Sage
Roads passed by in a blur and time seemed to do the same.
It was seconds before we all rushed to our cars and began speeding away. The rush, the panic, the hint of fear in everyone watching this scene unraveling was something unexplainable.
"How much further, Ashton?" Axel yelled, blindly driving through Huntley, almost running over half the population on the streets.
"Ummm...turn left from the next intersection, Axel...I can't see anything else right now" Ashton's frantic voice came through the speaker.
"That road is abandoned. Are you sure that's the one?" Phoenix was on call too. He and Ezra were in the car behind us with Donovan and Ashton right behind them. Ethan decided to stay back and take care of things.
"Yes, I'm sure" Ashton replied.
"Axel, Slow down" Ezra warned. "We need to stick together"
"Like sheep to the herd. Perfect. That's what we've been doing, Ezra. Look where that..."
"Stop it. All of you" I ran my hand through my hair, almost pulling at it and shot Axel a glare. I couldn't catch my breath. Not since we left the palace. I should have been used to unsettling feelings by not but this... this felt different. It was scary.
"Relax, baby" Axel put a hand on my knee blindly, not tearing his eyes from the road. We were far out of the city, heading towards the outskirts. According to Phoenix, this was a shortcut to the forest.
"Axel, take a left" Ashton startled and Axel complied but the second the car skidded into the narrow lane it came to an abrupt halt, screeching so loud, I had to put my hands on my ears.
"Fuck" Axel and I were both staring at the broken bark of a burnt out tree lying in the middle of the road, blocking the way.
"Ashton..." Axel was about to say something else when we heard cars screech behind us. I saw a car door open in the rear view mirror and Ezra was the first to get out. I hear the door shut beside me and see Axel already standing with his hands on his hips, rounding the car to the front. I opened the door and stepped out.
"Why does this feel like a setup?" Donovan came up behind me with a disapproving look on his face.
"I highly doubt it is. There's nothing around here for miles" That was Nathaniel with his hands in his hips, looking around at our surroundings. There was nothing but an empty field for a mile or so beyond the huge tree in the middle of the road.
"Either way, I don't intend to stick around and find out" Donovan turned around to walk back to his car, brushing past me.
"Yes ofcourse, because we want to dance around the fucking trees, right?" Ezra was glaring at him.
Donovan whipped around with a glare matching the intensity of my brother's. "Oh forgive me , Ezra. Forgive my fear for my fucking existence" he practically yelled.
Ezra stood there glaring at him with his fists balled up. God, I know how much self control it took him to not punch Donovan that very second.
"We should move" Axel's demanding voice cut through the tension, making me look at him. He was shooting his brother glares too. I understand Donovan's concern, but panicking isn't going to help.
Ezra brushed past him aggressively and strode towards his car. Phoenix followed behind and so did I. Our car was parked right beside theirs.
I heard Axel tell Donovan something but I wasn't paying attention. I was looking down at the ground when I bumped into something hard.
"Phoenix, what the hell are you doing?" I looked up at him. He had his brows creased looking out at the distance.
"Hunter..."
He put a finger up to me, gesturing me to stay quiet and put his finger against his ear, mouthing "Listen"
So I did.
Axel, Donovan, Ezra, Nathaniel, the cars... everything was blocked out for that second. There was only one sound in the distance. One cry - a child.
I looked at Phoenix and the look in his eyes was asking me if I had heard that too. I nodded.
"Sage..." I heard Axel take a step towards us when Pheonix put a hand up to him too, telling him to pay attention.
But then I heard something else...
No.
That was a howl.
No.
It came from the left, which was the same direction I heard the child's cry from. But my mind decided it was a good idea not to wait around and legs complied, taking off in the direction.
"Sage, no" I heard Axel call out, but it was mere seconds before I heard him following behind.
"Fuck" I heard Pheonix from far away.
I knew they were close behind,but I didn't care. Only one thing mattered... finding the source of that noise.
*******
Axel
She took off.
Just like that.
I felt like my heart stopped for a second, but my senses kicked in and I followed. All thoughts of Donovan left my mind. Only one thing mattered right now - Get Sage back here.
I could see her hair flowing in the wind. I know she was freaking out too. But running off like this was dangerous, damnit. I heard Donovan call out to me and soon heard movement close by. I glanced over my shoulder, to see Phoenix close by. I'm sure the rest would follow suit.
She stopped.
So did I.
She just stood there with her hands running through her hair, looking around with a blood hungry look in her eyes that matched the actual crimson her eyes had turned.
"What happened?" I walked up beside her, focusing on the sounds around us. I heard Donovan and the rest running in and stopping a little away from us.
"Someone's running through..." her eyes narrowed, focussed on something over my shoulder. I turned around instinctively and did the same. I heard it too. Shallow breaths, a pounding heart, muffled sobs and the sound of the dried leaves in the forest floor being trampled.
"Someone's out there..." Nathaniel whispered.
"But there's only one person..." Ezra's voice trailed off.
We saw a gush of someone moving past us. I turned around to see Donovan mouthing "Phoenix".
Fuck.
"Hunter" Ezra whisper yelled "What did he..."
"Aahhhhhh"
He stopped halfway through what he was about to say and so did we all when we heard the scream.
My legs moved on its own. I ran until I caught a glimpse of Phoenix with his back facing us. He was looking down at someone. I stopped in my tracks trying to see who it was, but all I could hear was a pounding heart.
"Phoenix?"
"Shhh" he put a finger up and looked over his shoulder.
"What the hell is happening?" Sage stopped beside me.
"Dammit, Hunter" Donovan hissed out from behind me.
"I think we may have found something" he glanced back at us.
I heard a slight sob from behind him and instinctively took a step towards him as he took one back.
"Is that..." Ezra whispered.
I couldn't respond. I just stood there looking at the child covered in blood and dirt.
"Kinsley" Sage breathed out and rushed towards her , kneeling down beside her.
The child almost flinched away from her, she was trembling in fear.
"You don't remember me? I'm your father's friend. I came to Cohen a few weeks back, Kinsley" she cupped her face, trying to snap her out of it.
The child just looked at her with a wide eyed expression before tears started streaming down her face.
"They have my daddy" she cried and threw herself onto Sage's shoulder.
I don't think Sage heard that right, because she didn't respond. She just picked up the child, stroking her hair, comforting her.
Me on the other hand, I was freaking out. And the look on everyone else's face said the same.
"How did you get out?" Sage pulled away from Kinsley but still rocked her in her arms.
"Daddy killed her..." the kid whispered through hiccups and sobs.
"Where?" I took a step towards them. She just looked at me with a vacant expression.
"It's okay, it's okay. You're safe now" Sage put her head down on her shoulder and stroked her hair again.
"Can you tell me where daddy is?" She whispered ever so slightly.
Kinsley nodded, hugging onto Sage for dear life.
"Where?"
Kinsley lifted her arm and pointed in the direction of a narrow pathway.
I heard Sage' let out a deep breath and instinctively looked at her. She was staring in the direction, holding onto Kinsley tightly. I looked at Donovan, Ezra and Nathaniel. They were looking in the direction too.
Phoenix took a step forward and glanced over his shoulder at us "Are we ready for this?"
I let out a deep breath and fixed my eyes back on that little clearing. I knew the answer to his question but I'd never admit to it. I guess we'll just have to see what the night holds in store for us.
*************
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