The next morning, Ryan was up before dawn, his mind restless and his eyes heavy with dark circles-clear signs of a sleepless night. The elderly holistic healer noticed immediately. "Ryan, you..."


    Ryan forced a smile, trying to hold back tears, and quickly rubbed his cheeks. "Grandpa, I need to head out now. Can''t stay for breakfast. Take care, okay? Goodbye." He hurried off, as if something urgent was waiting for him.


    The old healer watched him go, unable to muster the courage to ask if Ryan had seen the small note.


    *


    In the city.


    The day after Ryan left, ra got a panicked call from Sarah. Her voice was shaky and full of tears. "ra, Ryan''s missing! I tried calling, but his phone''s dead. He said he was going to his hometown to get you some herbal remedies. You''ve got to make sure he''s safe. If my babyes into this world without a father, I''ll never forgive you!"


    ra''s brow furrowed as she hung up and immediately tried Ryan''s number. Each time, she was met with the cold, automated response. Her heart pounded, but she told herself it was probably just a bad signal in the mountains, especially after that big snowfall the other day.


    She kept trying throughout the day, calling repeatedly and sending messages, but Ryan didn''t respond. Taking a deep breath, ra quickly shuffled her work around and decided to drive to his hometown. But as she reached the exit of her building, she hesitated and drove to Sarah''s instead.


    Sarah was surprised to see her, expecting ra to be on her way to find Ryan. "ra, why are you here? Weren''t you supposed to be heading out to find Ryan?"


    Sarah could act convincingly when she wanted to, but most of the time, her anxiety was obvious. Just one look at Sarah''s nervous eyes, and ra knew she was hiding something. "Sarah, do you know why I can''t reach him?"


    Sarah looked down, holding her stomach, her eyes filled with resentment as she faced ra. "Why would I know? Are you using me of making Ryan disappear? I''m relying on him; why would I ever hurt him?"


    ra narrowed her eyes, realizing there was truth to Sarah''s words, then turned and got back in her car. As Sarah watched her drive away, a smug smile crept across her face.


    A few miles out, ra noticed she was being followed. She pressed the gas pedal and checked the rearview mirror-three cars were tailing her. On her way to Ryan''s hometown, she had to pass near Z''s ce. She felt relieved that she had kept his residence a secret, hidden away in such a remote spot.


    She called Z, who picked up right away. "ra?"


    "I''m being followed. I''ll be at your ce in ten minutes. Got anything there I can use as a weapon?"


    Z''s eyes narrowed as he replied with a single word, "Location."


    She quickly sent her coordinates and heard him chuckle softly. "What''s so funny?" "I''m just happy."


    "Hmm?"


    "Happy you''re calling me for help."


    Sometimes ra didn''t quite get his odd ways, but she couldn''t help smiling. "You''re my boyfriend. Who else would I call?"


    She kept checking the mirror, seeing the cars behind her pick up speed. "Z, be ready."


    "I''m always ready."


    raughed despite herself. This guy, she thought.