And for the twelfth time that day, Fanny cried as she rocked the closest thing she had to a true friend in her arms.

Fanny's father came to stand beside them, his own tears sparkling at the sight but also a light and relieved smile on his lips.


"Rosabella took care of me, Fanny. She stopped by every day to cook and clean and she also did my shopping."

The girls finally parted, both wiping the corners of their eyes as they smiled sadly at each other, Fanny's heart constricting at her friend's devotion.

"Of course yes," Rosabella yelled her voice still high with excitement that her best friend was alive and well.


However, just as Fanny's father bombarded her with questions, Rosabella immediately began throwing them at Fanny as well.

Fanny sighed heavily.


"Sit down, I'll explain."

Fanny tries to hold back the conversation during dinner as she repeatedly urges them to have a quiet meal first.

Later, however, when her father was too tired from the day's events to wake up, she and Rosabella assured him that he would go to bed early with the promise that she would tell him more tomorrow.

The girls then sit down and have tea, while Fanny tells the story to her best friend little by little, speaking words quietly to her because she doesn't want her father to overhear them.

Of course, Fanny left out many details that she knew Rosabella didn't need to know and would put her in danger as well.

"But there's still a lot I don't understand..." Rosabella shook her head. "Can't you tell me more?"

Fanny took a sip of hot tea, closing her eyes at the soothing sensation down her throat after talking for so long.

She knows exactly what big pieces of information are still missing.

Her best friend understood that they kidnapped her for the sole reason of being a nurse so they wouldn't have to go to the official hospital and raise suspicion.

Rosabella simply didn't understand how they could let Fanny go like this.

The way Fanny describes them seems to be a dangerous bunch of people one shouldn't mess with even though they've been nice to her for the most part.

But still.

Licking her lips nervously, Fanny had no choice but to tell Rosabella what had happened between her and their second-in-command, receiving a shocked face from her best friend.

"What?"

"Rosabella..."

"Oh my god, it's worse than I thought. And here I think you're fine. You're not feeling well." Rosabella had a hard time adjusting the volume of her voice, being muted a few times so they wouldn't wake the sleeping person a few doors down from them.

"You mean it's worse?" Fanny retorted, not quite understanding what Rosabella said.

Yes, she's heartbroken, but that doesn't really explain her reaction.

Rosabella rolled her eyes.

"It's classic Stockholm syndrome. God, he did a damn figure on you."

Fanny flinched at the profanity.

Her best friend isn't a trash mouth like she is, but she knows that when Rosabella gets pushed or gets really upset, she slips up and throws bombs.

Unlike her, who doesn't swear under any circumstances.

"It's not like that. I don't feel threatened by him or see him as my savior. And I don't justify his behavior. It's horrible. I just... When I know him, I know I'm safe with him. He won't hurt me and it's thanks to him that I can go."

Her best friend looked at her half suspiciously and half angry.

"Like I said, Fanny. Do you know what your father and I went through? We've been through hell, Fanny. It's hell. The staff at the hospital are talking about you as if you were you. dead and you're sitting here trying to sell me this piece of shit If he's so cool why is this Gwen girl dropping you Why doesn't he do it himself? Because he's a liar. That's what he is. That's all they are. And you're too brainwashed to see it."

Fanny hugged her temples as she felt the tension creep up her back.

She's not mad at Rosabella.

She can understand why her best friend is upset and it will most likely take time for Rosabella to understand.

Fanny doesn't even know if she herself really understands it all.

"Also, we need to tell the police you're back. They're still looking for you, you know."

Fanny feels exhausted and just needs a break from it all.

Rosabella was about to add another comment, but when she noticed how heartbroken her best friend looked, she felt a pang of guilt in her gut.

She's been praying for Fanny's return day and night for months and now that Fanny is really here with her, she's talking about it.

'Hey…" So Rosabella said softly, placing her hand on the girl beside her.

Fanny looked up from her cup and at Rosabella, her eyes glassy.

"I'm really grateful you're back... whatever the reason or how it happened... I'm just glad you are. You know that, right?"

Feeling comforted by the sincere words, Fanny's face softened as she replied with a nod.

The girls were quickly clearing the dishes and putting away the groceries when suddenly they heard a loud bang.

"What's that?" Rosabella asked.

Frowning, Fanny looked toward the source of the sound.

When it happened again and she noticed that it was coming from the front door, it hit her right in the stomach, knocking the air out of her lungs.

Someone is trying to break down their door.

"God. Fanny..."

"Whist." Fanny immediately jumped at Rosabella and covered her mouth.

"Be quiet," Fanny whispered in her friend's ear as he pulled her away from where she was and toward the small broom cupboard.

Rosabella tries to fight her off, but Fanny frantically shakes her head, the panic in her eyes showing how serious she is.

"No problem, don't go out until they're gone, ok?"

However, when she didn't immediately agree, Fanny shook her head, her voice more urgent and pleading.

"Promise me, Rosabella." She hissed at Rosabella.

Giving up, Rosabella nodded slightly as her mouth was still blocked by her friend's hand.