TW: THIS CHAPTER COULD BE TRIGGERING FOR SOME READERS. MENTIONS OF TRAFFICKING, VIOLENCE, DEATH, EATING DISORDERS & MENTAL HEALTH

26th October, 2023

youth - daughter

It has been three long, agonizing days since Lucio went after Johnathan alone. Three long, agonizing days since both he and Johnathan vanished. Lobos descended upon Johnathan's house, their hearts heavy with worry and their minds clouded with thoughts of vengeance.

But when Lobos stormed into Johnathan's house, their hopes of finding Lucio and exacting their revenge quickly faded. The house was deserted, devoid of any sign of life. Johnathan and Lucio were nowhere to be found, it was as if they had vanished into thin air.

It was then that they realised the truth — Johnathan had outwitted them all. He had ensnared Lucio in a web of deceit and treachery, luring him into a trap from which there seemed to be no escape. The leader of Lobos had fallen into the clutches of his most dangerous enemy. Johnathan had taken Lucio captive, biding his time and planning his next move.

Rain has been inconsolable, his heart aches with each passing day, each passing hour, as he relentlessly searches for any shred of information that can lead him to his missing father. His nights are consumed by restless thoughts, his days filled with a palpable sense of urgency that never seems to fade. The only solace he finds is in the companionship of Abel, Lucio's faithful German Shepard.

As Rain spends countless hours hunched over his computer, scouring every possible lead and following every faint trail, Abel lies by his side, a silent sentinel exuding a sense of calm and reassurance. The dog had been staying with Zane's parents, safe and well taken care of, away from the chaos that has been invading his life. But Rain couldn't bear the idea of being separated from his father's beloved companion. So, he made the journey to bring Abel back, needing the comforting presence of the ageing dog more than ever.

Natalie has been on the brink of destruction since Noah's death. Her days are a blur of tears, pain, and sorrow so deep that it threatens to swallow her whole. Natalie can hardly bring herself to get out of bed, let alone face the harsh reality of a life without her other half.

She finds herself trapped in a never-ending cycle of grief. Memories of Noah haunt her every waking moment, from their shared childhood adventures to their deep conversations late into the night. It is as if a piece of her soul has been torn away, leaving her incomplete and adrift in a galaxy of sorrow.

Sailor watches helplessly as Natalie spirals deeper into despair, her once sparkling eyes now dull with pain. Sailor tries to offer words of comfort, arms open wide in an attempt to shield her from the storm raging within her. But Natalie remains closed off, a fortress of grief that no one can breach.

Sage, who has always been a vibrant soul, her laughter tinkling like wind chimes on a breezy day. But that was before Johnathan's sinister grip had torn her spirit apart, leaving behind a shattered mosaic of fear and paranoia. Every day is a battle for Sage, a relentless war wages within the confines of her mind.

The memories of captivity haunt her like vengeful ghosts, whispering twisted tales of pain and betrayal. She flinches at the lightest touch, her body tensing at the sound of footsteps approaching. The once carefree spirit has been replaced by a trembling shadow, a ghost of the woman she used to be.

Storm has been by her side every step of the way. He's never left her alone, always watching over her like a guardian angel. But even Storm's unwavering support seems powerless against the darkness that consumes Sage's soul.

Rain, the only person who could truly reach her, is lost in his own despair. Rain who once held the key to Sage's heart, is now a distant shadow of his former self. Trapped in a cage of his own making, he struggles to find his way back to the light, leaving Sage adrift in a vast universe of fear.

With his piercing gaze that seems to see into the very depths of one's soul, Johnathan descended upon Lobos like a vengeful deity, casting his judgment upon all who dare to defy him. The once formidable gang, find themselves hanging on by a thread, their spirits broken and their bodies battered. Each confrontation with Johnathan is a dance of death, a symphony of violence and agony that leaves no room for mercy or remorse. Locked away in a decaying safe house, they find themselves prisoners of their own despair. The walls seem to close in on them, suffocating reminders of their impending doom.

yellow - coldplay

Natalie lies in bed, curled into a fetal position, staring blankly out the small window as the rain pelts upon it. The sound of the rain hitting the glass is the only thing that breaks the eerie silence that fills the room. The death of Noah has left a gaping hole in her heart that she feels will never be filled. The thought of facing life without him seems impossible.

Noah has always been the light in Natalie's life, the one who could make her laugh even when she felt like crying. The pain of losing him lingers like a heavy fog, suffocating her very soul. The dark rain clouds that hang overhead seem to mock her, taunting her with their sombre presence. Each raindrop that falls feels like a tear shed by the heavens, grieving alongside her.

Losing him feels like losing a part of herself, a part she fears she will never reclaim. The memories they had created together flash before her eyes like a cruel slideshow, each image stabbing at her broken heart. Guilt gnaws at her insides like a relentless beast, its claws digging deep into her soul.

She torments herself with endless questions of if only, if only she had got to him quicker, if only she had done something differently. Each "if only" a dagger aimed at her already wounded heart. But the cruel truth remains - no amount of bargaining with destiny can bring Noah back from the abyss. Noah is gone, and Natalie is left alone in a world that no longer makes sense.

Aquarius enters the room, a tray of food balanced carefully in her hands. The dark clouds, cast a shadow over Natalie as she lies motionless on the bed, her frail form barely making a dent in the covers. The room is filled with a heavy silence, broken only by the occasional sniffle that escapes Natalie's lips and the relentless downpour of rain on the window.

Natalie hasn't eaten since Noah's tragic death two weeks ago. She has lost her appetite along with losing a piece of her heart. The grief has consumed her, leaving her hollow and broken. Her once vibrant spirit has been extinguished, replaced with a dull emptiness that seems to swallow her whole.

Aquarius approaches the bed with a heavy heart, setting the tray down on the bedside table. She studies Natalie's gaunt face, the dark circles under her eyes a stark contrast to her once bright and lively gaze. It pains Aquarius to see her friend in such a state, to witness the toll that grief has taken on her. "Natalie," Aquarius whispers softly, reaching out to gently push a strand of her hair behind her ear. "I brought you some food. You need to eat, Nat. You can't keep starving yourself like this."

Natalie stirs slightly, her eyes fluttering open to meet Aquarius's concerned gaze. "I'm not hungry," she mumbles, her voice barely above a whisper.

Aquarius feels her heart clench at the desolation in Natalie's voice, the echoes of sorrow that reverberate through her words. "Noah wouldn't want you to waste away. You have to continue living," she urges her voice a gentle plea.

Natalie's brows furrow, a frown creasing her brow as a wave of bitterness washes over her grief. "How would you know what Noah would want? You all hated him from day one, never even gave him a chance," she lashes out, her pain tangling with anger and resentment.

Aquarius takes a deep breath, trying to remain calm in the face of Natalie's grief-induced anger. "Nat."

Natalie's gaze turns sharp, cutting through Aquarius's words like a knife. "How can you even try to understand? You have no family, your parents despise you, and you are alone. You can't begin to understand," her voice trembles with raw emotion, a mix of anger and despair.

"I may not have a family like you do, Natalie, but that doesn't mean I can't understand your pain," Aquarius speaks softly, her words laced with empathy. "I may not have experienced the loss you have, but I know what it's like to feel alone in this world."

Natalie's eyes well up with tears, a mix of anger, grief, and frustration clouding her gaze. "You don't understand, Aquarius. No one does," she whispers, her voice raw with emotion.

As the tense silence lingers, a figure leans against the doorway, silently observing. Aurora, whose presence has gone unnoticed until now. "I do understand, Natalie," Aurora's voice rings softly, her gaze holding a flicker of shared pain. "My sister was ten when she passed. It was just the three of us - her, me, and our mother. We didn't have much, but we had each other."

Natalie's tear-streaked face turns towards Aurora, the rawness of her grief mirrored in Aurora's memories. "What happened?" she whispers, a glimmer of curiosity breaking through her anguish.

Aurora begins, her words settling heavily in the air, her voice carrying the weight of a past tragedy. "There was a fire when I was six," A sombre silence hangs in the room as Aurora shares her story.  "My sister dragged me to safety and then went back for our mother. But she wasn't strong enough."

Natalie's breath catches in her throat as the tragedy unfolds before her, the shards of sorrow piercing through her own turmoil. "Neither of them made it out of that fire." Aurora's words carry a profound sadness, a haunting echo of a tragedy that shaped her life.

A single tear slips down Aurora's cheek, a silent testament to the pain that still lingers after all these years. "It doesn't get easier," Aurora whispers, her voice barely above a hoarse whisper. "But you learn to live with it. You carry them in your heart, you fight to keep their memory alive in everything you do."

Natalie reaches out a trembling hand to grasp Aurora's, a silent gesture of solidarity in the face of unimaginable loss. Together, in the sombre glow of the sun creeping behind the rain clouds, two souls bound by shared pain and a determination to keep on living, even in the shadow of tragedy.

paralyzed - nf

Damien steps into the dimly lit room where Sage is staying, feeling the heavy atmosphere pressing down on him like a physical weight. The soft glow of the single lamp provides only minimal illumination, casting long shadows that seem to writhe and dance in the sombre air. It is a stark contrast to the usual vibrancy and joy that Sage exudes.

As Damien approaches her, the room seems to close in around Sage, the walls looming ominously, mirroring the suffocating weight of her emotions. It is as if a dark cloud of despair has settled over her, enveloping her in its shadowy embrace. The air is thick with unspoken pain, the silence ringing louder than any words could have. Sage with her infectious laughter and bright smile, now sits hunched over on the edge of the bed. Her once sparkling eyes, now hollow and distant, a ghostly echo of her usual bubbly demeanour.

Before he can take another step, Storm materialises before him like a force of nature. His normally calm exterior is replaced by a fierce protectiveness, his eyes glinting with an unspoken warning to tread carefully. Damien, undeterred by Storm's imposing stance, tries to step closer to Sage, but Storm's hand shoots out, halting him in his tracks.

"Rain isn't coming to rescue her anytime soon. She needs help, someone who can truly understand her," Damien speaks with a resolve in his voice, his eyes locked with Storm's in a silent challenge.

"I understand her," Storm retorts, his voice tinged with defiance.

Damien shakes his head, his expression firm. "Sure, you bounced around the foster system just like she did, but your parents wanted you. Ours didn't. Do you understand how that feels? To be unwanted?"  He challenges.

Storm feels the weight of those words, settle upon his shoulders like a heavy burden, crushing him with their undeniable truth. He has faced his own demons and struggles but in that moment, he realises the stark difference in their experiences. His parents had always yearned for him, had etched their love deep into the fabric of his being. Sage, on the other hand, has known only the cold embrace of abandonment. He sees in Damien's eyes a reflection of Sage's struggles, a glimpse into the darkness that haunts his friend's soul. Sighing heavily, Storm steps aside, allowing Damien to enter the room.

Sage looks up as Damien approaches, her eyes dull and lifeless, mirroring the bleakness of a world that has dealt her a cruel hand. He takes a seat beside her, the mattress dipping under his weight, a tangible reminder of the heaviness they both carry in their hearts. Sage flinches at his nearness, a sudden jolt of fear coursing through her veins. She wraps her arms around herself protectively, as if shielding her fragile spirit from the harsh blows of the world. Damien observes her closely, his own eyes heavy with empathy for the pain etched across her features.

can you hold me - nf, britt nicole

"You know, Bonita," Damien's voice is soft, almost a whisper in the oppressive silence of the room, "we aren't so different, you and I. Our stories are led by the cruel hands of fate, unwanted from the very beginning. Our parents, they didn't want us. We fell in love, and neither did they want us."

Sage stares blankly at the wall, her gaze fixated on the cracks and imperfections in the old, peeling wallpaper. Each crevice seems to mirror the fractures in her own soul, a reminder of the pain she carries deep within her.

"At a young age, I fell in love with Mi Amor," Damien continues, his gaze fixed on a distant memory. "But from the moment they could walk, it's always been her and Rain. A harsh reality I learned to live with, and so have you."

Sage, with her eyes filled with unshed tears, finally musters the courage to meet Damien's gaze. In his eyes, she sees a reflection of her own pain, a mirror image of the scars etched into her heart by a lifetime of battles fought in silence.

"Johnathan," Damien's voice holds a hint of anger, a flicker of resentment at the mere mention of the name, "He stole your freedom, made you afraid of the world. He took the woman who saved my world, my life, from me. We've both lost something to the hands of that man and we unwanted need to stick together, Bonita."

Sage's mask falls away as the dam of emotions bursts forth. Tears cascade down her cheeks in an uncontrollable torrent as she finally allows herself to release the pent-up sorrow and pain that has been eating away at her soul. The dam of emotions that she has painstakingly held back for so long finally gives way. As her body convulses with the weight of her sorrow and pain, Sage crumples into Damien's arms.

Damien's arms envelop her, offering solace and comfort in a world that has been so unkind. "I've got you, Bonita," he whispers as he strokes Sage's hair gently.

nobody knows - autograft, wynne

Sailor carefully tiptoes across the creaky floorboards of the study, the heavy weight of concern settling in her chest like a stone. The dimly lit room seems to pulsate with an air of foreboding as she observes Rain who is engrossed in his search for any clue regarding his missing father. Sailor's heart aches as she watches Rain's tired eyes scan the contents flashing on his laptop screen.

The harsh glow illuminates the exhaustion etched into his features, the worry lines deepening with each passing moment. Abel raises his head from his paws and lets out a soft whine, breaking the heavy silence that envelopes the room. His eyes, filled with unspoken concern, seem to mirror Sailor's feelings of helplessness and dread.

Just a few days ago, Sailor and Rain had finally confessed their long-buried feelings for each other. The weight of unspoken words had been lifted off their shoulders, and they embraced the new chapter in their relationship with open arms. But their bliss was shattered when the dreaded news of Lucio's disappearance reached their ears like a thunderclap on a sunny day.

Lucio, a man with kindness etched into every crevice of his being has treated Sailor like his own daughter. His kindness knows no bounds, his generosity as vast as the universe itself. His sudden vanishing has left a gaping hole in her life, his absence like a black hole, sucking away the light and warmth in her life. But it is nothing compared to the devastation that clouds Rain's eyes.

Rain is Sailor's guiding star, her pillar of strength in times of turmoil. But now, watching Rain crumble before her, shatters her heart into a million pieces. Rain's spirit, usually as resilient as steel, is breaking like fragile glass, unveiling a vulnerability Sailor has never witnessed before.

Abel makes his way towards Sailor with a gleeful wag of his tail. As Abel approaches Sailor, his cloudy eyes sparkle with recognition and joy. Sailor kneels down to his level, her face breaking into a soft smile. "Hey, Ab," she greets him softly, running her fingers through his grey fur. Abel nuzzles his head against her hand, savouring the affectionate touch.

Rain doesn't even flinch, his eyes glued to the screen as he types furiously. Sailor sighs and turns to him, her expression full of concern. "Sky's hacking every system out there, and Zane is combing the streets looking for him. They'll find him."

Rain runs a hand through his hair, a look of frustration clouding his features. "Not quick enough," he mutters under his breath, his voice laced with worry and exhaustion.

Sailor takes a step closer, her voice gentle yet firm. "Rainie, you can't keep going on like this. You need to rest, or you'll collapse. Andrea can't handle looking after you on top of everything else." She pleads with him, her eyes reflecting genuine concern.

Rain lets out a bitter laugh, shaking his head "You think I don't realise the troll this is taking on my mother? It wasn't only your parents who got together at sixteen. They've been together nearly every day for twenty-seven years and now he's missing. Her husband is missing, probably dead, I have to continue searching for her."

"He's not dead," Andrea interjects, her voice firm as she enters the room.

"We don't know that," Rain shoots back, his eyes meeting his mother's with despair.

Andrea fixes her son with a steely gaze. "You didn't know Sailor wasn't dead when she got taken but did you let yourself believe that? No. You weren't irrationally searching for her endlessly. You were smart, you let Sky and Zane do what they're good at and here she is standing in front of you trying to help you."

"My husband is not dead, and he would be devastated to watch his son deteriorate because of him. He'd be devastated to see how Lobos has fallen apart. We're letting Johnathan win. You have got to pull yourself together, Lucio isn't here, so you have to step up. You and Sailor are all Lobos has now. You were both born to lead, so lead them," Andrea's voice holds a note of command, a mother's strength and love interwoven in her words.

Rain looks up, meeting his mother's concerned gaze. There is something in those eyes that makes him pause, a mix of determination and belief that ignites a spark within him. He knows he can't continue to wallow in despair while Lobos crumbles under Johnathan's cruel reign.

With a deep breath, Rain pushes himself upright, his posture straightening as if a switch has been flipped within him. The image of his father, strong and resolute, flashes through his mind, reminding him of the legacy they are all struggling to uphold. "You're right, mum. Dad isn't here, but Lobos still stands. We can't let Johnathan's darkness consume us. We can't give up on finding him."

Sailor places a gentle hand on Rain's shoulder. Her presence is a comforting balm to his frayed nerves, a reminder that he is not alone in this daunting task. "We'll find him, Rain. Together. We'll bring him back home." She affirms.