A/N: As usual, I would recommend putting the video on loop.

Immediately, the phone didn't answer on the other end. (F/n)'s fingers tightened a little around the sheets, and they furthered their grip when another rang sounded throughout the room. "They might not recognize the number," Ether tried to reassure, and she hummed in response. As it neared the last rings, her legs shook a little, and her fingers tapped against the sheets. Her movements would've been more noticeable if her body wasn't so weakened.

"Perhaps, they have a client," she muttered more to herself than to Ether to give herself more reassurance that everything was alright. When no one answered, however, her heart beat faster. Her tormentor knew where she lived; he had seen her on the news. That's how he had recognized her in the very beginning. Multiple times, the news had broadcasted where they lived due to the security that had been placed around the funeral home at the time. At any moment, he could .... he could show up.

Again. She had to type in their number again. Once wasn't enough. They simply were busy and couldn't get to the phone; they had a client, they were burying someone, something that involved work and not being tortured by that awful, horrid male. Like the first time, no one picked up immediately. Her eyes wouldn't leave the phone, and she felt something on her right hand. Briefly, she glanced over and saw Ether's hand over hers. He gave hers a light squeeze, and she simply nodded at him in ... appreciation. A small smile graced his lips before he focused on the phone with her. Finally, the ringing stopped. Someone answered. "Hello?"

Instantly, her heart skipped multiple beats from pure relief. It was her mother's voice. "M-Mom," she croaked out, her emotions wanting to get the better of her yet again. The other line was dead silent. "It's me, (f/n). I wanted ..."

"(F/n)!" she cried out, the fact that the older woman was beginning to cry quite evident. "Then, you're alright! He got to you in time! Thank goodness!" A small smile met (f/n)'s lips, and she was having a hard time not crying. "We were so worried when he told us what had happened." (F/n) glanced over to Ether, who mouthed I went to them for help. She gave a small nod. "Wait a moment. I'm going to go get your father. He'll want the good news."

Before she even had a chance to answer, her mother had left the phone. They both heard running on the other end, and her mother calling out for her father. (F/n) relaxed on the bed, and Ether pulled his hand away even though he didn't want to; he assumed that she would want him to release her hand sooner than later. Right now, he would grant that unspoken request. "(F/n)? Are you really there?" she heard her father say soon after, the sound of his footsteps and her mother's having been brought to her ears.

"I am," she said, almost quietly. It still was hard to believe that she had survived two months of torture and was now sitting on a plush bed calling her parents. What was even stranger was that Ether was sitting beside her, and he hadn't even tried to eat one bite from her; though, that probably had to do with her recovery. After the eight weeks were up, or even sooner than that, she didn't know how much he would like to take from her. She suspected that he would take some at the very least.

A loud sigh of relief greeted her ears, and she heard movement on the other end. Possibly, both of her parents were moving to sit down. "Then, how are you feeling?" they both asked simultaneously. Upon (f/n)'s lips, a tiny smile grew out of amusement. Ether, admittedly, found it adorable; however, he was applying that scenario to his pink flower and himself. That made it all the better.

"... I'm ..." She hesitated at first. If she told them the extent of her injuries, they might become too worried and try to drive out to where she was. Should both of them make it, they would be safer, but that was a huge if. Even if them coming to her increased their safety, it put them at risk on roads by themselves. Until they made it to the door of Nick's home, they were easy prey. At least at the funeral home, they wouldn't be the only ones around like they might be on the road.

Then again, they would be alone at night, and her tormentor did have the capability to grab them during the day when no one was looking. "(F/n)?" her mother asked, the concern in her voice quite clear. (F/n), however, struggled to get away from her depressing thoughts. Either way, they were at risk. Staying at the house might pose a longer term one.

Ether, understanding her dilemma, answered, "She's doing fine, and the doctor said that she'll make a full recovery. She just needs lots of sleep, and she needs to follow the diet that the doctor gave her so that she can heal better."

"A diet?" her father asked, furrowing his brows. Ether and (f/n) shared a glance, though; Ether's was more apologetic. (F/n) sighed, but she didn't get angry at him for it. She might've given even more away. His response did buy her more time to think over hers, so she would make sure not to slip up and tell them too much. Her mind still was determining what would be the better option; have them leave the house or stay there.

Maybe, she could discuss the matter with Ether. Otherwise, she might end up in a loop of thoughts between the two options, and Ether had the best experience with what his kind could achieve. Sure, she had dealt with countless horrible acts on account of his species, but she didn't know what else Ether and ... him could manage. Given their current abilities, there existed a wide range of options of what they might be able to do.

"It's no big deal, dad. It's just a few things," she tried to reassure, though; her parents silence told her that they might not be buying that reply. "Nick and his team are with us too."

"... And, he's fine with that?" her mother questioned, unsure if she heard her daughter right. Ether rolled his eyes, but he didn't make a comment even if it bothered him that her mother momentarily acted like he wasn't in the room. Ultimately, he understood where the older woman was coming from. There was every reason to believe that he would kill Nick when there was no further use for him, but he made a promise. He intended to keep it unless something dire arose.

"He is. We've discussed it. A lot of things actually." (F/n) released a sigh. "But, that's not why I called. I just wanted to let you know that I'm alright, and I wanted to make sure that you two are alright." She swallowed a gulp, and her fear replaced any chance of her crying from hearing her parents' voices after so long. "If Ether, the creature ... That's his name;" she clarified, "I can explain further another time." Her parents posed no objections, but she suspected that they were curious on the matter.

In fact, she imagined that they were having a hard time wrapping their heads around everything. No doubt, they probably were stunned too when Ether had turned to them for help to aid in finding her. It still amazed her to a degree. Then again, he had gone to extreme lengths to get her back in the past, so it wasn't too unreasonable to see him approaching her parents for help.

"But if he told you about what had happened in Flat Peak, then you know about the other creature." A pause followed, and she didn't blame them. The fact that there were more of Ether's species was truly terrifying. When that fact concerned the other creature, that fear strengthened extensively. "Neither of you have seen anyone new around the property, right? No one that would look like Ether?"

"... N-No," her mother responded, terror evident in her stuttering. (F/n) imagined that her parents were sharing a worried, scared glance with each other. "Do you think that ..." Her mother trailed off since she probably didn't want to finish her thought. (F/n) didn't blame her. With Ether, they now knew him enough to be somewhat confident around him if she could even use that adjective. But, they knew that he wouldn't just kill them anymore unless he had a reason to. Her recent tormentor was a completely different story. Would he kill them to get back at her for escaping and not suffering from the wound he had intended for her?

"I don't know, but I want you to be careful. Don't head out at night. Don't accept to hold services at night. Have powerful flashlights close and lock everything." She tried to think of anything that she was missing. "Maybe, stay in the morgue since the door leading to there is stronger than the other ones."

"You're not coming back here with him?" her father questioned in a calm manner, but (f/n) imagined that he was just being relaxed for her mother.

"After she recovers," Ether cut in before she could answer. "It's too risky to move her that much and that far right now, and it's not a necessity." A rough sigh from her father hit both of their ears.

"Right. In that case, we'll be cautious and keep an eye out. We'd head over to where you two are at, but ..." (F/n) averted her eyes away from the phone. Her father probably was debating what would be safer for all of them too. "But if we leave all of sudden and for an extended time, that might raise suspicion, especially since we have several appointments. People might start asking questions, and that might lead to them discovering the truth." His voice sounded exhausted, but she figured that was so he could hide his anxiousness about it all. "Then, none of us might have a home."

"We can think on it more," (f/n) answered, trying to smile a little even if they couldn't see it.

"Yeah," her father responded. "Well, your mother and I should prepare. We'll call back at this number or text if we can't talk right away." (F/n) hummed quietly, still worried about what might happen. "We love you. Keep safe yourself, (f/n)." She returned the gesture to her parents before she reluctantly hung up, but she understood that they needed to get going since they might be ... might be in more danger than her.