Three whole days had passed since Lleyn's disappearance, and the void he left behind seemed to grow larger with each passing moment. This large house, recently filled with his laughter and energy, now felt like a hollow shell. While Lleyn was fighting for his life in the Tutorial, Eva, Leo, and Sera sat in the living room, their eyes red from sleepless nights and their faces etched with worry.

The television was on, but the family paid little attention to it until a breaking news segment caught their attention. "Millions Missing Overnight: The World in Crisis," the headline read.

Eva looked at the screen, her heart pounding in her chest. "Maybe they'll have some information about where Lleyn might be," she said, her voice tinged with a desperate hope.

Leo picked up the remote and increased the volume. The news anchor was a middle-aged man with a serious expression. "Ladies and gentlemen, we're here to discuss the unprecedented event that has left the world in shock. Millions of people have disappeared overnight, and we're still trying to understand the scale and implications of this phenomenon."

The screen shifted to a panel of experts, each looking as bewildered as the next. One of them, a woman in a sharp business suit, began to speak. "The economic impact of this event is going to be catastrophic. We're talking about a significant portion of the workforce vanishing. The stock markets are plummeting, and several companies are on the brink of collapse."

Eva felt a surge of anger rise within her. "Is that all they care about? The economy? Our son is missing, and they're worried about stocks and industries?"

Leo clenched his fists, his eyes narrowing. "It's infuriating. People are missing, families are torn apart, and all they can talk about is money."

Sera, who had been scrolling through her phone, looked up. "It's not just this channel, Mom and Dad. I've checked social media, and a lot of the discussion is about the economic fallout. It's like people are missing the human aspect of this tragedy."

The television continued its coverage, now shifting to another expert, a man with graying hair and glasses. "We have to consider the global impact on trade and international relations. Countries are closing their borders, and there's a growing sense of mistrust among nations. This could lead to diplomatic crises and even conflicts."

Eva shook her head, tears forming in her eyes. "I can't listen to this anymore. They're reducing a global tragedy to numbers and politics."

Leo turned off the TV, the room plunging into a heavy silence. "We can't let this get to us. We have to stay focused on finding Lleyn and bringing him home."

Sera put down her phone and looked at her parents. "I agree. We should be doing something, anything, to find out where Lleyn is."

Eva wiped away her tears and took a deep breath. "You're both right. We can't afford to lose ourselves in anger and frustration. We have to channel those emotions into something constructive. Clara even hired detectives to try to find Elena."

Leo stood up, pacing around the room as he spoke. "Elena.. I hope that wherever Lleyn and her are, they are together."

Sera put down her phone, her face pale but determined. "I found a forum where people are sharing experiences and theories. Some are far-fetched, but a few seem plausible."

As they shared their thoughts, the room seemed to fill with a mix of hope and desperation. They were grasping at straws, but those straws were all they had. And as the sun set, casting long shadows across the room, they realized that they still had no answers, but it was a start.

And sometimes, a start is all you need.

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Chris sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his phone. The weight of his absence was starting to take its toll. He dialed Emily's number, needing to talk to someone who would understand.

"Hey, Chris. How are you holding up?" Emily's voice came through, tinged with the same worry that had been gnawing at him.

Stolen story; please report.

"Could be better, Em. How about you?"

"I'm managing, I guess. It's just hard, you know? With Lleyn gone and all."

"Yeah, I get it. I keep thinking he's going to walk through the door any minute now, cracking some joke to lighten the mood."

Emily chuckled, "That sounds like him. Always the one to make us laugh when things got tough."

"Exactly. And now, with him gone, it's like there's this void, you know?"

"It's a wake-up call, for sure. Makes you want to hold onto the people you care about a little tighter, doesn't it?"

"Absolutely. You know, I've been thinking a lot about the things I never got to say to Lleyn. The thank-yous, the apologies, the 'I'm glad you're in my life' kind of stuff."

"I've been doing the same. It's like you take for granted that people will always be there, and then something like this happens, and it just flips your world upside down."

"Do you think he's okay, wherever he is?"

"If anyone can handle whatever this is, it's Lleyn. He's resourceful, smart, and he has a way of making the best out of bad situations."

Emily's voice softened, "You're right. If he's out there somewhere, I know he's fighting to come back to us. To his family, to his friends, to the life he left behind. Yeah, we do. He'd want us to be strong, to take care of each other while he's not here."

"And we will, Em. We owe him that much."

"Agreed. So, what's the plan?"

Chris paused, considering their options. "For now, we wait and hope. And when he comes back—and he will come back—we'll be here to welcome him home."

Emily smiled, even though Chris couldn't see it. "I look forward to that day."

"Me too, Em. Me too."

After hanging up the phone, Chris got up and walked over to the window, staring out at the city below. The streets were quieter than usual, the world holding its breath as it waited for answers. But up here, in this small corner of the universe, he found a moment of peace. Because even in the darkest times, friendship endures, love survives, and hope, as always, springs eternal.

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James sat in his dimly lit office, his eyes scanning the multiple monitors that displayed a myriad of information. Security feeds, news updates, and confidential reports filled the screens, but his attention was focused on one particular feed: the live video from the security cameras installed at Lleyn's family home.

His phone buzzed, breaking his concentration. The caller ID displayed a secure line, and he knew it was the update he had been waiting for. With a sense of urgency, he picked up the phone.

"Report," James commanded, his voice tinged with both authority and concern.

"Sir, this is Agent Thompson. I'm stationed outside the residence of Lleyn's family. All is quiet for now, no unusual activity to report," came the voice from the other end.

James felt a momentary relief but remained vigilant. "And the family? How are they holding up?"

"Understandably distressed, sir, but they're managing. We've increased patrols around the area and added extra security measures as you instructed. They're as safe as they can be under the circumstances."

"Good. Keep me updated on any changes, no matter how insignificant they may seem. Lleyn entrusted me with their safety, and I won't let him down."

"Understood, sir. We won't let you down either."

James hung up the phone, placing it back on the desk with a sense of gravity. He leaned back in his chair, his eyes returning to the live feed from Lleyn's home. Eva, Leo, and Sera appeared on the screen, their faces etched with a mix of hope and despair. It was a painful sight, but it also fueled his resolve.

He thought about Lleyn, someone he deeply respected. The weight of the responsibility Lleyn had entrusted him with was not lost on him. It was a burden he carried not just out of loyalty but also out of fear. The unspoken truth was that if anything happened to Lleyn's family, not only would he have failed his employer, but the repercussions would be unimaginable. Lleyn was not a man to be trifled with, and James knew that his wrath would be both swift and devastating.

"I swear on my life, they will be safe. I'll protect them until you return, Lleyn," James muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing with determination.

With renewed focus, James turned his attention back to his monitors, his fingers dancing across the keyboard as he pulled up additional data and adjusted security protocols. He knew that the days ahead would be fraught with challenges and uncertainties, but one thing was clear: he would do whatever it took to keep his promise.

As he delved back into his work, a sense of purpose filled the room. It was a purpose born out of friendship, loyalty, and yes, a healthy dose of fear. But sometimes, fear can be a powerful motivator, and as James looked at the faces of Lleyn's family one more time, he knew that he would not—could not—fail.

And so, in that dimly lit office, a silent vow was made, a vow that would be upheld at all costs. For in a world filled with uncertainties, some things remained unyielding, and James' resolve was one of them.