AN: So this was a great chapter to write. I hope you all enjoy it. Thanks for your patience, and please review.
Martin sat on the chair his face buried in his hands. Where was his little girl? He closed his eyes, he could see her begging, her sapphire eyes twinkling, "Tell me the stories about King Arthur and the lots of Camels." He could remember the day he held her for the first time in his arms. She was so small, no bigger than a loaf of bread. She curled into his chest and firmly grabbed his blue shirt. She had a full head of beautiful black hair. She would squeak softly as she slept in his arms. He remembered that day clearly, because that was the day that Feliciana learned she would not be able to have another child. She had almost died, with complications after Isabelle's birth. When they learned Isabelle would be their only child, Martin vowed that day to protect her from all harm. He would never let anything happen to her, not if he could help it. Isabelle was his world, his greatest gift, his treasure. Feliciana and Isabelle was all that Martin had. Now Feliciana was sick, with an illness Martin could not figure out, and Isabelle was still missing.
"Martin?" a female's voice asked softly, "Are you alright?"
Martin looked up at the concerned woman, "I am… working on getting there, Jen."
"They will find her," Jen soothed, sitting next to Martin.
Martin looked over at Alex Pane, who was discussing with the police officers what the next course of action was.
"Will they?" Martin asked, feeling defeated.
"Of course they will!" Jen exclaimed.
Martin sighed, looking down at the ground, "Jen, she has been missing for two days. Where could she be?"
Jen took her hand and began to rub Martin's back, "I do not know, but we will find out."
Martin looked over at Frank. He was pacing back and forth looking more and more agitated. He was muttering angrily to himself. He had been like this ever since they found Mike's house, empty, abandoned, and the note. The note that looked like it had been written on some sort of ancient parchment. There was some elegant writing, written like a form of calligraphy long forgotten. The note had only one sentence, six words that caused both readers to have anxiety. "You will not find her here." Frank had not reacted well since. He was the one who had gone to Alex and begged him to talk to the police. They had to wait for 48 hours to pass, and the moment the clock struck that minute, Frank was dragging Alex to the police station. Now he paced back and forth, looking more and more worried as the time passed.
"Is Frank ok?" Martin asked.
Jen sighed, "He is taking it a little hard."
Martin nodded, "It would make since. They have been friends for a long time."
Jen shook her head, "Oh, I am sure it is much more than that. He had developed some very deep and serious feelings for her. That night, he wanted to tell her his feelings, but obviously, that never happened."
Martin chuckled, "Yes, that night I was trying to figure out which one of us was more worried about her being late, me or him."
Jen smiled, "He does care for her a great deal. It seems like he almost blames himself."
"If anyone is to blame, it would be me," Martin stated firmly, "I am her father. I am supposed to ensure no harm comes to her, be there for her, but that night, I wasn't. Now, I am too late in my regrets."
Jen watched Martin despair. He looked so tired. His blue eyes were heavy with the responsibility he carried. His black hair was sticking up in odd places from him running his fingers, repeatedly, through his hair. His head drooped with exhaustion and defeat. His proud shoulders had slumped forward, as though a heavy pack was placed on his back that he could not carry. He looked so broken.
"How is Feliciana taking all of this?" Jen whispered.
Martin swallowed hard, fighting the tears that threatened to show themselves, "She uh… she took the news kind of hard. She is now bedridden. I can't even get her to go outside, like she needs to. I've never seen someone look so sick and heart broken in my life. I am afraid if we do not find Isabelle soon, she will…"
Jen interrupted him, "You must not think like that! You must have hope!"
Martin laughed bitterly, "Hope? Did your son tell you what the note said?"
Jen stared at Martin in confusion, "What note?"
Martin reached in his pocket and unraveled the old parchment. He showed it to Jen and she gasped in shock.
"Martin? Did you show this to the police?" Jen questioned.
Martin shook his head, "They wouldn't believe it was real, if I did. Look at this, Jen, it looks like the message is well, from another time period."
Jen looked up at Martin in confusion, "Then what does it mean, 'you will not find her here'?"
Martin sighed, "I do not know, but we have to find her!""
"We will, Martin" Jen promised, "If that means we have to look for her for the rest of our lives, we will."
Martin smiled, it was great to have such loyal friends. Still, he worried for his daughter. Was she hurt? Was she ok? Was this Mike's doing, or was he kidnapped too? Neither person could be found. What if she needed him and he wasn't there? What if she was scared, or sick? Where was she? How was she?
AN: Thanks for your support! Please Review!