CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE - THE SEARCH BEGINS

Mara's heart raced as she gathered Clarissa's friends in the hotel lobby. The neon lights of Las Vegas filtered through the windows, casting an eerie glow on their worried faces. "Listen, everyone," Mara began, her voice trembling slightly. "We need to find Clarissa before Cassius finds out she's missing. This could turn into a disaster if we don't handle it carefully." Emily, her eyes wide with concern, asked, "But shouldn't we tell Cassius? He might be able to help." Mara shook her head. "Not yet. You know how protective he is of Clarissa. He'd probably shut down half the city looking for her. Let's try to find her ourselves first." The group nodded in agreement, and Mara felt a small surge of relief. At least they were on the same page. "Okay, here's the plan," she continued. "We'll start by checking with the hotel staff. Then we'll split up and search different areas of the city. Keep in constant communication. If anyone finds anything, let the rest of us know immediately." T