They got off the plane and got to the hotel room. It wasn't fancy, but it wasn't bad. Frank and Lucy took one room, Sophie and Daniel the other.

  That night, Daniel was sitting on the edge of his bed in the dark. The Prince’s was standing by the window, "looking" out.

  "Hey," Daniel thought. "What?" "...I've been thinking about all of those things you said on the plane. And... I just wanted to know. How was it? Having a wife... and a kid?"

  The Prince was silent for a long time. "Well... I didn't have those two things for 'much' time." He "turned" from the window. "But... it wasn't bad."

  "Yes, the responsibility was too big for me sometimes."

  "And sometimes... she said things that were really strange."

  "But then I look at it, from the eyes of young me... and I think it's the best thing that could ever happen to a man. Isn't it?"

  He smiled. “I had a wife who made me dinner. Yes, she wasn't the best at cooking... but I really liked it. Because it was from her hands."

  "...Wow," Daniel thought. "What a deep answer."

  "Of course, my Dan. I'm a philosopher, too."

  "Yes. You're everything that a man can be, all at one time."

  "Well, that was deep. Did I... did I transfer the sickness to you, or something?"

  Daniel just laid back on his pillow, staring at the ceiling. "Maybe," he thought. "I don't talk to myself... that much... as I talk to you."

  Daniel went to the lobby.

  It was quiet. Daniel was drinking coffee. Frank sat and stared at him. "Hey, why is he looking at you like that?"

  "Don't know," Daniel thought.

  "You look different," Frank said.

  "Is that... something good? Or bad?"

  "Better," Frank said. "Much better than the kid I was looking at in the bar."

  "Well... thanks, I guess."

  "Okay," Frank said. "Enough time wasted. Let's move."

  They walked to "Alby Street." It was... yellow. The walls were yellow. The people wore yellow and black.

  "What are my eyes seeing, man?"

  "I don't know," Daniel said, smiling. "Never saw something like that."

  "That's the gang's color," Frank said, his voice flat. "They love to put it everywhere."

  "So proud of nothing, I suppose."

  A man stepped in front of them. "Hey bro. Whatcha you doing here?"

  "We're looking for someone," Frank said.

  "A name would help."

  "Maryal."

  "Never heard of it."

  "Hey Dan. He's lying. You seeing it?"

  "Yup." "Pretty sure you know her... 'bro'," Daniel said.

  "What makes you so sure?"

  "Your way of talking."

  The man smiled. "Well... what if I was lying? What would happen?"

  He raised his voice. Other gang members started walking towards them.

  "Well," Daniel said, "that is one way of saying 'I am lying'."

  "Hey, kid," the man said, "you insult one of us on our turf?"

  "If you want to take it as an insult, take it."

  "You got a brave tongue, kid," he said, pulling a knife. "Maybe we should have a look at that cute tongue..."

  Frank got out his pistol.

  The other gang members pulled theirs.

  The prince sighed. "Well... I thought it would end like this." He "moved" his hand. ...tick... tick... tick..."

  "The gang members' guns exploded in their hands. They screamed in pain. "MY HAND!" "WHAT THE HECK DID YOU DO?!"

  Frank started at Daniel. “Not me.” Daniel said.

  "Here comes the real thing now, Daniel. If you want, I can take the wheel."

  "Okay," Daniel thought. "But don't take much time."

  "Sure."

  Daniel closed his eyes.

  The Prince came. He ran at one of the men and started choking and beating him. "SO!" the Prince roared.

  "WOULD YOU SPARE ME SOME WORDS OUT OF YOUR MOUTH?"

  "W-what do you want?!"

  "MARYAL! NOW! SOMETHING ABOUT THAT NAME!"

  "I... I don't kno—" The Prince punched him. Once. Twice. Again. Again. Until the man was catching his breath like he was catching a fly.

  "SO. NOW... WANT TO TALK?"

  "I... I heard the name... at the bar," the man sobbed. "Nothing more, mister!"

  "You lying to me?"

  "Ain't lying, mister! I swear to... to..."

  The Prince left him. He spat. "Blood. Got into my mouth. Gross." He cleaned his clothes. "So? What are you waiting for? Let's go, Frank."

  Frank stared. "...Didn't think I'd see that today."

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  "I hope it was a pleasant surprise," the Prince smiled.

  They got to the bar the man pointed at. Music was playing. Frank went to open the door, but the Prince kicked it open. "HELLO, LADIES!"

  The music was still playing, but the silence was heavier.

  "So," the Prince said to the room. "I just wanted to ask about... Maryal."

  And a glass broke. Someone ran at the Prince.

  "DAD! YOU'RE HEREEEEEE!"

  "What the hec—" The 15-year-old teen hugged the Prince, and they both fell to the floor in a heap.

  "Ahh... my head," the Prince said.

  "What the... Ma—... Sam?"

  The teen was crying. "I thought you weren't coming! I have been waiting for ten years."

  Frank was shocked. "You... you have a son?"

  The Prince stood up, his "Nah. He's Mark's son."

  "But... but you raised me!" Sam said.

  "...Yeah. I did."

  They sat at one of the bar tables. All eyes were on them.

  "I thought you forgot about me, Dad," Sam said.

  "I would never do that, son," the Prince said, patting his head.

  Sam smiled ear to ear. He moved his chair right next to the Prince's, and he started humming.

  "I'm so happy that you found me, Dad."

  "Me too, son."

  "But... what brings you here? You're not... here for me?"

  "Nah," the Prince said. "I'm here for Maryal."

  "Well, that hurts," Sam said.

  "Do you know something about her?" the Prince asked.

  "I actually happen to know some info," Sam said.

  "The—"

  "But," Sam cut him off,

  "I need something in return."

  "And that's...?"

  "A hug. And a pat." The Prince smiled.

  "Well, that is the Sam that I know." He hugged the 15-year-old.

  "You never change, do you?"

  "Never change on you, Dad," Sam said, hugging him tight. "I was so lonely in these ten years."

  The prince smiled.

  After a moment, they broke. "So," the Prince said,

  "what I know is that she was teleported here."

  "No new info."

  "...And that some guys tried to... hurt her." The Prince's hands clenched. The veins in his neck started to show.

  "She was able to run from them," Sam said quickly.

  "And now she's hiding somewhere 'here'."

  "Where is 'here', kid?" Frank interrupted.

  "Haa?" Sam sneered at Frank. "Who are you? And why are you talking to me like you know me, or something?"

  "Sam!" the Prince snapped. "Don't talk to him like that. He's... a friend. Of Daniel."

  "Oh. Okay, sorry, Dad," Sam said. "...But aren't you, Daniel?"

  "Long story, Sam."

  "And so," Sam continued, "I got to two conclusions. She was never seen on this street after that day.”

  “But she was seen in the hotel that's right next to the ocean.”

  “Second, that means she is most likely in the area between the ocean and this street."

  "And," the Prince said, a slow smile spreading on his face. "And," Sam said, smiling too, "most likely... she is eating ice cream."

  "That is my son," the Prince said, his voice full of genuine pride.

  The Prince looked at Sam. "Oh, right. Daniel. So, just focus with me, Sam. I'm... going to be able to hear, but I won't be here."

  "My other half will talk to you. He's not much different than me. So talk to him nicely."

  "Sure, pa," Sam said, confused. "I don't get much of what you said, but... sure."

  The Prince closed his eyes.

  Daniel coughed, but much less than the last time "Strange," he muttered.

  Sam, who had been watching this, just smiled. "So. You're my Dad's 'other half'."

  "Yeah..." Daniel said, rubbing his head.

  "Nice to meet you, Daniel," Sam said, holding out a hand. "I'm Sam. The Prince's son." Daniel just stared at his hand.

  "What the heck?" Daniel thought, his mind racing. "You said your son hated you!"

  "Yeah. That's my real son. This one... this one is Mark's son. But I raised him."

  "I don't understand."

  "You know Mark was the biggest servant in the palace?"

  "So?" "So, he didn't go home much. When his son was born... I wanted to 'payback' Mark for his loyalty.”

  “So, I raised the boy. He lived with his mother and sister, but I... I took him to parks. Taught him. Paid for his clothes.”

  "So... one second. He has a sister?"

  "Yeah."

  "Let me guess. You raised her, too."

  "Bingo."

  "Very nice," Daniel thought. "We have two copies of you, but young."

  "Isn't that nice?"

  Sam was still just looking at Daniel, who was "zoning out" and having a silent, one-sided argument with his "dad."

  "Hey," Sam said, finally breaking the silence. "You're really talking to my dad like he's your... friend."

  Daniel looked up, startled. Sam smiled. "Very well, then. You are my friend, too, Daniel."

  Frank was looking at this scene, and he was not able to speak.

  Daniel smiled. "So," Daniel asked, "where is your sister?"

  Sam's face changed. His eyes started to fill with tears. "I... I don't know."

  "Are you stupid?"

  Daniel flinched. "What?"

  "I could have asked this question. But I didn't. Why? Because if he knew where she was, she would be with us right now, stupid!"

  "I... I'm sorry, Sam," Daniel said. "I just was—"

  "No," Sam said, wiping his eyes. "Don't apologize. It's... it's on me that I didn't find her." He looked at his hands. "But... I know she's alive. She has to be."

  Sam took a deep breath. "Anyway," Sam said. "Let's go and get Maryal."

  Daniel nodded. "let's go."

  They got to the ocean. "Wow," Daniel said. "I didn't know the ocean looked so beautiful."

  "I know," Sam said. "It looks so pretty.”

  Frank lit a smoke.

  “So... now, this is the hotel that she was last seen at."

  Frank looked at the building. "Nothing out of the usual."

  Sam looked at him his face red then it got lighter and lighter by the second."...Y-yeah. You're right."

  "So," Sam said, "we should go to the ice cream shop that's here.”

  “But... also, the ice cream could be served in the hotel.”

  “But most likely, she doesn't have money."

  "So, can she get ice cream in the first place?" Daniel asked.

  "Good point," Sam added.

  They started searching in the hotel. They asked everyone, but nothing came out of it.

  The sun was setting. "And we didn't find anything," Daniel said, frustrated.

  "Don't worry, we'll find he—" Frank said.

  "Hey. I think we have a lead." Sam said

  Sam pointed at a group from the "Yellow Claws" gang. "You see those guys?"

  "Yeah."

  "They're the same guys who tried to... hurt her... when she first came."

  The prince’s face was red.

  "But this time," Sam said, "they look different.”

  “They always come here to search for her. This time... they're carrying a lot of bags."

  "They killed her. They cut her into pieces." Daniel said.

  "Nah, She would kill them."

  "But," Frank said. “what I think... is that they have found her.”

  “And now they're trying to kidnap her."

  "Yeah," Sam said, biting his tongue. "I guess that's what they're trying to do."

  "So let's follow them," Daniel said.

  They started following them. For an hour. Two. Three. Four.

  "Are you sure about that theory, Frank?" Daniel whispered. "They haven't done anything except the usual gang things."

  "That," Frank said, "is why I am sure.”

  “They're doing that to shake off anyone who's following them." And after some moments after they were done robbing an old man. the gang members moved. Closer. More organized.

  "See?" Frank said. "Told you."

  They got into an alley, where there was a... black thing sleeping on the floor.

  "Hey, princess," one of the gang members said, kicking it. "Wake up."

  "Just... shut up..." a Woman’s voice said. She moved her hands. And there were... pieces. In less than a second, there were no gang members. Just... pieces.

  The woman stood up, brushing herself off. "Oh, no," she said, looking at the massacre.

  "What have I done? I messed up the place.”

  “What if my brother came and saw the mess I made?"

  "He would be happy to see you doing that," Sam said, stepping out of the shadows.

  "Sam!" "You're alive!" "Not just that," Sam said, smiling. "I got you a surprise."

  He pushed Daniel into the light.

  "B-Brother?"

  "Hey, Daniel... let me drive here."

  "...That's the second time."

  "It's for your own safety. And hers."

  "O-okay. Take the wheel."

  Daniel closed his eyes, and the prince opened them.

  Maryal ran at him, her eyes full of tears. The Prince caught her and held her. "Why were you late?" she cried, hitting his chest.

  "You know how many years I've waited for you to come?"

  "I am sorry, sis," the Prince said. "But I got you now."

  ...The Prince held Maryal. After a moment, she looked past him. "Who is that, brother?" she said, pointing at Frank. "Your servant?"

  Frank rubbed his face “I feel pity for Daniel.’

  "No," the Prince said. "It's a friend."

  "A friend!?" Maryal said, pushing the Prince away.

  "What happened to you, brother? You become friends with someone... with that style?"

  "He's not my friend, directly," the Prince said, annoyed. "He's a friend of my... 'other half'."

  "Phew," Maryal said, relieved. "Thank god. I thought something happened to you."

  "But... that 'other half' of yours... I feel pity for you, brother.”

  “To be with him every second of your life."

  The Prince was silent for a second. "He isn't that bad," he said. "He's just... different."

  Maryal stopped sneering. She just... stared at her brother. "...If you say so."

  "So," the Prince said, sniffing the air. "Now let's get you to a shower. You smell, sis."

  "I shower in the ocean, brother! You mean—"

  "Nah, I'm not that mean," the Prince laughed.

  "Yeah!" Sam chimed in. "My dad isn't mean!"

  Maryal looked at Sam. "What do you have to do with this, you kid?"

  "I am not a kid!" Sam said. "I am fifteen years old!"

  "And so what?" Maryal sneered. "Still a kid in the brain."

  Frank looked up at the sky. "...I want to go to the bar." Said frank.

  They walked back to the hotel. Sam was holding the Prince's hand. Maryal was arguing with him "so why isn't he holding my hand?" She said.

  “Because you smell.” Sam said.

  They continued the argument.

  And Frank... Frank just wanted to be in a bar. So bad.

  They got to the hotel room. "Well," Maryal said, "this isn't that bad."

  "You were sleeping in the streets, sis," the Prince said. "Of course it's better."

  "Hey! Stop being mean!" she said, hitting him in the stomach.

  "Don't hit him!" Sam said, stepping in.

  "Or you'll do what?" Maryal said, putting her hands on her hips. They kept arguing.

  The Prince watched them, and for some time, he smiled. "Anyway, why were you in the bar." the Prince said to Sam.

  "Oh, yeah," Sam said. "I work there."

  The Prince stopped smiling. "You... work? At the bar?"

  "Yeah!" Sam said, puffing out his chest. "But I'm quitting. I'm coming with you, Dad."

  "What a kid." Maryal said.

  "At least I got some money in my pockets," Sam said proudly.

  "Well, I did have money..." Maryal started.

  "But I spent it on ice cream," all three of them (the Prince, Sam, and Maryal) said in unison.

  The Prince looked at Sam. "Knew it."

  "Hey, brother," Maryal said, "why didn't you get Sally? She was right next to me.”

  "My sister is there!"

  "Yeah, I found her when I was teleported here. I thought you were doing some kind of joke on her."

  As they were bickering, Frank—who had been silent in the corner—spoke. "I found her." Frank said, hanging up the phone.

  The room went silent. "What?" Sam said.

  “Sally,” Frank said.

  “She's not lost. She's in the lobby. She's been arguing with security for 20 minutes."

  The prince opened the door and ran to the lobby.

  Sally was arguing with the guards. "We can't let you in!"

  "And why is that?"

  "Because you don't have a registration!"

  "But as I told you, my father is here! And my brother!"

  "So can you tell him to come and pick you up or he can send you the phot—"

  "She's with me," the Prince said.

  Sally saw him, and without a second thought ran at him hugging him so hard that they both fell to the floor.

  "DAD! DAD!" she cried. "I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it at first... but it's really you!"

  "You and your brother..." the Prince said, rubbing his head. "Ahh, my head...”

  “Why didn't you take me with you?” She pulled back, her eyes full of tears. "Do you... do you hate me, Dad? You don't want me?"

  The Prince's "Never say that," he said, his voice quiet. "Never." He hugged her. "You are my daughter. I would never hate you." And tears started slipping from her.

  The security guards were rubbing tears from their faces.

  "Come," the Prince said, standing up. "Let's get you to the shower, girl."

  "But I shower in the ocean! With Maryal!"

  The Prince smiled. "It's not enough. You still smell."

  "Dad!" He laughed, and took her and got to the room.

  The Prince opened the hotel room door, laughing, with Sally on his arm.

  "Dad!" she pouted.

  "You still smell!"

  Sam, who was at the table bickering with Maryal, looked up. She was in the doorway.

  Maybe time stopped for them. Maybe life wasn't that important. Maybe the brain was playing a trick, giving them the dream they had both wanted for ten years. She was here.

  "B-Brother..." Sally whispered.

  And at that moment, Sam broke. For the first time in his life, he couldn't resist. He started to cry. They both cried, running to each other.

  But they cried not for the same reason. Sally was crying for happiness.

  Sam... Sam was crying because he couldn't find her.

  He was crying because his only mission... he had failed it. He was crying from shame.

  Frank just watched this, sighing "...But tears are just water?” he thought.

  Maryal looked at her nephew and niece, and then she looked at the Prince "Look at them, brother," Maryal said. "You... you have raised them well."

  The Prince was silent. "No," he said. "I am not a good father." He looked at Sam and Sally, who were holding each other, and touching each other’s face.

  "...They are just good kids. Aren't they?"