Mia was on the move. Again.  She decided that the more she stayed in the forest, the more likely her family would find her. 

So she decided to take her dad's car.

And with a little remolding ( Thanks, Harl), Mia was safely driving out of the city.

Mia was nervous but determined as she drove her dad's car out of the city. The familiar streets soon gave way to open roads and sprawling countryside. The sun was beginning to set, casting a golden hue over the landscape. Mia glanced at the map on her phone, plotting her course carefully.

As she drove, thoughts raced through her mind. She wondered if her family had noticed she was gone yet. Would they be angry? Worried? She pushed those thoughts aside. She had to focus on finding a safe place to stay for the night.

After driving for a couple of hours, Mia found a quiet, secluded spot near a lake. It was perfect—a peaceful setting where she could think and plan her next move. She parked the car, turned off the engine, and stepped out, taking in the crisp evening air.

With Harl's help, Mia had packed essentials in the car—some snacks, a blanket, and a flashlight. She spread the blanket out by the lake and sat down, watching the sun dip below the horizon. The solitude was both comforting and unnerving. She felt a mixture of freedom and loneliness.

Pulling out her phone, Mia sent a quick text to Harl, thanking him for his help and letting him know she was safe. She knew Harl would keep her secret—after all, he had always been like an uncle to her, ready to lend a hand whenever she needed it.

Just then, a rustling sound came from the bushes. Mia's head snapped to it.

" Who is it?" She asked in an overly heavy accent.

The person came out, revealing....

" Harl?!" She yelped. " How.... what.... when.....?" 

Harl stepped into the clearing, dressed in a suit and sporting a fake mustache that looked comically out of place on his friendly face. He chuckled at Mia's startled reaction.

"Well, well, well," he said with a grin. "I thought a disguise might come in handy. And this," he lifted the big gun he was carrying, "is just for protection. You never know what you might encounter out here."

Mia's eyes widened in surprise. "Harl! Where did you get that gun?"

Harl shrugged nonchalantly. "Oh, you know, a handyman like me picks up a few tricks here and there. Don't worry, I know how to handle it safely."

Mia couldn't help but laugh nervously. "You're full of surprises, Harl."

" Of course I am! I'm helpful handyman Harl Hubbs!" 

Mia laughed. " Try saying, ' helpful handyman Harl Hubbs' five times fast."

Harl chuckled and took up Mia's challenge. "Helpful handyman Harl Hubbs, helpful handyman Harl Hubbs, helpful handyman Harl Hubbs, helpful handyman Harl Hubbs, helpful handyman Harl Hubbs!" He grinned triumphantly.

Mia joined in, attempting the tongue-twister herself but stumbling halfway through. "Okay, okay, you win," she conceded, still smiling.

Harl laughed heartily. "I've had plenty of practice with difficult tasks. Building treehouses, fixing cars, and now, rescuing runaway nieces!" He winked at Mia.

Mia's smile softened. "Thank you, Harl. For everything."

Harl's expression turned sincere. "Anytime, Mia. You know I'm always here for you."

Suddenly, Mia thought of something.

" Green screen!" She exclaimed.

Harl, who thought this was a new tounge twister, tried it out. His eyes twinkled with amusement as he repeated, "Green screen! Green screen! Green screen!" He paused, realizing Mia wasn't talking about a tongue twister. "Wait, what about a green screen?"

Mia's face lit up with excitement. "We could use a green screen to make it look like I'm somewhere else! That way, if anyone comes looking for me, they'll think I'm far away."

Harl raised an eyebrow, considering the idea. "That's pretty clever, Mia. But where would we get a green screen out here?"

Mia thought for a moment, then snapped her fingers. "The park! They have that stage area with the green backdrop for the plays and events. We could use that!"

Harl nodded, impressed. "Alright, let's give it a shot. But remember, this is only to buy us some time. We need to figure out a real solution."

They packed up their things and drove to the park. The stage area was empty, as it was late in the evening. They quickly set up a makeshift scene using the green backdrop.

Mia stood in front of it, holding up her phone. "Okay, I'll send a quick video to make it look like I'm somewhere else."

She recorded a short clip, saying, "Hey everyone, I'm doing fine! Just taking a little break in a nice, quiet place. Don't worry about me." She showed a background of a bustling city street on her phone, making it appear as if she was there.

Harl cut, and sent the video to Allen. 

" That should do the trick." He said.

" Thanks." Then she looked at the lake.

" Now, how about you and me explore this place a little?"

Harl chuckled. "Sure thing, Mia. Exploring sounds like a great idea."

As they started walking towards the lake, Harl began to hum a tune. His humming soon turned into singing, and it was clear that singing was not one of Harl's many talents. His voice was off-key, wavering and cracking with each note.

"Raindrops keep fallin' on my head, but that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turnin' red," he sang loudly and enthusiastically, completely oblivious to how terrible he sounded.

Mia giggled, covering her mouth to stifle her laughter. "Harl, you might be the best handyman, but singing? Not so much."

Harl grinned sheepishly. "Yeah, well, we can't all be good at everything, right?"

They reached the lake and stood at the water's edge, the serene environment contrasting sharply with Harl's off-key singing. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm, golden glow over the water. It was peaceful, and for a moment, Mia felt all her worries melt away.

"Wow, it's beautiful here," Mia said, taking a deep breath of the fresh air.

Harl nodded, his voice softer now. "It is. Sometimes it's good to get away from everything and just enjoy nature."

They sat down on a nearby log, watching the ducks swim by. Harl continued to hum, much to Mia's amusement, and they chatted about everything and nothing.

"So, what's the plan, Mia?" Harl asked after a while.

" Sleep. Then go to that city." Mia pointed to an island.

" Okay. Let's get some sleep!" Harl said, enthusiastically.

Back at home, Allen was in a state of extreme panic. His breathing was rapid and shallow, and he clung to Buster as if his life depended on it. Buster, ever the steady presence, held his brother tightly, patting his back in an attempt to calm him down.

Freya and Duke entered the room, their faces etched with concern.

"Allen, you need to calm down," Freya said gently, her voice soothing. "We're doing everything we can to find Mia. But we need you to stay strong for her, okay?"

Allen nodded, but his breathing remained erratic. Buster, realizing his brother needed more help, gestured towards a paper bag on the kitchen counter. Freya quickly retrieved it and handed it to Allen.

"Here, Allen. Breathe into this," she instructed. "It'll help slow your breathing."

Allen took the bag and started breathing into it, his breaths gradually becoming steadier. Duke knelt beside him, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"We'll find her, Allen," Duke said firmly. "I promise you, we'll bring Mia home."

Allen, still clutching the paper bag, looked up at his father, his eyes filled with worry. "What if... what if something happens to her?"

Freya squeezed his hand. "Nothing's going to happen to her. Mia's strong, and she's smart. She'll be okay."

Just then, Buster's phone buzzed. He quickly checked the message and showed it to the family. It was from Harl, confirming that he had seen Mia and that she was safe for now.

"See? Harl's got eyes on her," Duke said, relief evident in his voice. "She's safe. We just need to trust that she'll come back when she's ready."

Allen took a deep breath and nodded, finally starting to calm down. "Okay. Okay, I'll try."

Freya gave him a comforting hug. "That's all we can ask for. We're all in this together."

Meanwhile, in the forest, Mia and Harl were settling in for the night. They had found a cozy spot near the lake, and Harl had set up a small campfire. Mia wrapped herself in a blanket, feeling the warmth of the fire and the comfort of Harl's presence.

"Goodnight, Harl," she said softly, her eyes already drooping.

"Goodnight, Mia. Sleep well," Harl replied, his voice gentle.

As Mia drifted off to sleep, the worries of the day seemed to fade away, replaced by the peaceful sounds of the forest and the gentle crackling of the fire. She knew she wasn't alone, and that gave her the strength to face whatever came next.