#Chapter 29 : Lost

Third Person's POV

Beth couldn't move. Everything was slowly beginning to blur. Time stopped and it all hurt. A stream of thoughts spun around her head in a dizzy, painful carousel.

'He's gone?'

'Is this even real?'

'He's…gone?'

"Tadashi…are you..are you serious right now?" Her voice came out in a shaky whisper. She waited for an answer, and received none. Tadashi usually stayed silent on questions he didn't like with answers he hated even more.

Which only meant one thing.

'He's dead'

'This is real'

'My father has died'

"Beth, you gotta come over right away. Mom…isn't great right now and would really need your support. She- well, she fainted. Uh, thi-…this is alot to take in after all..." Hiro could be heard from the other line. His voice was low and croaky as he spoke, like he's crying. And he rarely does that. Beth knew the reason all too clear. "If you're wondering about Tadashi, he's taking care of mom now so I'm standing here alone. Beth, I..I'm lost. I don't know what to think or what to do… Just- can you please come? Like, right now? Please…"

Hiro broke down. Coughs were heard, sniffles echoed. Beth hung up and sprint towards room and change into jeans. She rushed towards the front door and pull her jacket from a hook, not even leaving the owner a glance. Taking her car keys from a bowl on top of a cabinet, she stumbled out of the door.

"Wait!"

She turned to see Jack still in his sweatpants and T-shirt, along with a jacket around his body. He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and staggered his feet down the stairs.

Beth shook her head at the sight, not liking what he was trying to do. "Your body's still weak! You're gonna-"

"I don't care," he cut in, looking at her straight in the eye. "I'm going with you and that's that."

He was able to climb down without falling. Beth wanted him to stay back, but he refused to have her alone in her current state. Or maybe he was being selfish. Maybe it was best to give her her privacy. After gazing the blond's face slowly puffing and turning a light red, Jack doubt it.

The girl may have never shown much sign of weakness and was always an impenetrable wall. She comforts others, and refused to look like she needed it too, but Beth was human. She wouldn't admit it, but as everyone did, she needed someone to share the pain, someone to give her strength when she didn't. And Jack would be that someone for her.

Jack's POV

Beth stood still, her eyes directed to me, but she wasn't looking at me. Like she was trying to see through and glimpse the hospital room where her mother laid. A tear dripped from her face that couldn't decide between shock, fear, panic, and despair. She's cold and hurt.

Beth wiped as many of her tears as she could, but they kept falling freely. In the end, she stopped fighting back and let it flow. With her cheeks soaked and flushed, she ran to me and wrapped her arms around my neck. She rested her head on my shoulder

I silently patted her back, unable to move. I've had many hugs from lots of people, but somehow with Beth, a new kind of warmth spread out from my chest, curling out to every part of my body. It was nice. Being hugged by someone you're attracted to felt amazing

Or more exactly, by the girl I love

Yikes, what's wrong with myself these days? Oh, never mind. Calming down Beth is way more important right now. I returned the embrace and encircle my arms tightly around her waist. As her sobs grew louder and louder, I gently caressed her head and whispered her to calm down, and believe everything would be alright. I was right there for her, she wasn't alone, and we're in this together.

"M-my father…my father's dead Jack. H-he-he i…he i…he's dead! What do I do now? How am I supposed to accept this? This can't be real!" she stuttered. Her shoulders shook as much as her voice did. I could hear her pain and feel it, and seeing her like this made it more aching.

"Shhh….be strong Beth. C'mon, let's go to the hospital. Let's see what happened. Give me your car keys, I'll drive." I comforted.

She sniffed, her voice still wobbling as she shakily handed me the said car keys. I lead both of us out and gently helped her down on the passenger seat.

"Young master! Where are you going?" Caleb asked as he jogged towards me.

"Please open the gates and secure the main door. I'm going to drive Mrs. Winters to the hospital. Something…urgent happened."

He gave Beth a glance, and there was a flash of pity on his face before he nodded to me. He ran towards the control panel as I scurried to the passenger's seat. We then left the mansion

I pressed onto the accelerator as hard as I'm allowed too, trying to get to the location fast. Time to time I would glance towards the rear view mirror to check on Beth, who silently sat with her gaze sideways as her face keep twisting and wrinkling, trying to keep more ears from flowing through. For ones that did, she didn't bother to wipe off.

We arrived and Beth zipped past me to ask the nurse about where her father was, but she was too full of whimpers and couldn't really make out what she was saying so I had to ask for her. Once we were informed, we rushed to the designated room, and on our way we saw her little brother Hiro. He was planted down the floor with his back against the wall. His hood covered his head and we couldn't see his face, but his crying can be heard clear.

Beth let out a choke, probably trying to say his name, and went closer and collapsed to her knees in front of him, pulling him in a tight hug.

"Beth…" he croaked, wrapping his own arms around her. "You're finally here…"

"Y-yeah, I'm so sorry for being late…" Beth hugged him tighter, caressing his head. "I'm right here Hiro, right here…"

Beth stopped when Tadashi made his appearance, jogging towards us. When he came close enough, Beth released Hiro and briefly embraced Tadashi. With her hand fisting his shirt, she searched his face, checking how he is since she couldn't really ask through her tear-swallowed throat. Tadashi found her own face puffy and her eyes red, and his frown deepened.

"Tadashi, p-please…" Beth began, her voice wobbled more as tears flood free, but she didn't care. "Isn't this…too crazy? This can't be possible. It's too soon. Just why?! It doesn't make sense! This CAN'T be real! Tadashi please say this isn't real! JUST TELL ME!"

Her voice spoke in high, frantic squeaks. Cries were in between, overall. Tadashi could only look down as Beth slightly shook him. The young man kept listening to her cries and pleas, and he began to draw his own dry breaths in hiccupy gasps. Beth's voice was then a complete slurry mess and resorted just holding Tadashi as tight as she could. Her brother returned the hug, and Hiro joined the mourning embrace.

I was just standing there looking awkward, but anyone could feel the sad air. It could make your own breathing difficult and you couldn't help but shed your own few tears.

Tadashi finally noticed I was there and released his grip of his siblings. Hiro escorted Beth to sit on the bench.

My colleague brushed his nose a bit, coughed, and tried his best to plaster a smile. "Hey, good to see you better now."

"Yeah, it's thanks to your sister. She was great taking care of me." Tadashi nodded and slid his fingers over a few tears that managed to escape. Now that I'm looking at him up close, I felt something just broke. Tadashi had always been so happy and smiley, and seeing him with such a crushed look sent a storm of emotions.

I swung an arm around my pal, guiding him to sit beside his siblings. "I'm sorry for your loss."

"It's fine. Well, it's not, but, well, yeah." Tadashi coughed again and looked at me with a half smile and puffy eyes. "You're gonna stay for a while?"

"Are you kidding? Like hell am I gonna leave you guys like this. Why?"

"I'm gonna be with my mom for the rest of the day in the emergency room. Can you watch my bro and sis until the results from the forensics come out? The police involved told me that they need our approval so they'll get permission to check on my dad's body and his belongings before they can submit it as evidence."

"Sure, I can do that."

"Thanks man, I'm gonna go now. If you need anything, just call." He bid bye to his siblings as well before leaving.

And silence returned, heavy, thickening the air, and sucking out color. I glance towards the siblings close by me. Beth sat helpless as she sulked towards the wall. The whimpers stopped and the hiccups subsided, and all that's left was dry and cold. Pink nipped raw at her ears, eyes, cheeks, and ears. If I give her even the slightest nudge, she'd sway the other way and fall.

The two had their arms around each other. Hiro kept stealing glances at Beth, hoping she'd calm frown inside

An hour passed. Still in a sitting position, Hiro rests his head on Beth's lap, and the girl herself had her head on my shoulder, her breath tickling my neck.

"Jack?"

I jolt a bit when she said my name. "Hm?"

All the exhaustion from crying slowly closed her eyes. "Please don't leave me."

"I won't." I found her hand and gently squeezed it. "Not ever."

…

"Excuse me sir."

I woke up to the heavy voice. I adjusted my glasses to see that it belonged to a male police officer. Behind him stood a female one with short hair. Behind her again were a tall brunette man and another with black hair. The brunette wore a brown coat with black pants and shoes. The other wore a leather jacket with the same lower wear.

"Yes?"

"Are you related to Mrs. Winters?"

"Oh, not me, but these two are." I pointed to Beth and Hiro.

I nudged the blond awake. "Beth, wake up."

Her eyes fluttered open and the girl lightly stretched. Her brother instantly got up and eyed the new company before us.

"What's going on?"

"Hello young ones. I'm Officer Nick Wilde and this is my partner Officer Judy Hopps. We're the ones who are part in taking care of your father's case who handle your father's case. If you'd like, we could show you your father and check his belongings."

Her eyes went wide. "Yes! We definitely do! Please!"

The male officer glanced at Hiro. "Unfortunately, the boy can't come with you. We can only take one person with us."

Hiro held Beth's shoulder, giving her the message that he'd be okay. The girl nodded and hugged him one last time before following the officers into the infirmary. I stayed beside her younger brother, the two of us waiting for them to come back.

Beth's POV

The room was lit with just enough ceiling lights for people to see, but not enough to cover up all the darkness. On a wall, there were metal drawers big enough to fit one family kitchen's worth of dishes. But we all knew they're for storing corpses.

A nurse led us to one of the drawers. He insisted that I should not see what he was about to show us to avoid any psychological trauma, but I assured that I'd be fine.

He then pulled the handle, and a body covered in a sack of plastic emerged as white air from refridgeration wisped out. The nurse opened the plastic, and I nearly fainted.

There he is, my father. He seemed peaceful, but lifeless. His skin was past pale and even turning blue. His lips were a dull color, the same lips thay smiled each day when everyone else couldn't. Now there was only a frown.

I stared silently, closing my mouth. I still couldn't believe it. By tomorrow, I wouldn't see anybody leaving for work, all the newspapers left alone with no one to read them, less coffees to make, because the person wouldn't be there ever again. The person who always broke fights between me and my siblings when we were young, the man who loved making milk mustaches when the morning's dull, the man who sneaked us out to the movies even if we're grounded, the father that loved his wife and children like no one else in the world…

I thought I couldn't cry anymore, but new teas beaded and rolled down my cheeks. I looked into my father's closed eyes, hoping that they would open again, that he just needed time to wake up, but that won't happen. I slowly, helplessly crouched down beside him.

"Miss?" I heard someone spoke, but I didn't want to look away. "I'm Rooney Fitsherbert."

A hand neared me, and it was Mr. Fitsherbert asking for a handshake. So we did.

"And this is Dean Anderson." He pointed to the black haired man beside him. "We are agents from S.I.D, and we're here to help with your father's case."

They showed their IDs, and me eyed narrowed. Prosecutors were supposed to take care of my dad, why were agents mixing in? What did they want?

"Why?"

"Now's not the right time to explain, so we'd like to settle a meeting. We hope you would cooperate," Mr Anderson explained.

"Well, I'm only available on Saturday. My house will do. Five p.m sharp. Is that okay?"

"Of course. All we need is your contact and address."

After discussing a bit more, I wrote all I need on their phone and they left the room.

"Miss?" Officer Hopps patted my shoulder. "Come this way."

She led me to a long white desk. Atop the desk were all kinds of stuff that belonged to my dad. There was his dusty brown jacket, pants with scratches at the bottom, an old Rolex watch, mint candies…

"Wait, mint candies?"

I lightly touched the bottle of the sweet snack. It's a simple tube shape with a flip cap. It's my favorite candy brand that I'd usually buy from the store

My eyes zeroed in on the bottle. Father never liked this stuff. He even scowled when mom teased him to eat one. Tadashi and Hiro liked candy, but they prefer ginger or pumpkin flavored. Which left one option.

Me

I'm the one who loves mints in the family. I love everything about it. The cool freshness taking over my mouth the more I chew relieved me of stress each time my mind's all over the place or when my head just hurts.

'Speaking of which, I might need some now.'

"These are found in my dad's car?" I asked.

"Yes. We found the specific one you're holding in his grip. Rather strange." Officer Wilde answered. Officer Hopps agreed.

"Is it ok if I take some?"

Mr Hopps crossed his arms.

"I'm not sure child. We need that for further investigation."

"Oh, c'mon. One won't hurt. Please?"

The officer sighed. "Fine, but just one."

I thanked him and turned around to eat in peace. Opening the top of the bottle, I shook it and expected three or so balls of freshening goodness to roll onto my palm, but instead there was only one, and something white.

It was a single paper, rolled into a tiny pipe. Was this for me? It had to be. My dad put this in a bottle only I would take interest to open. This must mean something. Stuffing the rolled paper into the breast pocket of my jacket, I returned to the officers who were eyeing me in suspicion. I kept the last candy left in my fist and placed the bottle back on the table

I turn back to the officers who eyed me suspicious. I look at them, showing a single mint candy in between her fingers while put the bottle back.

"See? Just one."

I tossed the candy into the air and caught it with my mouth. The cold tangy zing instantly melted on my tongue. Savoring the flavor, I felt just a little better. "Anything else you need from me, officer?"

"No, that is all. Oh, but can we ask your permission to use your father's corpse as part of our investigation?" Officer Wilde asked as politely as he could. Of course, if I said yes, this meant they'd do an autopsy, since it's possible someone might have poisoned or drugged my father and caused his driving out of control. My family would also want to find out the truth. Is this because of my own father's clumsiness? Or is somebody out for our lives? I slid my knuckles over his icy cheek, not that the cold bothered me. I turned back to the officers.

"Yes, you may."

Third Person's POV

The officers lead her back to the entrance. She met Jack and Hiro once more, and marched up tp them. A new determination flared in her eyes.

"Hiro, where's Tadashi?"

"He's in the emergency room, why?"

"Do you have the house keys?"

"Yeah, here."

His hand dug inside the pocket of his jacket, and pulled out the keys. He gave it to the blond.

"Thanks, now I want you to go after him. I'm going home, to figure out some things."

His eyes narrowed at the last sentence, but he nodded in understanding and stood up to go to the emergency room.

Beth turned to Jack. "I'm sorry if this is sudden but I need to go home now."

The young adult seemed a bit curious, but decided to not question her for now. "Sure, let's go grab your things first, and I'll drive you go home."

Agreeing with his offer, the two went their way towards the main entrance. As Beth took a sharp turn, her face was smacked against a hard chest, causing her to lose balance. Jack caught her in time

"Oww.." Beth grunted and slightly rubbed the sore spot on her cheek

"Oh, sorry young ma'am. Are you alright?" Beth looked up. He was a tall, strawberry blond. His skim was tan, and his eyes an icy blue. She guessed he was in his forties.

She reanalyzed his features, and felt she had seen him, or at least someone like him before. Except above him was a side of a gold, frame like thing. And more people around him. She remembered it was dark when she saw him.

Her eyes widened in horror. Alarms were blaring in her head as she thought back of the photos she found in Jack's house.

This man…was the exact same as the one in the family photo.

Andd that's it! chapter for today, I kinda bored today so I decide to write and publish this chapter in here. ohh... Beth accidentally bumped with someone she saw on the family pic photos, what possibility could be happen in the future? till the next chapter everyone :)