Teach Me (18+)

Chapter Forty

Gianna's Point Of View

My heart pounded harder, my head growing light. "What do you mean?" I asked while sitting up in the bed. "Missing as in she's just misplaced?"

She's just misplaced.

She has to be. I want her to be.

Eden didn't respond. She didn't even look at me. Instead, she got up and started packing our bags. Her movements were swift and efficient, but I could sense the tension beneath her calm exterior.

I watched her, frozen in uncertainty. "What are you doing?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Still, Eden didn't answer. She kept packing, focusing solely on getting us ready to leave.

As the reality of the situation began to sink in, I felt a sense of panic rising inside me. I threw off the covers and got out of bed, my heart racing with every step. "Eden, what's going on?" I asked, trying to grab her arm.

She didn't stop moving. "We need to go," she said, voice low and urgent. "Go get your friends."

She zipped up the last bag and threw on some clothes. I copied her actions and followed her as she headed for the door.

My mind is reeling with questions and fears. What was happening to Lily, and how would we get her back?

Once the door of our suite closed, everything was a blur: from going to the girls' rooms and having them hurry to pack up to boarding the jet.

Eden remained silent, her eyes fixed on her phone, and her fingers moving rapidly.

She distanced herself, sitting in one of the far seats from us. But I understood, her world was crashing down.

"Gianna?" Kelsey's voice echoed around me in a soft whisper. "What's going on?"

"Lily's missing," I said, forcing back the tears in my eyes. Their eyes widened, and their mouths nearly touched the floor.

"What?" Phaith quivered. "As in Eden's niece?"

"Yes, as in her niece, and we have to find her," I declared, looking away from them as the tears rolled down my face.

We're so far away. What if we don't make it in time?

What if something happens to her?

The girls surrounded me, their faces etched with worry. Phaith's eyes welled up with tears, while Alicia's jaw clenched in determination. Kelsey's hands grasped mine, her touch warm and comforting.

"We'll find her," Alicia said, her voice firm. "We won't let anything happen to her."

Phaith nodded, her voice trembling. "We'll do whatever it takes."

Kelsey's arms wrapped around me, holding me tight. "We're in this together, always."

Their words and actions comforted me, but the fear and uncertainty lingered. We were still hours away from finding out what had happened to Lily.

Eden's voice cut through the moment, her tone crisp and commanding. "We need to prepare for what's ahead. We'll discuss the plan once we arrive."

Her words brought a sense of focus, a reminder that we had a long journey ahead of us. The girls nodded, their faces set with determination.

As the jet continued, we sat silently, each lost in our thoughts. The only sound was the hum of the engines, a steady reminder that we were moving closer to our destination, and to the truth about Lily's disappearance.

Hours passed, so many hours. The sun had risen, and we were still in the sky. The girls were knocked out, but Eden was wide awake, her eyes glued to her phone.