"Back to the Front Lines"

The hospital's fluorescent lights hummed overhead as Luka and Pam walked down the corridor, their footsteps echoing off the sterile walls. Luka's mind was racing with thoughts of Sophia, the young patient who had gone missing. He had worked with her for months, trying to help her overcome her troubled past, and now she was gone. As they approached Dr. Patel's office, Luka could see the concern etched on her face. She was pacing back and forth, her eyes fixed on a file in her hand. "Luka, thank goodness you're here," she said, her voice tight with worry. "We've been trying to reach Sophia's emergency contacts, but no one seems to know where she is." Luka's gut twisted with anxiety. He had a bad feeling about this. "Let me see the file," he said, taking the folder from Dr. Patel's hand. As he scanned the pages, his eyes widened with alarm. Sophia's last session with him had been just a few days ago, and she had seemed stable, even optimistic. But now, it seemed that she had packed a small bag and left her halfway house in the middle of the night. Pam stood beside him, her eyes scanning the file over his shoulder. "What's her history like?" she asked, her voice low. Dr. Patel hesitated before speaking. "Sophia's been through a lot," she said. "She was a victim of human trafficking, and she's been struggling to cope with the aftermath. We've been working with her to get her back on her feet, but it's been a tough road." Luka's jaw clenched with anger. He had dealt with cases like Sophia's before, and he knew how hard it was for them to escape the trauma of their past. He looked at Pam, and saw the determination in her eyes. "We need to find her," Luka said, his voice firm. "We need to make sure she's safe." Dr. Patel nodded. "I've already contacted the police, but they haven't turned up anything yet. I've also spoken to the staff at the halfway house, but they didn't notice anything unusual last night." Luka's eyes narrowed as he thought. "I want to talk to the staff again," he said. "Maybe they missed something." Pam nodded, her eyes locked on his. "I'll come with you," she said. Together, the three of them set out to retrace Sophia's steps, determined to find her before it was too late. As they walked out of the office, Luka felt a sense of trepidation. He had a feeling that they were running out of time.