Stay With Me

Chapter 1

2 years later...

Isabella

"Bella did you hear me?" my sister Lia asked.

My ears ringing. Heart pounding. My hands began to shake.

"Bella?"

I swallowed hard, not believing what I was hearing.  It's been two years. Two years since I last saw him. Two years since that tragic day.

"Izzy!" My sister called loudly.

"I heard you," was all I could say.

"He's coming home.  He's finally coming home," Lia said. 

"When?" I asked.

"Next week.  Mom and dad are excited to have one of their sons back, so they're hosting a family dinner to welcome him home."

I took a shuddering breath.  "That's great, Lia. But listen, I gotta go. I have a meeting so, I'll talk to you later." I lied.

"Okay.  I love you," she said.

"Love you too," I replied before ending the call.

I slumped back on my chair. 

Allan is coming back... and suddenly I'm transported back to two years ago.

"Why won't you tell me anything?" I demanded. "Nate, what are you guys not telling me? I need to know if he's okay. Please tell me that Allan is safe," I begged. He opened his mouth to say something but I stopped him. "And don't tell me not to worry and to rest because I've done nothing but rest these past two days, I need to know the truth!"

Nate closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Bella, we haven't found him," he said.

I frowned. "Wha-What? What do you mean you haven't found him?"

"When you two got separated I had my team go back to help him and they weren't able to find him. Until now we're still trying to locate him," he explained. "You don't have to worry, we'll find him."

I shook my head. No! this is all my fault. "I shouldn't have listened to him. I shouldn't have left him behind. He told me to run and I did. I shouldn't have done that. This is all my fault. Oh god..." I cried.

"Bella, stop. Stop it! None of this is your fault. You did the right thing," he said as he tried to comfort me.

"Nate..." I looked at him. " I need you to promise me something."

He nodded. "Promise me that you'll bring him home."

I can't lose him.

I can't lose the man I love.

"We'll bring him home," he promised.

That was two years ago. Two years of radio silence. Two yours of worrying,
wondering if he's okay. Two years since he sent Nate a single text. A single text that did nothing to calm me or appease me.

I'm fine. I'll be in touch.

That was it. That's all he said. Then nothing. He disappeared for two years. No one knew where he was. No one has heard from him ever since.  Or so I'm told... But somehow I feel that Nate knew where he was. How could he not? They're like brothers. However, knowing him, he was loyal to a fault and wouldn't say anything if Allan asked him not to. My only question is why? Why did he need to stay away from all of us? We're family. How can he just disappear? After everything that happened? How could he just be gone?