Wrong Number (NaLu)

Day Eleven

"When was the last time he was seen?" Lucy was frustrated, heartbroken, and overthinking. She's been trying to find Natsu ever since she received the call from Lisanna last night.

"In our house the night before yesterday," Zeref told her. "The next morning after that, I went to his bedroom to wake him up but he wasn't there. I searched everywhere for him, but..."

"Dammit, Natsu..." Lucy whispered to herself. "What's gotten into you?"

"Let's go," Lisanna said as she grabbed her bag.

"Just you and... me?" Lucy seemed confused.

"Yes. The other search parties have already started, you're the only one left with no party."

"No thanks, I'm going alone."

"Lucy-"

"Lisanna, please. I wanna do it by myself."

"..if you insist, then okay." Lisanna put her bag down. "Good luck." 

She left.

As Lucy was about to go out, Zeref said something.

"If you're in a situation where you think all hope is lost, look at the picture of you and your two other friends from your childhood."

"What?" Lucy checked her pockets. "But it's not-" she felt the picture. Surprised, she took it out and looked at it. It wasn't fake. It was the picture.

"How'd you-" when she looked up at Zeref, he wasn't there. It was like he disappeared into thin air. "...okay."

Lucy went out and began searching.

-

She didn't know where to start, she didn't know how to find him. She went out there, not knowing anything. That was a pretty stupid idea, she admitted. 

"I've got to find him," she said.

She didn't notice that the sun was already setting. It'll be dark pretty soon... but that didn't stop her from trying to find him. Thinking that the forest would be where Natsu is, she went there.

"Hey, miss," somebody from behind called out. 

She turned around and saw it was a boy. He had spiky blonde hair and blue eyes with a diagonal scar on his right eye.

"It's almost evening, it's dangerous to go in there now. I suggest you should go tomorrow in the morning." He said.

"Sorry," Lucy said. "I can't. I'm finding someone."

"You're looking for Natsu Dragneel, I assume?"

"..yeah, why?"

"I'm looking for him too. He was my best friend. What is he to you?"

Lucy didn't know how to answer that question. "I'm..."

"His girlfriend?" 

"NO- um, I mean... no, I'm just his friend."

His face look like he was relieved - what the hell was that for?

"Oh, well.. my name's Sting. Sting Eucliffe." Sting reached out his hand to her. 

Lucy shook it. "I'm Lucy Heartfilia." She smiled kindly.

"Why don't we search for him together, Lucy?" He didn't let go of her hand, which made Lucy feel uneasy, so she pulled her hand away from him. She was loyal and faithful to Natsu, she just hoped... she just hoped that he's loyal and faithful to her, too.

Lucy accepted Sting's offer, but that didn't mean that she trusted him. As they walked deeper into the forest, it was getting darker and colder. She kept her distance from Sting. There was something about him that bothered Lucy so much.

They walked without talking to each other. Suddenly, Lucy's phone rang. It was Natsu.

"Natsu? Jesus Christ, Natsu! Where are you?"

"Hello? Can you hear me?"

"Natsu, please! Talk to me!"

She didn't hear anything but breathing, which freaked her out a little.

"Natsu..."

Sting didn't interrupt. He stood there, listening.

The call was static, Natsu was saying something but Lucy couldn't hear it clearly.

"Lucy..."

"Natsu! Are you alright? Where are you?"

"Run."

"What..?"

Lucy turned around to Sting. His face was different now. He had this scary, sinister look. 

"Sting..?"

Sting grabbed Lucy's wrists and forced her to lie down. Lucy was too scared to move, but she remembered she had to be brave for Natsu. She had to survive this, she had to...

Struggling, Lucy tried to reach her knife from her boots. It began to rain. 

Sting was already attempting to do her, but Lucy...

She just had to.

She stabbed Sting's stomach and pushed him away by her feet. She threw the knife away and ran as fast as she can away from him. When she thought she ran far enough, she cried and fell down. 

"Natsu.." she sobbed. "I miss you so much, Natsu."

She felt tired. She wanted to sleep. She wanted to forget everything that happened for a few hours. 

She pulled the picture from her pocket and studied it. She studied her other friend - who was she? Why did Zeref told her to look at the picture when she thinks that all hope is lost?

As her eyes were about to close, she finally realised why.

It wasn't a "she".

It was Natsu. He was her old childhood friend. She turned it around - there was the address. 

Day ended