Secrets of Adirondacks: Fractured Ties

Chapter 33

(Vincent's P.O.V)

It was Wednesday afternoon and the sound of my fists slamming into the concrete wall echoed through the room. My knuckles were raw, blood smeared against the cold surface, but I didn't care. Sara Lynn was gone. And it was all my fault. I should have been here. I should have protected her.

"Vincent..." Elias's voice was calm but firm, cutting through the chaos in my head. He stood across the room, arms crossed, his face etched with concern. He knew better than to rush in when I was like this. Instead, he waited, giving me the space I needed to burn through the storm of rage.

With one final punch, I stepped back, my chest heaving. My phone vibrated in my pocket, breaking through the haze of fury. I yanked it out, glancing at the screen before answering.

"Hello?" My voice was low, guttural.

"Vince." Levi's tone was sharp, urgency bleeding through the line. "My dad and the Ten Thrones— they're heading into surgery."

A flood of memories hit me like a tidal wave. The monster we'd faced—the one that tore through our defenses—was burned into my mind. My grip on the phone tightened as my blood boiled. This wasn't over. It couldn't be.

"Where's Sara Lynn?" Levi's voice cracked through the static in my head.

His question landed like a punch to the gut. My heart sank, and I clenched my fists until my nails bit into my palms. I sighed heavily, the weight of my failure pressing down on me.

"Vince, what's going on?" Levi's voice was more urgent now, his concern unmistakable.

"She's not here," I said, my voice low and strained.

"What do you mean she's not there?" Levi's panic mirrored my own.

I didn't answer, I couldn't. Instead, I hurled the phone across the room, watching as it shattered against the wall. The pieces scattered, but it wasn't enough to ease the storm inside me. I dropped to my knees, burying my face in my hands as the tears finally came. Hot, unrelenting, and filled with rage.

Elias's footsteps approached, steady and deliberate. He crouched in front of me, his face calm but determined. A small smile flickered at the corners of his mouth, a silent reassurance that somehow, we'd get through this.

"We'll find her," Elias said, his voice steady and sure.

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. "We have to," I whispered, my voice breaking. "This isn't over."

"For now, let's check the cameras," Elias said, rising to his feet. "Then we'll head to the hospital, regroup, and figure out our next move."

I nodded again, wiping my face and standing, my legs shaky but resolute. My gaze flicked to the shattered remains of my phone across the room. I sighed, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

"You can use mine," Elias offered, clapping a hand on my shoulder.

I managed a small, tired smile. "Thanks, Eli."

He nodded, his calm presence grounding me as we moved to piece together what was left of our plan—and my shattered world.

~

Elias and I made our way downstairs, heading straight for the receptionist desk. Kate sat there, surprisingly calm, flipping through a newspaper like nothing was out of the ordinary. Her calmness in the middle of everything only made my chest tighten more.

"Hey, Kate," I said softly, walking up to the desk. Elias stood beside me, leaning his hands casually against the counter.

"Vincent!" Kate greeted, her voice warm. "How are ya? Did you see your girlfriend yet? She's such a pretty little thing," she added, her tone genuine but oblivious to the ache that spread through my chest.