SHE IS LATE

Travis returned home, the events of the evening still fresh in his mind. As he entered the house, his mother opened the door and greeted him with a warm smile.

"Welcome back, Travis," she said, her eyes filled with motherly concern. "How was your day?"

"It was... eventful," Travis replied, his thoughts still swirling with the encounter in the dark alley.

His mother nodded, sensing that he had something on his mind, but she didn't press further. Instead, she moved to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

Travis decided to take a quick shower, hoping to wash away the residual tension from the night's events. As the warm water cascaded over him, he couldn't help but think about the mysterious woman who had sent those goons after him. The meeting she had proposed at the casino in three days intrigued him, and he knew he needed to be prepared.

After his shower, he dressed in fresh clothes and joined his family in the living room. His father sat in his usual spot, engrossed in the evening news, while his mother bustled in the kitchen.

"So, how did it go with your aunt?" His father asked.

Andrew's question about his aunt brought him back to the matters he had temporarily set aside during his casino adventure. He glanced at his father, trying to gauge how much he should reveal.

"It was... emotional," Travis replied carefully. "We talked about some family matters, and it was... intense."

"She didn't jump on you, did she?" He whispered in Travis's ears, "You two didn't do the nasty, right?"

Travis just glanced at him without replying.

His father raised his hands. "Alright, alright, just making sure. You know how your aunt can be."

"Oh, by the way," Travis took the bag filled with cash that he won from the casino, "Take it."

His father's eyes widened as Travis handed him the bag filled with cash. He quickly glanced at the substantial amount of money inside, a mixture of surprise and curiosity on his face.

"Where did you get all this?" his father asked, his voice tinged with concern. "You didn't loot a bank or anything, right?"

"Hahahaha!" Travis laughed, "Hell no. Just tried my luck in the casino."

"What are you two talking about?" Lara (His mom) walked toward them with a curious expression.

Travis and his father exchanged glances before he explained, "I went to a casino today, and I happened to have a good streak at the tables. This is my winnings."

Lara's eyes widened as she looked at the bag filled with cash. "How much?"

"A little over 50 million," He replied.

Lara's eyes widened further, and her hands trembled as she processed the amount of money her son had just mentioned. She took a step back, her face drained of color, and her voice trembled as she stuttered, "F-fifty... fifty million?"

Travis nodded, slightly concerned by his mother's reaction. He had expected some surprise, but her shock seemed to go beyond that. She stumbled backward, losing her balance, and fell onto the living room floor.

"Mom!" Travis rushed over to help her up, his concern growing. "Are you okay?"

His father, too, was now by her side, helping her sit up. She looked up at them, her eyes filled with a mix of emotions, including disbelief and worry.

"Mom, please, you're scaring me," Travis said softly, trying to reassure her.

Lara took a deep breath, attempting to regain her composure. She glanced at the bag filled with cash once more before looking back at her son. Her voice was steadier this time as she asked, "Are you for real? You won all this money at a casino today?"

Travis nodded again, his confusion deepening. "Yes, Mom, I promise. I even have the receipt. I want both of you to have it. I heard from Sarah that they are underpaying Dad for his work and I know it's hard to get a good job here. So, I want you to use this and build a company of your own."

"No, no, no," Andrew shook his head, "I can't possibly..."

Travis cut him off and said, "Yes you can. I couldn't do anything worthy of a son in the past. I have always regretted dying before doing something for you two. But this time, thanks to Sarah, I got this second chance to help you two to live a better life. Please, don't take it away from me."

Lara and Andrew exchanged glances, their emotions palpable in the air. They had never expected their son to return home with such a significant amount of money. It was a gesture of love and responsibility that touched their hearts deeply.

Lara wiped away a tear from her eye and looked at her son with a soft smile. "You've grown into such a fine young man, Travis. We're proud of you."

Andrew nodded in agreement, his voice choked with emotion. "Son, we appreciate this more than words can express. But it's not just about the money. It's about your intentions and your desire to take care of your family."

Travis's heart swelled with gratitude as he embraced his parents. It was a moment of unity and love, a testament to the bond they shared as a family.

After chatting for a bit, his eyes went toward the wall clock.

"It's already 10, isn't she late?" He asked his father.

His father checked the wall clock and nodded. "Yes, she should have been back by now. Maybe she's caught in traffic or something."

Travis glanced at the clock again, growing increasingly concerned. Sarah was usually punctual, and her delay was unusual. He knew that she had mentioned a surprise for tonight, and the anticipation was eating away at him.

"I'll give her a call," Travis said, taking out his phone and dialing Sarah's number. He put the phone to his ear, but after a few rings, it went to voicemail. "She's not answering."

His parents exchanged worried looks, mirroring Travis's growing anxiety.

It was unlike Sarah to miss a call, especially when she had planned something special.

"Should we try again?" Lara suggested.

Travis nodded and redialed Sarah's number. This time, it rang several times before going to voicemail once more. His concern deepened.

"Something doesn't feel right," Travis said, his voice tense. "I'm going to her apartment to check on her."

The flashes of the dead bodies with exploded chests that he had witnessed that day appeared before his eyes.

"I'll go with you," Andrew offered, sensing his son's worry. "We'll drive over to her apartment together."

"No, mom will be alone then..." Travis stood up and used his summon skill to summon two rifles, two handguns, a couple of clips, and two armored vests, "Take them and lock up all the doors and windows. I will go and take a look. Call me if anything goes wrong."

He grabbed his phone and dashed out, making his way toward Sarah's apartment. A sense of fear and uneasiness washed over him.

His unease grew with each step he took towards Sarah's apartment. The darkening night seemed to cast long shadows on the streets, intensifying his sense of foreboding. He tried calling Sarah again as he dashed, but her phone continued to go to voicemail.

As he approached her apartment building, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was seriously wrong. His thoughts raced through various scenarios, each one more distressing than the last.

Travis's heart pounded in his chest as he reached Sarah's apartment building. The sight of the open door sent a shiver down his spine. It was unusual for Sarah to leave her door open, especially at night.

He cautiously stepped inside, his senses on high alert. The apartment was eerily silent, and a sense of dread hung in the air. Travis called out Sarah's name, but there was no response.

As he ventured further inside, he noticed something that made his blood run cold. The carpet on the floor was stained with blood. It wasn't a large pool, but it was enough to confirm that something terrible had happened here.

He bent down and touched the blood. It's still wet not dried. Even in this situation he was keeping his composure and looked around the apartment for any clues. Except for the fact that the veins on his face were seemingly bulging out under his skin.

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