After The Storm

Almost

Alexa returned home with a sense of foreboding, her expression a mix of frustration and fear. Rafael, standing by the door, looked equally distressed, his eyes betraying his worry.

Ignoring Rafael's nervous demeanor, Alexa began to search the house frantically, her heart pounding with each step. She checked every room, calling out for Ammielle with increasing desperation.

"Where is Ammielle, Rafael?" she demanded, her voice echoing through the empty hallways.

Rafael's voice trembled as he replied, "She, uh... she asked me to buy Kool-Aid when we got here. I thought maybe she had a headache or something, so I went to get it for her. But when I came back, she was gone. I checked the cameras, and she left with the Jeep."

Alexa's frustration reached a boiling point. "Why didn't you stop her? Why didn't you tell me sooner?" she snapped, her anger barely contained.

"I'm sorry, Miss Alexa. I thought she just needed some air," Rafael said, panic evident in his eyes. "I didn't realize she would... disappear like this."

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Alexa pulled out her phone and dialed James. "James, I need you to start looking for Ammielle. She left the house in the Jeep. I don't care how long it takes, find her."

She hung up and turned back to Rafael. "You too. I want you out there looking for her. Check every place she might go. This is serious."

Rafael nodded and quickly left, leaving Alexa alone with her thoughts. She felt a deep, aching worry gnawing at her. Ammielle needed her now more than ever. It didn't matter what had happened in the past; what mattered was finding her, comforting her, and making sure she knew she wasn't alone.

Alexa's mind raced with possibilities, her heart aching at the thought of Ammielle out there, scared and alone. She grabbed her own keys and headed for the door, determined to search every corner of the city if she had to.

As she drove, Alexa's thoughts were a whirlwind. She remembered the tender moments they had shared, the strength they drew from each other. She knew Ammielle was struggling with the resurfacing of her past, but Alexa was determined to stand by her side through it all.

"Ammielle, please be safe," she whispered to herself, gripping the steering wheel tightly.

Meanwhile, Alycia left the event, dumbfounded and scared. She took out her phone and dialed Ammielle's number repeatedly, but to no surprise, she couldn't reach her. The news was too much for Ammielle to bear. Desperation clawed at her as she called over and over, still getting no response. She then dialed Alexa, hoping for some answers.

"What?" Alexa snapped.

"Can I talk to Ammielle?!"

"For the love of Rao, Alycia, quit with your obsession," Alexa retorted.

"I want to know how she is!"

"She's gone, Alycia! I'm trying to find her."

Alycia was shocked into silence for a moment. Then, determination replaced her initial shock. She knew she had to do something to help find Ammielle. Grabbing her coat, she hurried out of the venue and started making calls.

Alexa, on the other hand, continued her desperate search. She drove to all the places she thought Ammielle might go. She visited Ahia's, the airbnb Ammielle actually owned, the park where they often walked together, hoping to find her sitting on their favorite bench. She checked the small café where Ammielle usually go to, the library where Ammielle liked to spend time, and even at Ammielle's.

At each location, Alexa's heart sank a little more. There was no sign of Ammielle. She asked around, showing people a picture of Ammielle, but no one had seen her. As the hours passed, her worry deepened into a gnawing fear.