Lorraine was happily making dinner for the kids when she got the first of a series of distraught calls.

She had smiled when she saw that the caller ID was Caleb.

The guy had probably called her instead Sungjae because the man in question had recently lost his phone.

She had been actually in a very good mood that day given she had received news that the dance academy was preparing a Christmas special performance, and they wanted her to be part of the preparation, helping them instruct and guide the little ones through it. It was true that it was early being barely the middle of October, but over the summer the academy had a sudden increase in new students.

Most of them between the ages of 5 and 9 meaning they required more monitoring and. 1 to 1 guidance.

Gently drying her hands on her apron, she reached behind her trousers pockets.

With one clear finger stroke she unlocked her phone. Promptly placing it on her right ear.

She was just about to say her hello to Caleb when she heard his distraught voice calling out to her in agitation.

-"Lorry! Thank god you answered. It's Hyolin with you? I've been trying to get a hold of her all day.

I went home and she wasn't there.

My mum called asking when we were picking up the kids and ~Oh God I didn't even know she had taken the kids there.

Our cook said she left early in the morning and I just....

I don't know jay to do anymore”.

Lorraine frowned, her heart suddenly picking up having picked up the pent-up frustration emanating from Caleb.

Her hands suddenly trembled but she steadied herself, tightening the grip on her phone.

"-Have you called her cell phone?" she asked not knowing where to begin with.

Caleb sighed on the line, seemingly taking a couple of deep breaths trying to get some sort of composure.

Lorraine bit her lips knowing it was quite a stupid question to begin with but luckily for her he did not flare up against her nor did he seem to take offence in it.

"-I did " replied Caleb solemnly.

"-A lot of times.

I thought maybe her phone died or something but whenever that happens, she would usually find some way to communicate with me and let me know everything is fine.

I honestly was praying that she’d be with you”.

"-I'm sorry " were the only words that could come out of Lorraine's mouth.

"-It's not your fault" stated Caleb.

"-I've just been having a horrible feeling at the back of my spine since this morning and... it’s almost like she just disappeared in thin air! It's horrible"

Lorraine nodded before realizing they were speaking on the phone.

"-That's really odd," she acknowledged.

"-I actually haven't contacted her all day because I was busy with the kids and the academy...."

"- Have you called the police?" She asked after a minute as an afterthought.

Caleb sighed heavily.

"-I did but it hasn't even been 24 hours so they can't declare her missing" he said his voice going heavy, clearly upset.

Lorraine at some point must have bitten her lip too hard, because she could now feel a light, metallic taste swarming into her mouth.

She flinched as she let her tongue gloss over the abused area.

Just as she was about to speak again, she saw the frame of her husband Sungjae, passing by the kitchen. Probably on his way to their master bedroom.

Without thinking too hard about it she muttered aloud

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"-I will speak to Sungjae about it" confident the man would be able to at least give her some sort of advice.

She was really worried about her best friend.

However, as she mentioned those words aloud a scoff was heard on the other line.

"-Sungjae you say. Oh please" had said Caleb angrily.

Lorraine was confused, shouldn't Caleb be happy that she was going to ask for his help?

Unsure and flabbergasted.

"-What happened?"

She asked tentatively.

"-I asked several times to excuse me during the day, because I was worried but instead, he looked at me like I was asking for the impossible. The worst part was that he himself left early for his usual routine and when I called him asking him if he's heard back from her at all. He told me that the last thing he'd do on earth was to entertainment a person like her”.

"-What does that even mean? Why was he being so mean and who spoke to their childhood friend like that? One worried one at that?"

Lorraine was at loss.

She could not believe what Caleb had told her, looking into the direction Sungjae had gone, she made a mental note to ask him about this issue.

In the meantime, she thought she'd have to start searching for her missing friend.

Hopefully, she wasn't actually missing as it appeared to be but maybe had missed her way on the way back.

"-I am going to call the others and see if they've seen her. “I’m sure either Aiseh or the others will know something." She reassured.

Caleb was beginning to speak when a set of loud Cries was heard echoing from the line.

Caleb sighed tiredly.

"-I....I got to go, the kids. The kids need me”.

Lorraine let out a little sad small.

"-I understand " she said softly.

"-Don’t worry too much, we'll find her" she added at the end, mentally praying for her soul sister’s safety.

Caleb stayed quiet.

Before saying one last sentence.

"I won't come to the office for a while.... I Don't know why I feel like this, but Lorraine please be careful."

Lorraine understood the first part of his statement, he was still mad at Sungjae, so she'd have to tell him personally that Caleb was taking a leave but the ending part of it...

Was there actual need for her to be careful? ...and from what?

Noticing Caleb aa still on the line she decided to reassure him.

"-I will" she said simply.

Her own tone sounding unconvincing to her own self.

The line was cut abruptly leaving Lorraine with a sense of fear and worry.

'What was going on?'

Little did she know that things were just getting heated up.

As if possessed she took quick steps to her bedroom to see Sungjae lying on their bed, he had already changed his clothes and was...

. playing with his phone?

'Didn't he say he lost it' she thought to herself.

Her mood was already dampened and a bit irritated at what seemed like an obvious lie.

After a few minutes of her staring at him, he finally looked up the intense feeling of being watched now slightly uncomfortable.

"-What? "

Lorraine crossed her arms and furrowed her eyebrows.

"-Hyolin is missing."

Without Missing a beat, he replied

"-So? "

Lorraine shuddered in shock.

"-What? Really? Is that all you have to say? "

But to her greatest horror he just shrugged his shoulders and rolled his eyes.

Lorraine's jaw went slack, her eyes wide.

That was so unlike Sungjae.

'What was wrong with him ??? '