"She might have gone somewhere. That is what everyone is telling him, but he refuses to listen." A lady said, crossing her arms over her chest. "Of course, she's an adult. She can go wherever she wants to." Another said. "Why getting all worked up? Where else does she want to go without you?" A woman pouring cereals into a bowl said, looking at him like he was being a baby. The man clenched his fists, closed his eyes, and began to take in deep breaths. He looked like he was trying to control his anger, and be calm just like they wanted him to be. "First off, she never goes anywhere without telling me. Since we've been married for the last three years, she's never gone anywhere without telling me. Even when she's going to work, or going to see a friend down the road, or a neighbour in the next house, she informs me. If she can't, then she calls, but look at this…" he explained, with his voice still shaking in anger. Everyone followed him, and he pointed to the fridge where a slipper was, and pointed. "This is her slipper. I can't find the other. I've searched for it everywhere! Come in, come in…" he said, and they all followed him into his room. He took a bright pink phone, and showed it to them. "Her phone…" he took out a sun yellow wallet, "Her wallet. There's a bunch of money in this. Where would she go without money? In her nighties? My wife wears long skirts, and you'll never see her in anything short. You mean she walked out in her nighties? Without money? Without her phone? Without packing anything? Without telling me!?" He shrieked, and everyone began to exchange glances. "So, you mean she was kidnapped?" Layla asked, still looking like she didn't believe it. "Here? In this place?" "Yes." "You know what? Let's check the CCTV. I'm very sure she didn't leave the room." The man said, stubbornly, and they all flocked to the security room. The men asked their reasons, and they stated them. The CCTV outside the halls were checked, and footage of the man and his wife going into the suite in the evening was captured, but none of them came out again that night. "See?" The man shrieked. "Then she's somewhere in the suite. We just have to check everyone's rooms." Layla said. "Sir, if you see her coming out, or anyone suspicious. Please inform us." She added, and they all went back to the suite. At the suite, all the rooms were checked, but there was still no sign of the missing woman. "Oh, Sarah…" the man cried. Everyone sat in the living room, thinking hard on what could have happened. "Could it really be that she was taken?" Vera whispered to Charles. "If she was, then it was done by someone in this room." Charles replied, and Vera looked around. Her eyes found Kent, looking at his fingers, and she turned back to Charles. "Don't suspect people based on their appearance." He replied immediately, without looking at her. "But he's…" "Evidence." Charles snapped. Then Layla began, "Okay, wait. Let's all wait till tomorrow. I mean, maybe you guys fought, and…" "We didn't fight." The man replied stubbornly. "Then let's just wait till tomorrow before we report to the police or anything, because I don't understand how she wouldn't step out of this room, but still not be found in the room either." Layla said, and everyone seemed to like her idea. "Should we leave tomorrow then?" Vera asked, but Charles shook his head. "We're here for business, remember?" "The competition has been postponed, so I don't see why we can't waste one more day." "The competition has been postponed?" Charles asked. "I didn't tell you?" She asked, with wide eyes. "Wow. What a good personal assistant." "Gosh, I thought I informed you. I'm so sorry." "Even with that, we're not meant to stay." "I'll die of curiosity. Where could Sarah be? In here, or did she find a way to step outside, without the camera catching her?""The flames of your curiosity never die down, do they?" He asked, and she smiled. "It burns continuously." She replied. "Just for today. If she's found or not by tomorrow, we're still leaving." He said, getting up. "Where are you going?" She asked. "I have to inform them we're staying for one more day, shouldn't I?" He asked, and she nodded. "True." Later that day, Vera and Layla sat in the cafeteria, drinking grape juice with blocks of ice in them. "Honestly, my curiosity is piqued. I really want to know where Sarah is. I mean, how can a person disappear without the camera noticing?" She asked, then drank from her glass, making a noise of satisfaction from her throat. "It's suspicious, too. Can't wrap my head around it no matter how I try." Vera said, sipping her juice. "Me too. It's weird." Layla said, chewing a block of ice, and wincing from the impact it had on her teeth. "Charles and I were supposed to leave today, but I begged him to stay." "Really? Why?" "Actually, we were meant to leave yesterday, but we decided to take a break. The trip here was a long one." "I thought you both said it was a vacation?" She asked, swallowing. "Yeah, our vacation isn't here. We stumbled upon this place when it was too late to keep on driving." Vera replied, and Layla's mouth hung open slightly, as she understood. Then Vera spotted Kent staring at the window. He seemed to be fixated on something, but she could tell he was somewhere in his head. Something about Kent just felt off. Then he turned to her, and flashed a little smile her way. She looked away immediately, not wanting to keep staring at him, or acknowledge that he was giving her a smile. Then she got a call from James, and smiled."You're missing a lot. Know that?" She teased him the moment she picked the call, and he chuckled. "I think you're the one missing a lot. Amelia's taking me places." "Oh ho. I can tell you're lying." "It's way better if you think I'm lying. We ate at a restaurant today, and even ran into Longman." "What? Really?" She asked, and he laughed. "I thought you didn't believe me?" "Wait, wait, wait, you really saw Longman?" She asked. "Yeah. He tapped my arm, and told me he was watching." "Why would he say that? Isn't he such a douchebag?" "Save your insults, Vera. Have to talk to Charles. Just checking in on you." He said, and she rolled her eyes. "Eat your meals well, sleep well, listen to Amelia well, and don't miss us too much." "Yes, ma'am. Can we end the call now?" He asked, in a voice that was too polite to be true. "Do what you want." She sighed, but made sure she ended the call first. "Another friend?" Layla asked, and Vera nodded with a smile. Later that night, she and Charles lay on their opposite beds, staring at the ceiling. Sarah was yet to return, and Vera's curiosity had doubled. "Did James call you?" She asked, still staring at the ceiling. "Yeah. He said he lied to you about Longman and you bought it." Charles replied, also staring at the ceiling, and Vera laughed. "He's missing us already." "Don't make me feel bad." Vera said, laughing, and there was silence once more. She knew she ought to take a shower, but she was too tired. She felt her bones were too heavy to raise, so she just lay there, waiting for sleep to cart her away. And just then, they heard a loud shrill scream. They both sat up with a bolt, and stared at each other. It had to be none other than Sarah.