My Careful Lover

THE MAP ✍

Warning: This is a pretty short chapter.

Ocean glared at everyone in the living room, not liking that none of them had been able to be of so much help. He was like a ticking bomb ready to explode on anyone who said anything contrary to what he wanted to hear or did anything that displeased him.

For all they knew, she could have been kidnapped. Worse, devoured by one of those roaming beasts out there, but no one dared to mention it to him as they agreed to keep searching for Moon.

Bob, who sat on the sofa across Ocean, felt suffocated by the silence in the room. He broke it by asking, "Where else could she be?"

They all turned towards him with grim expressions. At that moment, such questions were not appreciated.

Marcus sighed. "I wish there was a way we could trace her without having to go through all these problems."

Lydia absently added, "Like a map or something?"

Stone's brows drew together, "Map?"

The word MAP resonated in Ocean's head, but he couldn't connect the dots until Stone shot up from the sofa and screamed, "Map!"

Ocean looked at him, confused. He asked, "What is wrong with you?"

Stone looked at him as he repeated the word, "Map!"

This time around, something seemed to have clicked in Ocean's head. Before anyone could ask any questions, he was already in his room. He searched on top of his table and drawers for a familiar piece of plain paper.

After he found the paper, he rushed over to his bed. Just like the first time, the map-like paper kept expanding. He impatiently waited for the thread-like lines and dots to spread out.

He had yet to activate the map when a familiar group of people entered his room. He didn't fail to notice the hopeful look in their eyes as they all stared at it.

Marcus cleared his throat to get Ocean's attention, but Ocean didn't glance his way, as all his attention was on the map.

Marcus proceeded to ask the question in his mind, "Ocean, how did you get that map?"

Everyone except Ocean turned and sent him a warning look.

Marcus raised his hands and said, "What? I am just curious! That's not an ordinary map–" Lydia placed her palm on his lips and whispered something to him, and he nodded in understanding.

Desmond, who had also been staring at the so-called Soul map, couldn't help but ask, "So, how is this large thing going to help us?"

"This is the life and death map. One of the most powerful assets anyone can have. It has every vampire soul connected to it. It works in different ways. It can be good when used properly and can be disastrous when used....wrongly. From what I know, it will help us to know if she is alive or dead." Marcus explained, and they all nodded.

Never in a million years did Ocean think he would be that happy to see the Life and death map. As instructed in the map, he did the needful and waited.

Stone asked, "How do we identify her on the map?"

"Through his mind," Marcus answered. "If she is dead, she will appear as a blinking black dot, but if she is still alive, it will appear as a blinking green dot."

Ocean quickly scanned the map for the mentioned dots but found none. "She is not here."

"What?" They all chorused.

He couldn't help the sinking feeling at the pit of his stomach, "I can't find her on the map."

Marcus took the map from him, "Let me see...."

They all held their breath, looking at Marcus as if their life depended on whatever he was to say at that moment.

After a few minutes, Marcus dropped the map, "Truly....she is not on the map."

Desmond couldn't help but ask, "Are you sure that thing works?"

Marcus nodded. "Yes. It is accurate. I can see you all on the map, myself included."

With a deep frown, Boby asked, "If she is not here, where else could she be?"

"Do I need to remind you we have two worlds? Mine and yours." Marcus replied.

Bobby nodded.

They all became silent. Everyone was in their little bubble of thought.

After a while, Lydia couldn't help but ask the question on the tip of her tongue. "How is it even possible for her to be there?"

"She was probably kidnapped," Sophia suggested.

"Indeed." Sparrow agreed. His appearance startled everyone except Ocean, who had already sensed his presence before he even came into the house. "She was kidnapped that same day she ran away."

Ocean offered a curt nod of greeting before asking, "Father, did you find anything?"

"Yes, I found something," Sparrow answered as he reached into the pocket of his garment. He hurled something at Ocean.

Ocean examined the familiar bracelet he had gotten for Moon not long after she moved in with him. "Where did you find it?"

"I found it at the gate. I am sure you know what that means."