“How well do you know Sheila?” asked Benjamin.

What kind of question was that?

Was Sheila playing a prank on her?

But... the Sheila she remembered never did such things!

Maybe it was a cousin or a brother...?

“Miss Sheila... is someone very important to me,” Emily replied.

“I see. Your name is Emily, right?”

“Yes.”

“Where are you?”

Why did he want to know that?

“In my house... and you?” Emily asked, not wanting to give too many details.

She wanted to know who this Benjamin was!

“I'm at the gym, finishing my routine.”

At this hour?

It was almost 11 at night!

Who works out at this time?

This was the perfect time to watch movies or series!

Since when did Sheila work out so late?

“Can you put me through to... Sheila?” Emily asked, hoping to end this joke.

“I can't,” Benjamin replied.

“Oh, is she in the bathroom?” Emily asked, not quite sure how to continue the conversation.

“No, she's with her family,” Benjamin explained.

Family...

Gym...

Were all of Sheila's family bodybuilders?

That was the only possibility that came to Emily's mind when thinking of those two concepts.

“Oh... I see, so you're her brother?” said Emily, trying to sound more friendly.

“No. I'm her friend.”

Friend...

Friend!?

“Ah, I see. So, you and Sheila are working out at the gym with her family, right?” Emily asked, somewhat confused but curious.

It was the first time she had heard something new about Sheila's family!

Normally Sheila always avoided talking about that topic, but it seemed they just needed to spend some time at the gym for everyone to get along.

Maybe exercise wasn't so bad after all!

Exercise brings families together!

Suddenly, Benjamin's laughter could be heard on the other end of the line.

What was he laughing at...?

“You have a great imagination, but relax, it's my fault, I didn't explain myself well. Some girls took Sheila away while she was asleep this afternoon, but she's fine,” Benjamin explained.

Didn't that sound like a kidnapping!?

“But... did you know those girls?” Emily asked nervously.

“No.”

They had kidnapped Sheila!

Or not?

Emily didn't want to jump to conclusions, so she asked:

“Hey, but... what did those girls tell you? Did they give you a contact number? Or at least... wait.”

Emily fell silent as she realized something.

If this guy handed over a sleeping Sheila to some girls...

Didn't that make him an accomplice?

Working out at night...

Handing over people who are asleep...

Was he a kidnapper?

Was it even okay for her to be talking to him?

Should she hang up the call?

If this was a joke, Emily prayed it would end now.

Suddenly, Benjamin's voice was heard again:

“Well... Rita Barker was looking for her. She said she was Sheila's sister and showed me a photo on her phone of an ID of a girl who looked a lot like Sheila. She's from Almia, right?” asked Benjamin.

“Yes... Sheila and I are from Almia,” Emily confirmed.

Benjamin's explanation calmed her down a bit, but she still had several doubts.

Where was Sheila?

Who was Rita Barker?

And...

Why did this Benjamin have her phone?