The Ruby Secret

Chapter 8 - Losing Pat

Pat kept following Alesa, who was disguised as Jen, into the forest because they were looking for Cloud but Pat noticed that the storm is about it pick up. "Hon, where exactly did you say you saw Cloud again?" Pat asked Alesa. "Oh, I saw him this way. He really should've been somewhere around this clearing. " Alesa lied. "Are you sure? We're getting really far from the lodge." Pat told her. "Y-you don't want me to find Cloud?" Alesa fake cried. "That's not it at all. Of course I wanna help you find our son, it's just the storming is really picking up." Pat answered. 'Their son?' Alesa thought to herself, obviously not knowing about who Cloud is in the first place.

"You know, it's weird... You're acting like you don't wanna help me find Cloud." Alesa remarked. "Jen, I know you're under a lot of stress right now... So, maybe your judgement is off a bit." Pat assumed. "Lying doesn't look good on you, Pat." Alesa claimed. "I'm not lying in the slightest bit, you know that. I just don't see the point of putting ourselves in danger. I know Cloud wouldn't want you to do that!" He argued. "Liar~" Alesa sang. "Fine, we'll keep moving." Pat sighed. "Perfect! This way!" Alesa said walking off a bit. 'Cloud missing is really messing with her mind. Hopefully we'll find him soon.' Pat thought to himself.

At the lodge, Cloud came inside of the lodge and Jen gave him a big bear hug. "Cloud! I was so worried about you! You have no idea!" Jen exclaims, holding him like there's no tomorrow. "It's okay mom. I'm here now." Cloud soothed but then sneezed due to the cold weather and also the fact that he's wearing a tank top. "Ah! You're cold! Here, you can have your hoodie back." Jen says giving the hoodie to Cloud. "Thanks, mom." Cloud thanked.

Ian was watching them in the distance and Jemma was putting Cloud's clothes to the wash and moving his clothes to the dryer. Once she was done, Jemma walked up to Ian and told him that she's done with her part. "Thank you, Jemma." Ian thanked. "You're welcome! How is Cloud?" Jemma asked. "I... I don't know. He's acting weird." Ian answered. "Are they still hugging?" Jemma asked. "Yes! That's the thing! From what Jen said; he's not that touchy. His body language seems so different somehow." He explained. "I wonder what happened to him." Jemma wondered.

"He hasn't said a word about that. He's just holding Jen." Ian told her. "That little hassle better get her hands off my man." The ghost said but Ian wasn't paying attention. "Huh?" Ian said looking at her. "Hmm?" Jemma said looking at him weirdly. "I thought you said something." Ian remarked. "I just said 'I wonder what happened to him'" Jemma recounted. "Uh, Okay... It just sounded like you were saying something else." Ian told her.

"Where on Earth were you Cloud?! We were worried sick about you!" Dan scolded. "I was out looking around, why do you ask?" Cloud answered still hugging Jen. "Looking around?! Cloud, there were signs of a struggle! I heard you scream and- Jen! Can you stop hugging Cloud for one minute and and start asking questions?" Dan scolded the 2. "But he's back safe and that's all that matters!" Jen told him. "Jen, I understand that you're happy that Cloud is back. But I think you need to take a step back and look into Dan,he does bring a good point. Haven't you realised you've been hugging Cloud for a long time? Longer than usual?" Ian reasoned walking up to them along with Jemma.

Jen finally realised that she has been hugging Cloud for a long time. "Now that you mention it, you're right. Cloud, what exactly happen to you?" Jen asked him. "What do you mean?" Cloud asked, clueless. "I mean, you were missing... For longer than you would without contacting me." Jen explained. "I was taking a stroll outside, that's all." Cloud told her. Dan then tried to explain to him but it ended up being a jumble of words. "What Dan is trying to say is; we saw there was a struggle in the room you went missing from, then we found a secret door that led us through some mines."Jen translated. "With really weird rooms." Ian added. "Right! We spend a lot of time looking for you. We thought you were kidnapped." Jen agreed.