Mother's True Love.

Chasing Shadows.

Emily sat on the edge of her bed, her phone still in hand, the glow illuminating her anxious expression. Alex was pacing in the cramped living room of his cousin's cabin, phone pressed to his ear as he spoke to one of his contacts. The tension in the air was palpable, filled with a mix of urgency and dread.

"Yeah, I know it's a long shot," Alex said, his voice low but steady. "But if anyone can get through to Nathan Jacobs, it's you. Just do whatever it takes. I'll be waiting." He ended the call and turned to Emily, a determined look on his face. "Okay, my buddy's on it. He's digging into Nathan's contacts as we speak."

Emily swallowed hard, the knot in her stomach tightening. "And what if we find him? What do we do then?"

"Then we confront him," Alex replied, his tone resolute. "We ask him what he knows about Jules. Maybe he has some answers that can help us understand why she felt so alone."

"Alone..." Emily echoed, feeling the weight of the word. "I just... I don't know if I can bear the thought of meeting this guy. What if he's the reason she's gone? What if he made her feel like she had no other choice?"

Alex stepped closer, his expression softening. "I get that it's scary, Em. But you're not alone in this. I'll be right there with you. We'll face this together."

"But what if he's dangerous?" Emily asked, her voice trembling slightly. "What if he's not who Jules said he was?"

"Then we'll handle it," Alex said firmly. "We'll figure it out. You can't carry this weight alone. Jules deserves justice, and so do you. You owe it to her to uncover the truth."

Emily felt a shiver run down her spine, her mind racing with possibilities. Part of her was terrified, yet another part felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility. "I don't know why I'm so scared," she confessed, looking down at her hands. "It's just... he's an unknown. And the thought of confronting someone who might've hurt her... it's too much."

"I understand," Alex said, crouching down to meet her gaze. "But think about it—what if he wasn't the one who hurt her? What if he was someone who cared about her? We can't jump to conclusions without knowing the facts."

"Right," Emily agreed, her heart racing as she contemplated the potential outcomes. "But still..."

Before she could finish, her phone buzzed again. It was a text from Sarah: "Hey, I've been thinking. I want to help. I'll get involved, too. For Jules."

Emily felt a surge of relief mixed with apprehension. "Sarah wants to help," she told Alex, a small smile creeping onto her lips. "She's serious about this."

"Good," Alex replied, straightening up. "The more of us there are, the better. We'll need each other to face whatever comes next."

"But what if it all goes wrong?" Emily asked, feeling the weight of uncertainty pressing down on her.

"Then we'll deal with it together," Alex reassured her, squeezing her shoulder gently. "We have each other's backs, remember? Jules would want us to find the truth, no matter how scary it might be."

Emily took a deep breath, the resolve in Alex's words slowly washing over her. "You're right. I can't let fear control me. I need to know what really happened to Jules."

"Exactly," Alex said, his voice full of encouragement. "We'll find Nathan and get the answers we need. And if it gets tough, just remember—you're not alone in this."

As the weight of their mission settled between them, Emily felt a flicker of determination ignite within her. She would do this for Jules, for herself, and for the truth that needed to be uncovered.

With a renewed sense of purpose, Emily nodded. "Let's find him. Let's find Nathan Jacobs."