AN: This is from the POV of Keramin Vantas, the next chapter will also be in a different POV but not Keramin's. It will most likely be posted a bit later in the week. I'm still sort of unsure about this chapter but I don't want to be a dick and wait another few days so just here it is.

(Seriously working on that DYDFTSK backstory for Sollux, it probably won't be out anytime soon but it sure as heckie is being worked on)

Until the next upload friends.

A sigh bursts from Keramin's lips as she pushes away from her desk and closes her eyes momentarily. After resting for as long as she allowed herself to, she sits up and looks over hat her phone. A frown graces her lips as she sees that the screen is blinking from a call or message. She must've left it on silent. Unlocking the screen, her frown deepens as she see's it's a blocked number.

The voicemail is short, seven seconds long. She faintly hears a intake of breath, along with a small sigh. She attempts to call the person back, but receives no answer. Thoughts run through her head as she stares at her phone before she calls on her assistant.

"Trace this call for me," She orders, handing the man her phone. It might've been Karkat. He'd lost his phone before. However...he didn't leave a message...why?

She waits impatiently as she watches her assistant mutter under his breath.

"Mrs. Vantas this was made from a disposable phone, I don't have the equipment to trace it now," He says nervously after a few moments.

"Then get the equipment," Keramin snaps, turning to the papers spread out over her desk.

"It might take a bit Mrs. Vantas, I will do what I can," He replies, hurrying out of the room. Once the door has been shut and Keramin knows he's out of sight and hearing range, she leans her head back. She's working on two cases at the moment, however the one she's most focused on is going nowhere.

It had been three weeks since Karkat and Gamzee had disappeared.

She thinks back to what had happened, once more trying to think of any hint that could lead her to them.

Karkat hadn't come back that night, so she immediately assumed that he hadn't realized the time and that they were just goofing off somewhere like they were known to do.

It was only when three hours had passed that she'd gotten annoyed. Her various calls and texts were left unanswered, it would be the least that he could to do to answer them. Another hour, she realizes she's just wasting time waiting by the door.

She had gone to her office to work, not getting any sleep before Karkat had gotten home. She kept herself awake with coffee and the too-bright-light of her computer screen. She's seething by the time she has to leave for work. She rushes through her morning routine, leaving a note for Karkat on the table as she leaves.

Her coworkers seem to realize that something was up, leaving her mostly alone for the day as she works through the most recent case, periodically leaving messages and calls for Karkat.

Her boss lets her leave early, the woman giving her a worried look as Keramin gives a quick explanation as to what was wrong.

Keramin hurries home, hoping to find Karkat sitting at the computer or sleeping in his room, but only being greeted by deafening silence as she unlocks the door.

Worry begins to grow in the pit of her stomach as she kicks off her heeled shoes in favor for sneakers. She doesn't even pause to get something to eat as she hurries out the door, already having a few destinations in mind.

She goes to Gamzee's apartment first, having memorized the place as she climbs up to the fourth floor. She knocks on the door a few times, waiting in the hall anxiously as minutes tick by. She leans her head against the door, not hearing any movement on the other side. She reluctantly leaves, going to the next place she suspects they'd be at.

Tavros answers the door, looking confused as he realizes it's Keramin. She can see the hidden disappointment in his eyes.

"I'm sorry to bother you Tavros, have you seen Karkat or Gamzee lately?" She asks politely. She hopes her voice isn't shaking as much as she thinks that it is.

"Um, no actually," Tavros replies softly, "They said they were going to come by after stopping by the park for something, but they never did. That was a night ago."

"A night ago..." Keramin murmurs.

"He hasn't responded to any texts I've sent either," Tavros continues.

"Was the text sent around nine or so?" Keramin asks, a bit of hope flickering in her chest at the prospect of a lead.

"Y-yeah. I think they were going to Medium Park."

Keramin nods, "Thank you Tavros, I'll contact you if I find anything."

Clouds have shadowed the sky, almost responding to Keramin's worried mood. The park is empty, unsurprising due to the rapidly dropping temperatures. A storm must be moving in. She walks past the playground, to the clearing before the woods. She scans the ground, not seeing anything of importance. She's gained no information from this.

An almost panicked sigh bursts from her chest as she returns to her car, hurrying to the station.

"Mrs. Pyrope, pardon me for interrupting. I'm here to file a missing report for Karkat Vantas and Gamzee Makara."

Three weeks of investigations that have yielded no results. The situation has yet to die down.

That, and the mysterious fire that destroyed the L.A.B. building.

Their forces were spread thin, they'd tried to keep the situation contained, but it had spiraled out of control more quickly than Mrs. Pyrope had wanted. Keramin had literally been sleeping at the office since then. Most of them had been. Of the few of them here, everyone was panicked and worried and desperate for anything to help further the case.

A knock on the door catches her attention, she quickly composes herself before telling them to enter.

Keramin was hoping it would be her assistant, Steven, but it's instead her boss.

She looks frazzled.

"What's wrong Nedine?" Keramin questions. They had long since abandoned formalities.

"Press. I barely managed to chase them off." The woman shuts the door behind her, intelligent blue eyes looking at Keramin.

"Press?"

"I don't know how, but they managed to find out about the two missing teens," Nedine sounds annoyed as she flips her normally well styled hair over her shoulder as she walks forward.

Keramin doesn't want to question her any further, knowing that her boss was already quite annoyed.

"Any new leads?" Nedine asks, sitting down in the chair Keramin keeps in front of her desk.

Keramin shakes her head, "I just got a blocked phone call, I sent Steven to trace it. It's probably nothing."

Nedine nods, "I know this is hard for you Keramin. But you'll find something soon," She says softly.

"I know."

They're both silent, using each other as an excuse not to get back to work. Another knock on the door catches their attention, and Steven walks in.

"Wyoming."

Keramin raises an eyebrow at the name of the state, "Wyoming?"

"The call was from Wyoming, more specifically, an abandoned town near the mountains. It was a disposable phone, it must've been destroyed, but I could pick up a few small signals."

"Wyoming is a few days travel from here...Keramin," Nedine turns to Keramin with wide eyes behind her rimless glasses.

"Could you get any better quality from the voicemail?" Keramin inquires, forcing herself not to get her hopes up.

Steven hands her her phone wordlessly with a small shake of his head. She frowns but re-opens the voicemail to listen again.

There was the slightest noise before the person took a breath, but she swears that she recognizes that small sigh.

"It could be Karkat," She states, letting a bit of hope infect her voice. "Steven, get me a map of the area where the call was traced. Nedine, permission to conduct a search?"

"Permission granted, you can take a squad car and a few assistants if you want."

"Thank you," Keramin sighs, smiling.

Stay there Karkat. Just wait there.