I turned to look at Jillian, who looked confused. “He didn't come back. I was just about to drive her home.”
“Well, he's not here,” Kerr said. “As soon as he got here, the fire station chief came out and told us nothing was wrong. I've been trying to figure out who called it in. I've been on hold with the receptionist at the fire station for the last five minutes while she looks it up.”
Something was wrong. I could feel it deep in my bones.
“We have to see if he's at the flower shop,” I told Jillian. I hopped back into the car and tried to call Frank, but it rang and rang.
“I don't see him on the streets,” she said as she stopped at the red light.
I spotted Frank's car still parked across from the flower shop, and the closed sign still in its spot on the glass door. He wasn't here.
“Do you think he went around to the back?” Jillian asked, still looking at the sidewalks.
“This is Frank. Leave a message.” I hung up the phone, chewing on my cheek. I felt my heart race and my gut twist up violently.
“No, Frank would have called me.” I knew that much. If he had walked back to the flower shop, he would have called to see where I was. He wouldn't have just wandered around.
“Then where is he?” Jillian asked, and I could see worry in her eyes. She told me I wasn't the only one who wasn't feeling right about this situation.
“Turn around and go back to Kerr.”
Jillian did a U-turn and headed back in that direction. I scanned the sidewalks and the alleyways. I searched everywhere I could think, but nothing felt right. As we pulled up in front of the buildings, I noticed the forest behind them.
My stomach dipped.
“Did you find him?” Kerr asked as he ran up to the car. “I've called, but he isn't answering, which isn't like him. Frank always answers even if it's late at night.”
I hopped out of the car and went straight into the building. “Nina!” Kerr yelled after me. I went through the darkness and heard my footsteps echo around me. The building was abandoned and empty. I kept walking and shoved the back door open. I was panting for air as I stepped back outside and took in the forest. And just a few feet ahead of the darkness was a phone.
“Frank…” My heart sank.
“Nina, where are you?” Kerr and Jillian called after me, but I didn't stop. I kept moving, hurrying towards the phone. I grabbed it, seeing it was shattered. I looked into the forest. “Frank!” I yelled his name loudly as a shiver ran down my spine.
I then saw it, in the distance, the darkness moved. My eyes widened as I realized it had Frank pinned to the ground. He was holding onto his throat, but I could see he was being pinned down, slowly suffocated.
“Frank!” I screamed loudly and ran forward. My heart raced as I sprinted as quickly as I could towards him.
“Nina!” I could hear Kerr screaming after me, but I couldn't stop. I watched as Frank slowly started to fight less. I didn't have a second to think about myself or the baby. I just knew if I didn't do something, I would lose him, and I couldn't. We still had so much we had to do, so much we hadn't done. I couldn't lose him, not when I just started loving him.
I got closer and watched as Frank tried to fight himself free, but he couldn't. I didn't know what I would do, but I had to do something. Frank jumped in front of me to save me. He'd protected me time and time again. I couldn't stand by and watch him die.
I didn’t know what our relationship was, or what our future looked like, but I knew I wanted him in it. I couldn’t raisea kid without him. I’d not even told him how I felt. I couldn’t lose him without telling him I loved him.
I jumped into the darkness, waiting for the pain to hit me as Sam had described, but I didn't. The darkness broke free from him, and Frank lay on the ground, gasping for air. I stared, stunned, as he coughed, holding onto his throat, which was bruised.
I reached down, cupping his face. “Frank? Are you okay? Oh my god, breathe.”
He moved around frantically as he took in deep breaths. After a moment, his eyes froze on me. “Nina?” He looked confused before he seemed to catch up to what was happening. “Nina!” He pulled me down, holding me tightly to him. “You're okay.”
I felt tears break free as he held me tightly to him. “I was so scared I was going to lose you.”
His hold tightened on me. “I'm right here. I'm never leaving.”
He leaned back, cupping my face. His eyes looked deeply into mine as his fingers tightened. “I love you, and I know this is terrible timing, but I've never said it, and I needed to.”
I felt my stomach flip in another way. I sniffled. “I love you, too.”
Frank looked at me lovingly, and I watched his eyes look past me quickly. His face quickly changed as he yanked me down, and I watched as a large branch swung over our heads.
