The rain was hammering against the windshield of Kianna's car, mirroring the pounding in her chest. She had just left the police station after the harrowing experience of identifying the body found in the river. It wasn't Alice, but the fear had left a permanent chill in her bones.
"She's alive, Bryle," Kianna said, her voice steadying. "I know she is. I have a feeling she's exactly where she needs to be, but we have to be sure."
Bryle sat in the passenger seat, staring blankly at the rain. He looked like a shell of himself. "I don't know, Kianna. My head is spinning. If she's not in the river, then where?"
"Just trust me!" Kianna shouted, stepping on the gas. She remembered the tire tracks she had spotted earlier—tracks leading deep into the forested outskirts of town.
Meanwhile, at the Villanueva residence, Camille was lounged on the sofa, scrolling through her phone. Her father, Arthur, was desperately trying to calm down a sobbing Suzette.
"She's gone, Arthur! My Alice is gone!" Suzette wailed.
Camille didn't even look up. "Dad, honestly, stop her. She probably just ran away to find her real parents. She'll crawl back when she realizes life is expensive. Besides, Suzette is being way too dramatic over a girl who isn't even hers."
"Camille! Enough!" Arthur barked.
"Whatever," Camille muttered. "Stepsister or not, the silence in this house is actually nice for once."
Kianna followed the muddy road until a triangular cabin came into view. She slammed on the brakes. "Is that...?" Bryle whispered, sitting up straight. He had never seen this place before.
"Stay here," Kianna ordered. She jumped out into the rain and ran to the door, knocking frantically.
Inside, Ruoxi (Rou) watched a black sedan speed away from the window. The "cleaner" had just left his warning. When the knock came, Ruoxi wiped all emotion from her face and opened the door.
Kianna gasped, her eyes widening in total shock.
"You?!" Kianna blurted out. "You're the girl from the coffee shop! The one I followed... the one with the guy named Liam!"
Ruoxi's eyes narrowed slightly, recognizing the "kumare" girl who had crashed her business meeting days ago. She hadn't expected Kianna to be this persistent. "Kianna. You're a long way from the city."
"Where is she? Where is Alice?" Kianna demanded, pushing her way inside. Even though Ruoxi's aura was cold, Kianna didn't feel an immediate threat—just an overwhelming sense of mystery.
Bryle followed her in, his eyes darting around the room. He looked at Ruoxi with total confusion. "Who are you? Where is my best friend?"
"Alice!" Bryle shouted.
From the upstairs loft, Alice came running down, her face lighting up when she saw them. "Bess! Bryle!"
They collided in a massive hug. Ruoxi watched them, a sharp pang of guilt hitting her chest. She had to protect Alice, and that meant getting these two out before the cleaner came back.
"They just came to check on me, Ruoxi," Alice said, looking at her with those trusting eyes that made Ruoxi's heart ache.
"It's good they came," Ruoxi said, her voice dropping into a cold, professional tone. "But Alice, you were supposed to take your medication. You know what happens when you skip it."
Kianna's eyebrows shot up. "Medication? Alice, you've never been on meds. What is she talking about?"
Alice looked confused. "Medication? Ruoxi, I'm not—"
"It's okay, Alice," Ruoxi interrupted firmly, her gaze boring into Alice's. "Just go upstairs and take it. I'll handle your friends."
Alice felt a sudden, inexplicable chill. She looked at Ruoxi, then at Kianna, and slowly nodded, retreating back upstairs.
"Listen to me," Bryle said, stepping toward Ruoxi. He didn't know her, but he didn't like the way she was controlling the room. "I don't know who you are or why Alice is staying here, but if you're hurting her—"
"I am the only thing keeping her alive right now," Ruoxi said, her voice like a blade. "If you take her back to that toxic house with Camille and your family, you're handing her over to her enemies. Leave. Now."
Kianna stared at Ruoxi. Her gut told her that Ruoxi was hiding something massive, something dangerous—but she also saw the way Ruoxi looked at the stairs. It wasn't the look of a killer. It was the look of someone who was terrified of losing the girl upstairs.
"We're leaving," Kianna said, grabbing Bryle's arm. "But Ruoxi... I know who you are. I know you're not just a 'new friend.' We'll be back."
Ruoxi watched them walk out into the rain, her hand gripping the doorframe. She had two days. Two days to save the girl she loved from the uncle who wanted her dead.