"We'll find her," I reassured her, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze.
She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders, determination replacing the fear in her eyes.
Together, we headed out of the room and into the hallway, ready to start our search anew.
We stepped out of the inn, the cold air biting at my face.I turned to Claire, searching her eyes for any hint of where her grandmother might be.
"Is there any place she might go, any place that holds special meaning for her?"I asked.
Claire opened her mouth to answer but stopped herself, a flicker of realization crossing her face."The lake," she said finally.
"Lake?"I echoed, urging her to continue.
"There's a small lake across town," she explained."She and my grandfather… They would always take a walk around the lake together on Christmas Eve for years.I can't believe I didn't think about it."She grabbed my hand."Come on."
We hurried toward the car parked outside.Claire's grip tightened on my hand as we reached it.She fumbled with the keys, her hands shaking.
"I'm so stupid," she muttered under her breath."I can't believe I forgot?—"
"Hey," I interrupted, taking her hands in mine to steady them."This isn't your fault, you know."
She shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes."Yeah, it is.I'm all she has.I should have known?—"
I leaned closer, looking into her eyes."It's not your fault."
Claire took a shaky breath, blinking back tears as she met my gaze.The weight of worry seemed to lift just a bit from her shoulders.
"Let's go," she murmured.
With a nod, we got into the car.The engine roared to life, and Claire gripped the steering wheel tightly as we drove through the quiet streets of town.Snowflakes danced in the air, illuminated by the headlights.
We didn't speak much during the drive, but our shared urgency filled the silence between us.The lake was only a few miles away, but each minute felt like an eternity.
Finally, we arrived at the edge of the lake.Claire parked the car hastily, and we both jumped out, scanning the area for any sign of her grandmother.
The lake lay still and serene under the moonlight, its surface reflecting the stars above.We moved quickly but carefully along the path that wound around its edge, our breath visible in the frigid air.
"Grandma!"Claire called out, her voice echoing across the water.
I kept my eyes peeled for any movement or shadow that might indicate where she was.
We had to find her.
"We should split up," I suggested, looking at Claire.Her eyes met mine, filled with worry and determination.
She nodded."I'll go left.You take the right side."
With a quick squeeze of her hand, we parted ways, each heading in opposite directions around the lake.The path was narrow, lined with snow-covered trees that formed a natural arch overhead.The lake itself lay still and dark, a mirror reflecting the moon and stars.The night air was cold and crisp, every breath visible in the frigid air.
I moved carefully along the path, my eyes scanning the shoreline for any sign of Claire's grandmother.The snow crunched underfoot, the only sound breaking the otherwise eerie silence.
"Please, God," I whispered, "let us find her."
My mind raced with possibilities, each more dire than the last.I pushed those thoughts away and focused on the task at hand.
But what gnawed at me most was the helplessness.Years of training had prepared me for combat, for danger, for high-stakes situations where I could take action and make a difference.Here, in this quiet and peaceful setting, there was nothing to fight against—just an overwhelming sense of powerlessness.
I moved forward along the lakeshore, my eyes never leaving the ground or water's edge.The moonlight cast long shadows through the trees, creating a hauntingly beautiful landscape that belied our urgent mission.
