Take Me Away

"Why did you come back from abroad?" Spencer asked casually as they ate.

Celine paused to look at him before answering, "Because I missed you."

Her frankness made him feel as if there was a lump in his throat. "Then why didn't you return two years ago? You could've come home as soon as you graduated. But you didn't."

"I..." Celine looked defensive. She pouted her lips and groaned, "I just graduated. I didn't have anything, not even a job. But the situation's different now! Now that I have my own career, I can finally take my place beside you. This time, no one can separate us, Spencer..." She put her chopsticks down and reached out to take his hand in hers. "Do you blame me?"

Spencer felt the warmth of her hand on his. He found himself not pulling away, but he dared not meet her gaze. "I blame myself," he gently replied. He thought it was his fault that he couldn't protect the woman he loved.

"We'll be fine, won't we?" Celine pleaded. "We're still the same as before, right?"

'Still the same as before?' Her words rang in his head.

There was a long pause before Spencer pulled away. Coldly, he explained, "A lot of things have changed in the last six years, Celine. I'm afraid we can't go back to the way we were."

"But why?" Celine asked with tears brimming in her eyes. "Is it because of Fiona? Just because you married her?"

Spencer's brows furrowed as he felt his heart sinking. He only married Fiona for his grandpa's sake, but...

"Why won't you answer me?" The puzzled expression on his face frustrated Celine. "Or is it because... you've fallen in love with her? Do you actually want to spend the rest of your life with her? Is that what you really want? Will you divorce her?"

"Divorce?" Spencer repeated the word unconsciously. Since getting married, he had never entertained the thought of leaving his wife. Did that mean he really wanted to stay with Fiona?

He was deep in his thoughts when a phone rang and diverted his attention.

It came from Celine's bag.

"I have to take this," she excused. Celine sighed when she saw that it was Sophia calling. She hesitated for a second, but stood up and told Spencer, "It'll just take a second."

"No worries." Spencer nodded.

Celine quickly stepped out of the restaurant and answered, "Hello?"

"Hello, Miss Cheng." The caller sounded anxious. "This is Sophia! Something happened to Fiona!"

"What happened?" Celine asked in shock.

"We were hiking the mountain and she just disappeared. We've been looking for her but we can't find her. I think it's been three hours since we last saw her." Sophia was crying from the other end of the line. "Can you please tell Mr. Cheng? Please ask him to come as soon as possible. We've called the police!"

"Mr. Cheng?" Celine asked confused.

"Spencer!" Sophia almost shouted in desperation. "You're his sister, aren't you? Can you pass the message to him? Please tell him to come quickly!" 'Something happened to Fiona..." The words kept repeating in Celine's head.

Her grip on the phone tightened as she said flatly, "I'm not with Spencer right now, and I don't know where he is. I'm sorry, I don't know how to reach him." "Don't know how to reach him?" Sophia cried in disbelief. "Surely, you must have his number. Can you send it to me so I can call him? Please..." "It's the police you should be calling! Why are you bothering me?" Celine sounded enraged. "I have nothing more to say to you."

"Hello? Hello!" Sophia called out but there was no mistaking that the line went dead. "That bitch!" She dropped the call and anxiously paced back and forth.

"The search and rescue team has just arrived!" Ella shouted from a distance. Running to Sophia, she asked, "Were you able to get in touch with Fiona's family?" "No..." But just then, a thought occurred to Sophia. "That's it!" She took out her phone again and dialed Ryan's number. "Ryan?" She cried.

"Sophia? What's wrong?" Ryan asked anxiously.

"Something happened to Fiona! Can you come here quickly? I..." Her voice faltered as she spoke. "I don't know what to do."

Hearing this, Ryan's heart froze. No wonder Fiona didn't answer his calls. "What happened?" he asked.

"We're on Maple Mountain and we can't find her..." Tears were streaming down her face.

"What do you mean? Where did she go?" Ryan jumped to his feet and reached for his things with trembling hands. "I'll be right there!"

"Thank you!" Sophia said as she wiped her tears off with the back of her hand.

Back in the restaurant, Celine took a deep breath as soon as she dropped the call. She sported an unnatural smile when she came inside. Spencer looked up and asked, "Who was it?"

"Oh, it's nothing. Just someone from work asking about a project." Celine shook her head and dismissed his question.

"Okay." Looking at his watch, Spencer realized that it was already three in the afternoon. "Are you done?"

"Yes."

"Then let's get out of here." He grabbed his hat and walked to the checkout counter.

"Spencer," Celine called out as she chased after him. "Let's take a stroll in the park later. I want to take in the view!"

The cashier beamed at them and chimed in, "Oh, yes! The park looks beautiful this time of the year. It's a very romantic date spot for young couples."

"Did you hear that, Spencer? Let's go!" Celine happily grabbed his arm and yanked like a little child.

Spencer's face remained harsh and stern as he silently pulled out his wallet. Taking a few bills, he turned to the cashier and said, "We're not a couple. She's my sister." His words instantly drained the color from Celine's face. Her lips quivered as she turned to him. "Spencer, you..."

But her phone rang again before she could continue.

"Hello?" she answered weakly without a second thought.

"You bitch! Fiona's your brother's wife! Why aren't you helping her when you know she's in danger!" It was Sophia who was cursing from the other end of the line.

Her voice was too loud that Spencer picked up her words from the phone's receiver. There was shock on his face as he snatched the phone from Celine's hand without thinking. "What did you say?" he shouted. "Where are you? Who did you say was in trouble?"

"Who the hell are you... Are you Mr. Cheng? Spencer? Are you Spencer?" Sophia exclaimed.

"Did you say something happened to Fiona?" Spencer's hand was tightening as he spoke. The lines on his face looked sharper as his expression grew colder. His body slightly shook with rage. He roared over the phone, "What happened to Fiona?"

"We were hiking the Maple Mountain, but she disappeared. She's been missing for more than three hours now. Please come and help us find her!"

"Fiona..." Spencer slammed the phone over the counter and rushed out of the restaurant like a strong gust of wind.

"Spencer!" Celine was about to rush after him but the cashier called out and said, "Miss, the gentleman left his hat!"

"Eric, bring out the helicopter and tell the scouts to pick me up at Gingko Road!" Spencer had taken his phone out. He shouted as his boots kicked the ground, "Now! Hurry! I need you there in twenty minutes!" "What happened, sir?" Eric asked, startled.

"I don't have time for your stupid questions! Just do as I say!" He could only clench his teeth to keep himself from shaking. "Hurry up! And cut the crap!"

"Yes, sir!"

Spencer hung up the phone. In his rage, he felt as if his mind was going blank. 'Fiona's missing. Something must have happened to her.' Thoughts raced madly in his head.

Celine dashed out of the restaurant after taking the hat. Outside, Spencer was standing grimly by the side of the road. From afar, she could tell that he felt deeply anxious and troubled.

"Is Fiona okay? What happened?" Celine asked, running up to him.

Spencer swallowed before replying, "She'll be fine." With that, he took out his phone again and began checking the terrain over at Maple Mountain.

There was a developed area to the south of the mountain since the maple leaves became a famous tourist attraction. But up north, the terrain was too steep and inaccessible that local authorities made entrance forbidden. A few years ago, a couple of tourists who wanted to go up the mountain tried to sneak from the north entrance and consequently faced death.

This information only made Spencer tremble more fiercely. He tried calling Fiona but his call couldn't get through.

"Spencer, don't worry..."

"How can I not worry? Fiona's missing!" he shouted at Celine. "Do you know what that means? I shouldn't have allowed her to go sketching!"

His rage startled Celine, who had to take a step back from him. After dialing Eric's number again, Spencer thundered, "Where the hell are you?"

"On the way, sir! We'll be arriving soon!" Eric said as he climbed up the helicopter. It had only been five minutes since Spencer's initial call. 'What could've happened?' Eric wondered. 'It's unlike him to be giving orders like this.'

Just then, Fiona opened her eyes to nothing but darkness.

She let out a painful groan.

"Is anyone here?" Hello?" she called out in a hoarse voice as she struggled to sit up.

But her words only sent the startled forest creatures running and a flock of birds flew up to the sky.

Fiona's body felt sore, and there was a terrible pain coming from her ankle. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she saw the maple trees clustered tightly together around her. The foliage was too thick that it almost obliterated her view of the sky. Even the ground was covered with red maple leaves. Under other circumstances, she would have thought the surroundings particularly beautiful. But at that moment, she only felt scared. Night time was fast approaching. Through the branches, she saw pink clouds, which only meant that the sun was setting soon. It was a short matter of minutes before total darkness. Just then, a loud howl broke the silence.

'Is that a wild animal somewhere here in the valley?' Fiona thought as she scanned the area around her.

Another howl rang through the trees,

quickly followed by more roars.

There seemed to be more than one wild beast, and the noises they made sounded quite close.

She tried to push herself up. As soon as she did, her eyes caught movement in a nearby bush. Upon closer look, she saw a pair of green eyes staring straight at her.

'Oh, no!'

From where she was sitting, Fiona couldn't tell whether it was a dog or a wolf. She could only clutch at her chest as she feared for the worst.¶¶¶¶¶¶