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One o'clock in the afternoon had Layla, Amber, Daniel, and Detective Stern heading out to Melody's supposed location with two police cars following them. After working out the details for a rescue plan, it was decided that they would try negotiations first, and then enter by force if things didn't work out. Of course, in the meantime, Layla and Amber discussed a plan for themselves through texts. Their plan was to have everyone focused on their front to let Amber activate her aura and conceal both her and Layla. After a few test runs earlier inside of one of the bathrooms in Daniel's mansion, Amber got the hang of how her aura affected Layla and concealed her. By giving Layla a wristband of her aura, Amber found that she could conceal Layla just as well as Blake's aura armor. Since they wanted to avoid fighting at all costs, just the simple wristband proved sufficient enough.
"We're here," Stern announced as he pulled up to an abandoned three-story apartment complex. It was decrepit from the passage of time wearing it down so much; the once supposedly white walls now nearly black with stripes of mold running all throughout the outside of the building. It was no wonder that this place was to be abandoned and inhabitable by people. Everyone including the police officers stepped out of their vehicles and gathered in a circle near the entrance to the building.
"Here's the low down: Me and the four policemen here will scout out the building to look for any escape routes that they may take. Since we're connected by radio I can spread them out to patrol the area. Meanwhile, you three kids head inside and try to find Melody and talk to her about surrendering. It's a big place, so be careful. If no one's got any questions for me, let's head out," Stern briefed quickly, motioning for the police officers to follow him. Daniel turned towards Layla and Amber. "Well? Ready to go?" he asked for good measure.
"Just stop with the dramatics and let's get going," Amber said quickly as she rushed inside with Layla following closely.
"Hey! Wait!" Daniel called out, rushing inside after them. The moment he got inside, however, he found himself alone and isolated.
"Dammit," he cursed silently, running off to look around himself. Meanwhile, Layla and Amber stood still in the center of the room shielded by aura as they watched Daniel leave. Amber had donned a wristband of her aura on her own wrist as well as Layla's in time for Daniel to believe that they ran ahead.
"Should we follow him?" Layla asked with concern. She felt bad leaving Daniel alone in a place like this, but they found it to be better for them to find Blake first to prevent their secret from being found.
"We can split up if you like," Amber offered, "Since we're not trying to fight, I can concentrate on keeping you hidden. If there's any trouble, we can make the place look haunted by poltergeist. I can go look for Blake and you keep him company?" Layla smiled and nodded, racing after Daniel. Amber smiled back before turning in the opposite direction. With Layla keeping watch over Daniel, that was one less worry for her. Layla would make sure that he was safe and give her a chance at finding Blake first. Besides, she knew Layla well enough to know that the girl could handle herself just fine; she had before, after all.

Amber went ahead and searched her side of the complex with zeal, clearing her side and finding no sign of either Blake, Aria or even this Melody. Damn, I was hoping to get lucky, Amber thought to herself in disdain. She quickly made her way to the other side of the building and ended up running into Layla and Daniel. Well, the author says that; Amber ran into Melody, bumped her into the way of Layla and Daniel, and then regrouped with them.
"Ow, watch it," Melody groaned, standing up to face the three. Daniel blinked in surprise. "You're Melody Friest, aren't you?" he asked incredulously. Melody composed herself from her temporary daze and smiled almost madly.
"Ooooh, yes I am! Have I become popular or something?" Melody singsonged, "Too bad for you, pretty boy, but I already have someone for me; a wonderful life partner of mine whose waiting for me right now. I'm going to go see her." Daniel's eyes widened with surprise and Amber's interest piqued. If she could follow Melody to where Blake was staying, it would make things easier for her.
"Are you talking about Blake? Where is she? Tell me!" Daniel demanded. Melody laughed as if she had heard a funny joke. Layla sighed and slapped her forehead. Daniel was looking more and more like a naive kid then a gentleman.
"And who are you to her? Why would you want to look for her?" Melody questioned back, "The last time I checked Blake was still single. Well, until she finishes spending time with me. Then she'll call me hers like how things were meant to be between us~," she sighed at the last part, fantasies running through her head. Amber couldn't help but to make a face; this was the person Blake was suffering from? Completely understandable. Daniel, on the other hand, didn't seem fazed.
"And according to Blake someone's been chasing her for years now. No doubt it's you, sicko," Daniel spat. Layla bit her lips worriedly. Daniel was provoking Melody and the last thing they would want was a fight on her hands. Melody's eyes sparked dangerously. She walked over to Daniel and grabbed him by his tie.
"I am NOT a sicko. I am merely speeding up the process of what will eventually happen with Blake and me," Melody seethed venom in her words, "And I have no problems tearing apart all who stand in my way. Even her friends like you." Amber and Layla barely had time to register what happened next. In a flash, a bright red light emitted from Melody's hands and coursed throughout Daniel's body, appearing as though she had shocked him. She threw his body onto the ground unceremoniously with a thump, turning into a laughing fit. Layla immediately went to check on Daniel's vitals, relieved to find that he was just knocked unconscious. She relayed this to Amber, who let out an audible sigh of relief. Melody calmed down and cleared her throat.
"And don't think I've forgotten about you two ladies," Melody cooed, "Aura concealment only works on regular humans. It won't work on me." Amber bit back a curse and turned to face Melody. Why, oh why, did she think that walking through Melody's building with her aura protecting her was almost too easy?
"I sense that you," she pointed at Amber, "are a Guardian like me, but I'm a bit curious about you, dearie," Melody directed her attention to Layla, "Why on Earth is a human capable of aura concealment? I must know. It is a skill that only Guardians and their Knights are privy to." She walked over to Layla with slow, cautious steps, her eyes furrowed to figure out why Layla was the way she currently was. Amber felt alarm bells ringing in her, and in response she stepped in front of Layla and Daniel protectively.
"You aren't hurting another one of my friends, you witch," Amber said threateningly, one arm extended out to shield them. Layla had Daniel's head on her lap, looking over to Amber worriedly. Melody laughed.
"How cute. Protective of your loved ones, are we?" Melody jeered, "Might I ask if you let me have Blake then? Like how a suitor asks the parents for their daughter's hand in marriage?"
"First of all, of course I'd protect the ones I care about," Amber spat angrily, "Second, there's no way I'd let you 'have' Blake. She isn't yours to have." Amber, Layla's mind lingered on Amber's words
"Well then, I guess I'll just have to - how do they say it - marry her anyway," Melody calmly retorted. With a snap of her fingers, a red light surrounded her. Amber quickly realized what this was and turned to Layla.
"Layla! Take him and run! Find Blake quickly!" Amber cried out before being thrashed to the side with a swipe of large red aura claws extending from Melody's arms. Amber crashed into the wall with a sickening crunch before falling to the ground with a thump, and it terrified Layla. Amber could die if she fought alone, yet Layla felt useless. She could only watch as Amber struggled to get to her feet and quickly activate her own pinkish aura in time to defend against Melody's relentless attacks.
"What are you doing, Layla?! GO!" Amber yelled out, tangling her whip around Melody's claws. Layla hesitated again, then took in a shaky breath and carried Daniel onto her back. For a guy their age, he seemed really light at that moment, allowing Layla to run away with Daniel on her back safely. Amber smiled bitterly as she watched Layla leave. She didn't know why, but seeing Layla so upset for her sake left a bitter taste in her mouth. I'll have to apologize later on when this is all over, she noted to herself, but first I gotta make sure this witch doesn't get to her first.

Layla was silent as she wandered the creepy halls of the abandoned building. Daniel wasn't with her since she placed him on a couch in one of the rooms that was left wide open. She knew it wasn't really a smart idea, but since Detective Stern was to be following up with him, noting his silence would have given him enough alarm to come inside for himself. There's also the fact that we can't let them find out about Blake, Amber, and even Melody right now, Layla reminded herself. Taking in a breath to focus herself, she quickly searched through the halls one by one, looking into any door she could find. Things were beginning to look hopeless as she searched until she hit the top floor. All the doors but one were closed, with the one closest to the main stairway left slightly ajar with the light on. Layla felt every fiber in her being yelling at her to run away for safety as she crept closer. She began to hear whispers coming from inside. It sounded like a girl's voice, hushed as if trying her best not to be found out. Layla remained close to the door, trying to listen in on what was going on inside.

"Sh-she said... sh-she'd take me," the voice said, shaking violently, "By force." Layla held back a gasp. It only took Layla a second to understand those words. How cruel, Layla thought to herself, Melody would be willing to go so far to get what she wants.
"You're kidding," another voice said in an equally quiet tone. Layla nearly jumped up in glee. She could recognize that voice anywhere. She calmed herself down and began to sneak into the room, being careful not to alert the ones inside. Unfortunately, due to her excitement, she only managed to get the door open and heard the door creak to announce her arrival. Aria turned her head first, frozen in place, finding nothing there but the door left ajar.
"I-I-It's just the wind," she sighed, approaching the door. Layla quickly moved out of Aria's way and raced to Blake's side. Horrified would be an understatement to how Layla felt as she looked Blake over. The poor girl was covered in her own blood, with gashes still fresh from the deep wounds found underneath the bloodied trails all over. The blood was also soaked in the crimson liquid around her, faintly illuminated by the only light hanging from the ceiling. Layla moved her shaking hands towards Blake's blindfolds, tears falling down her cheeks. To think that this is what Blake suffered for the time that they were away. Blake sensed the cloth being taken off her eyes. She pried her eyes open, squinting to adjust to the light. She couldn't believe who she saw as well. It was at that moment that Layla felt something was wrong, and looked to her wrist quickly. Blake's eyes followed in time to see Amber's pinkish aura wristband fade away.
"Layla, what's going on?" Blake whispered harshly, "What was that pink light on your wrist? Where's Amber?" Layla didn't even register that Aria was still in the room from her panic; she quickly began undoing the binds that held Blake to her cross without hesitation.
"No time to explain. Amber's in trouble," Layla panicked, struggling to free Blake. As she continued in her efforts, Blake wriggled her limbs to help, and failed to notice until the last second that Aria had picked up a bat from somewhere and had it raised above Layla's head. Before Blake could even utter a sound, Aria struck down and Layla's head. Hard. Blake shut her eyes waiting for the sound of a body crumpling to the ground. Instead, she felt her bonds go slack and eventually found herself free from her cross. She opened her eyes to find Layla heavily bleeding with labored breathing, eyes glowering at Aria who had shrunken into a corner in fear of Layla's wrath. Blake also noticed something else: Layla was no longer panicking and afraid. Rather, Layla was dangerously calm and collected, disturbing Blake greatly.

"We are going to save Amber. Now," Layla said in a voice Blake didn't believe was still hers. Aria could only stand still, shaking so much that she dropped her now bloody bat. Blake could only nod, swallowing her fear. Despite being extremely hurt and fatigued, the fear that Blake felt about Layla at that moment gave her all the drive she would need to move quickly.