[Softness, that's all she felt under herself. Something like a memory foam bed.]

Sera checked her phone one more time, panic rising to the surface of her mind. It had been well over the suggested twelve hours and she wanted to try again. She had hoped that they would listen, to help find Venus. Sera knew something wasn't right last night, she had talked to Venus upon noticing her fidgeting.

[Flashback]

"Venus", she asked, "What's going on? The moment I saw you, you've been nervous."
Venus hesitated for a moment, her eyes darting side to side. "Do you remember Judas", she asked.
"I should have known. How long?"
"Months, he's been watching for months and I don't think he's human. He stares at the security camera all day every day."
"No alterations or technical glitches?"
"Nothing, no doctorings. He's always watching, always there... Or at my kitchen window."
"Do you wanna stay with me for a few nights? I know Lio won't mind at all. I'll tell him-"
"I can't, he'll show up here. Can't have that."
"And we also can't have you having more and more sleepless nights! We can't have you on edge all the time and we can't have you looking behind your own shoulder twenty-four-seven! We need you here, we need you safe and okay. Even if you don't think you need help, we know you do. We're here for you."

It looked as though, to Sera, that Venus was starting ti choke back tears. She knew. She knew how Venus had been 'raised' and how she was treated. She knew exactly how it felt, too, which was why they were inseperable since the day they met. They found comfort in one another and had seen each other through the worst of their days along with the best of them.

She knew the ins and outs, how to navigate Venus' mind and vice versa. Sera's eyes were trained on Venus, her blue eyes. Eyes like a spring sky, warm and inviting yet they held as much mystery as the brown eyes Venus had. The life in Venus' eyes had drained away ages ago, before she met Sera but it seemed that it began to return the moment she had found her way out of the hellhole she unconsciously called home.

"Venus", Sera begged, "Please let us help."

Us. That meant her and her fiancé, Lio. Venus was weary of men, she couldn't quite remember why, but she always had been.

"No", she responded, "Thank you though. I just can't endanger you and Lio."

"Will you face-time me while you're on your way home", Sera asked, a sad storm seeming to rise in her calm blue eyes. Venus nodded, "I promise."

"As soon as you're out of my sight, I'll call, okay", Sera murmured as she moved closer to Venus so she could hug her.

[Flashback End]

Sera knew there was little time to work with, she'd also have to find Venus' phone and check recent contacts. Both she and Venus went over plans incase one or the other went missing. Every bit of information about one another, they shared with each other.

Upon entering Venus' home, the house smelled strongly of her favourite perfume. It was a deep, caramel sweet and woodsy scent. Of course Sera had a way in, Venus had given her the only spare key she had aside from her own.

"If I were Venus, if I were her I would have stayed at my best friend's place. I know that my best friend and her fiancé are capable of keeping me and themselves safe", she thought to herself, "but I'm stubborn, too afraid to ask for help."

Sera walked into Venus' bedroom and looked around for her cellphone. She rummaged around behind the pillows on the bed then moved her attention to the night stand. Three drawers and the top. The top was neat, damn near empty asides from an already finished bottle of anti-convulsants. Second drawer, second drawer. And there everything was. Her wallet, important documents and her phone. The luckily charged phone, pressing the buttons to unlock it. Access granted and it opened automatically on her phonebook.

Zachary King ——0:01, 12:30 am