"K-knock her out!?" Vincent exclaimed

"I..... ah..." he stammered further, before sighing.

"I understand." he said.

"Ash?" he then asked Ash.

"On it." Ash replied.

Then, with a swift and precise blow, he struck Alice on the back of her head with enough force to knock her out, but not cause any major damage.

"...it's done." Vincent told Hollie over the phone.

Hollie had expected Alice to be out cold for about 7 hours or so... however, after about an hour, she received another call from her brother. Confused, she answered it.

"No, Alice isn't awake yet." Vincent said when she answered.

"But Ash has told me WHY she was having such a breakdown in the first place." he told her.

"....Hollie, it's Victoria." he said.

"She's missing."

Vincent just sighed.

"I... I know." he replied.

"We'll try and ask for more information after Alice wakes up." he told her.

"Regardless, sorry to have called again so soon, but I figured you would have wanted to know about this." he reasoned.

"I'll text you when she's awake, or waking up."

"All right." Vincent responded.

"See you later." he said, before they ended their call.

About 7 hours later, Alice started to stir, Ash informed Vincent of this, and Vincent texted his sister.

Alice is stirring. was all it said.

We're still at the Fyrane manor. the next one read.

The one that walked in was Vincent, and he still looked very concerned.

"Well... she's awake." he said.

"She and Ash are making their way down here now." he told her.

"....she's still not looking good, Hollie." he admitted.

"And I'm worried sick about her. And Victoria." he went on.

"...damn it." he then cursed quietly and desperately, as he sat down and hung his head.

"....I know." Vincent said.

"It's still frustrating as all get-out." he told her.

About a minute later, Ash and Alice came into the room, and Ash sighed.

"Hey." he said to Hollie.

"Please tell me you can help Alice." he said further.

"I feel helpless and I hate it." he then muttered.

Ash was silent, accepting the ball.

".....right." he said.

"Here." he then said to Alice, handing her the ball.

"Take it." he told her.

"It'll help. I promise." he said further, looking into her eyes.

"All right? Trust me on this." he said quietly and sincerely.

Vincent was silent, recognising the necklace, but said nothing.

Only after about 20 minutes had passed, and Alice had calmed down considerably, did he say anything.

"Hollie." he addressed his sister.

"What you gave Alice. It is an artefact, is it not?" he asked.

Hollie nodded.

"...correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that particular artefact only useful or functional when worn by an empath?" Vincent then inquired further.

"....." Ash and Vincent were silent for a moment, before Ash shook his head.

"Wait, what?" he asked.

"Landed?" he asked further.

"You mean... you and Vicki got separated in the airport terminal...?" he asked her.

Vincent just sighed.

"I sense that's not the case." he commented.

"What landing, Alice?" he asked his daughter.

"....changed?" Ash asked.

"How?" he asked further.

"...." Vincent was silent for a moment, before clearing his throat.

"Before you answer" he said.

"Do you want some tea?" he asked her.

"Something to perhaps help calm you down even further." he suggested. "Or even just something you like to help you relax a little." he went on.

"I can tell this is harrowing for you, to understate it."