Page 9 of Warrior Witch

“Wait, where are you going?” I asked, feeling the need to repair the rift I suddenly felt open between us. Doubling back, she threw her arms around me in a quick but fierce hug.

“Go do your thing, and I’ll do mine. See you soon, and don’t die.”

I hugged her back just as hard, resting my cheek on her hair.

“I won’t if you don’t. We’ll be back before you know it. Love you, squirt.”

“Love you, too.”

***

The first hour of the “Epic Road Trip of Destiny”—as Lindsay insisted on naming it—went seamlessly. Lindsay played DJ in the passenger seat of our shared Toyota Camry while I steered us onto the highway and pointed us toward Spells freaking Hollow. It was as we hit the ninety-minute mark, things started to get weird.

“Can you hear that noise?” I asked as he changed up the Spotify playlist.

“What?”

I frowned in the rearview, trying to pinpoint where the knocking sound could be coming from. It wasn’t the tires, and the doors were all firmly closed…

“I’m just going to pull over a minute. I think it’s coming from the trunk. You promised me you weren’t bringing those stilettos, so if they’re banging against something we need, I’m going to be pissed.”

He sighed as I turned on my signal and pulled onto the side of the highway. “They’re my lucky pair, but I left them at home; so whatever it is, it isn’t my fault.”

I rolled my eyes, climbing out of the car and circling around to the trunk, where the knocking continued.

“What the…?” Popping the lock, I sprung back as a small blonde stowaway burst out from between the baggage.

“Oh, thank the gods! I was worried you couldn’t hear me, and I really need to pee.”

Addie leaned her head outside the trunk, glancing around at all the pavement and not much else.

“Why the hell didn’t you pull over at a rest stop? A gas station, maybe. I’m bursting here, Harls.”

“Then I guess you’re going on the side of the road,” Lindsay said, leaning a hip on the back of my car.

“Ew, you heathen.” Hoisting herself out of the trunk, she waved her hands in front of her, moving to the passenger door.

“Move your asses. We need to find a flushable toilet before I die of a bladder infection.”

Sharing a glance with Lindsay that acknowledged both Addie’s flair for the dramatic, and the futility of trying to send her home, we moved back toward the front of the car and programmed the nearest gas station into the navigation system.

Lucky for Addie’s bladder, the nearest gas station was only five miles down the road, and we didn’t need to divert to get to it. We managed to cover the distance with minimal complaints from the back seat, and before we knew it, she was sprinting for the gas station clerk for a restroom key.

I leaned my head on the steering wheel and groaned. What was that kid thinking? She could’ve been in there for hours. Or worse, what if we’d been in an accident with no idea she was in there? Damn kid was gonna send me to an early grave way before Spells Hollow or those biker idiots got the chance.

“Is it illegal for us to abandon a teenager at a gas station?” I muttered against the wheel.

Lindsay patted me on the shoulder as he thought for a moment, “Technically, she’s not ours to abandon. But depending on how you look at it, we might be kidnappers now. So… maybe? Definitely frowned upon.”

“Shit. Fine. I’m gonna get us some gas while we’re here.”

I huffed and dragged myself out of the car while Lindsay headed inside, probably to top-up our snack stash now that we had a third mouth to feed.

As I filled up the tank, goosebumps prickled along my arms and the clouds darkened overhead. Perfect. Rain was just what this day needed. I glanced inside the building and spotted Lindsay strolling down an aisle, but where was… Aha! Addie’s little blonde head bounced up to the register.

Maybe I was worrying for nothing. After all, there was a good chance this whole “Epic Road Trip of Destiny” would end up being a dud. I’ve been hit in the head a lot over the years, so who knows if it was real? Besides, we could totally keep Addie safe for a day or two. The home probably wouldn’t even notice she’s gone with how much time she usually spent with us.

We’re gonna be fine, I reassured myself. Addie’s a good kid. We’ll keep her close, away from danger, and out of tr—who the hell is she talking to now?

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