*****Erika''s POV*****


    "Where are you, Jace? Why are you calling with an unknown number? Are you safe?" The questions flew out of my lips in quick session, nerves knotted tight and painful. I had no idea where my brother was.


    He might be in danger, who knew? Oh Mother of the Moon, please protect Jace and bring him safely back to me. I could not afford to lose him, not now, not ever. I was ready to apologize and make amends, he was my brother.


    "I don''t know." His breath wasbored and he sounded like he was in pain.


    The phone was on loudspeaker, I threw it on the bed and rushed to get my car keys while talking into the phone. "I''ming to get you, tell me where you are." "Okay, thank you. But first, arrest Melisse." He was panting. Was he running? Limping? Oh goodness! Jace was in danger, fear overwhelmed me.


    I could not concentrate on the name he just mentioned, my brain did not capture it properly at first but then again, he was my priority at this point. Getting to him was my priority.


    "Where are you, Jace?!" I screamed in panic. Kat was sick with worry, she looked like she might keel over any moment, Pa held herfortingly.


    "I-I... I don''t know where I am." He was definitely running, but it was as though he had a limp. Was he injured?


    "On the device''s location, I''ll use it to locate you." I told him.


    "I can''t.." He paused. “I can''t. They''ll get me. I managed to escape."


    Someone should hold me else I might lose consciousness. "Who are they, Jace? Please tell me where you are." Tears ran down my eyes.


    "There''s a lot of trees, forest. A deep one. I took a short cut to prevent being seen but I was ambushed." He was losing strength, he was exhausted and extremely weak.


    I wiped my tears, now was not the time for tears. I needed to find a way to help my brother, he was obviously in danger. I shouldport myself. I inhaled and exhaled deeply.


    "Do you remember the route you took?" I asked.


    "Yes, it was the South River road, I took the short cut there." He replied.


    I knew there. "Okay, I''ming. You''re around that ce, right?" I was already slipping my feet into my ck slip-ons. Kat and Pa were following closely behind, I forgot my key and rushed.


    Soon, I heard voices in the background. "I have to go. They are searching for me." He ended the call.


    Without wasting time, I sprinted down the hallway, I bumped into two guards. "Out of the way." I growled, they immediately stepped aside.


    Not stopping, I ran to my vehicle, Kat and Pa climbed in, I zoomed off to search for my brother. Nothing much happen to him. I would never forgive myself if anything did, dad had always made us promise to take care of each other.


    He had done his best by me, it was my turn. I must not fail him or dad. I would never forgive myself if anything happened to Jace, he was the only family I had left. Dad might never wake up, and if Jace...


    I shook my head vigorously. No! Nothing would happen to him, that thought was forbidden in my head. He woulde to me alive, I would find him breathing. He might be wounded, I would take care of him. I just wanted him to be alive.


    "Stop shaking do bad, Rika. We will find him, but if you keep up with this level of fear and nerves, we might get into an ident, that would not help anyone. It''ste already, be careful." Pa was beside me, while Kat sat motionless and quiet in the back.


    "I''m trying, Pa. I''m fucking trying. It''s all my fault." I punched the steering wheel


    as a sob erupted from my throat. My hands were shaking, I was driving recklessly.


    "Stop the car, Rika. Damn it! Stop the car." Pa was yelling.


    But I did not. "Don''t worry, I''ll drive safely now." I tried to do as she had said.


    The phone rang, my blood pressure spiked, oh goodness! It was the same number. Jace needed me, what was I doing? I was scared to pick and at the same time, I was curious to know if he was okay.


    The call ended, but I did not hesitate to pick it when it rang for the second time. Fearfully, I put the phone to my ear. "Jace."


    "Where are you? They are gaining grounds, closing the distance. Pleasee fast, if they get me, I''m dead. That''s their n, to kill me. Please, don''t let them kill me." I have never heard Jace sound this desperate, the fear in his voice was heavy.


    "I''ming please, I''m on my way, I''m doing my best please just make sure you''re safe. Find a ce and hide, ore out of that South River road. Just please stay safe, please I beg you Ja..." The call had ended.


    I did not care if I was going to die, that was my brother begging me toe save


    him. I would not have a peaceful reign if he was caught again, he had done his best to escape the first time, I just needed to go find him.


    I could not control the trembling of my hands but that was not my fault, I would get there, no matter what.


    Fueled by fear and nerves, I spet


    of my


    through the night, I was out of f pack. I ventured towards the major road, I knew South River, just a few more minutes.


    "Be careful, Rika. Stop trying to kill us." Pa was yelling.


    But I ignored her, she would not understand. It was not her brother in danger, so she would not


    understand at all. I was close to the South River. As I got closer, fear clenched tighter, my hands trembled more, when I got to the South River, I jumped down from the vehicle and ran into the bush. "Pa take over. Keep driving, let me look for him on foot.” I did not want to miss him.


    I had no idea where I was running to but I just wanted to find Jace. Everywhere was dark, but I hoped to see him. Pa had taken another route to find him too.


    Deep into the forest, I was still sobbing, praying and hoping Jace was still safe and that whoever was chasing him had not caught up to him.


    At a point, I stood, breathless and feeling lost. "Where are you Jace?" I whispered in frustration and fear.


    A hand came around my back and pulled me out of there. Panic set my heart


    racing.