to leave first. He quickly followed behind her. As they came to the bottom of the staircase, they saw Camilla standing by the front door.

"I have no idea why you enjoy hiking and camping so much but be careful out there dumbass," Camilla spoke.

"Thanks for your concern Cam," he replied, though rolling his eyes at the dumbass bit. Seth pointed at both Camilla and Alandra.

"Now you two behave while I'm gone." He said in a mock stern tone. "I don't wanna come back feel as if World War III has erupted alright," he joked. Chase scoffed and Camilla rolled her eyes.

"No guarantees," Chase half-joked back.

Camilla jerked her thumb in Chase's direction. "If she starts, I won't hesitate."

"Same goes for you," Chase replied.

Seth quickly quietened the two ladies by pulling them both into a tight embrace. Both girls were quick to return the gesture. They stayed like that for a few moments, before Camilla pulled away first. Chase didn't want to let go, but she forced herself to. She stood back with a small smile.

Seth threw them a salute and one last smile before he left.

"Te veré pronto."