Page 48 of Hell Storm

Just like Elle said.

The sound of dry, rustling leaves floated on a breeze from the distance. Someone was out there. I hadn’t yet caught their scent, but I was on guard just in case it wasn’t someone we invited.

Beside me, Silas was on high-alert, and when he zeroed in on a target, I followed his line of sight to two dark figures nearly hidden among the trees. I sniffed the air and it only took a moment to detect that they were, in fact, human. It seemed Liv and Felix decided to join us after all.

“You don’t have to be afraid.”

When they didn’t readily come forward, I thought Silas’ greeting might go unanswered. But then, slowly, the two emerged from the woods.

Instinctively, I sized them up with keen eyes. Both were thin, though Felix was significantly taller than Liv. The closer they came, the easier it was to see why Corina had been so adamant about taking them food, and looking after them in general.

I wasn’t sure what the feeling was that sank to the pit of my gut like a stone, but I now found it hard to look either in the eyes—Liv’s bright green and curious, Felix’s stern and framed by blue glasses. It didn’t matter that I was pretty sure we were, technically, meant to be mortal enemies. I couldn’t help but to be concerned.

“You’re … alone?” Liv asked reluctantly, shrugging deeper into an oversized, hooded sweatshirt. Her eyes scanned me quickly, before darting around the woods again.

Silas nodded. “We are. You have our word. We only asked you here to help us find Corina, and hopefully our friend.”

He spoke to them gently, like one would approach a skittish cat. I didn’t doubt that, at the first sign of danger, they would indeed scatter into the woods.

Felix nodded toward the bag I held, our one and only clue. “Is that the one you said Cori had with her when she took off?”

“It is. Loaded with food just like we were told it would be.”

I glanced down at the provisions, and did what felt right, what felt … natural.

“Here,” I sighed, offering the tattered bag. “She’d want you to have this.”

The two shared a look I could only describe as a mixture of distrust and disbelief. After a few hesitant seconds passed, they accepted.

“… Thank you,” Liz quietly offered, as Felix draped the bag crosswise over his chest.

It wasn’t until I gave them this peace offering of sorts that they relaxed a bit.

“We uh … we found this on our way over. About a mile in that direction,” he added, aiming a thumb over his shoulder. “We spotted it next to a beaten-up bike and tinted helmet.”

I stared as he dug into his pocket and pulled out a necklace—a large red stone linked to an onyx chain.

“Levi,” Silas sighed. “This must be the necklace he gave Corina.” He reached for it, and Felix dropped the large stone into his hand for him to examine it closer. “He mentioned in a text that he’d placed a tracker in it. This necklace was what led him to her, but … I have no idea where they could’ve gone from here.”

Frustration was thick in the air as I watched Silas scan the woods again.

“I don’t even know where to start,” he conceded.

My gaze was trained on Liv and Felix as they watched Silas. I imagined they had observed our people from the outside for a long time. It was even quite possible they had never been this close to an Ianite before today. In which case, seeing that we weren’t all heartless and cruel must have come as a shock.

“I uh … I have a theory,” Felix piped. “The races are run by roamers, so they patrol the area pretty heavily while they’re going on. It’s possible someone may have seen something.”

“It’s also possible they had something to do with Levi and Corina’s disappearance,” Silas added.

Felix didn’t disagree. “So, I think that’s where we need to focus next; finding out who ran patrol last night and see if they know anything.”

I nodded. “It’s the best lead we’ve got.”

“We’ll look into it and be in touch,” I promised. “Will I be able to reach you through the com?”

Felix passed Liv another loaded glance before facing me again. “We were waiting to see if this was all legit first.”

There was no missing how hesitant he was when he extended his hand to give me something, A small device I didn’t recognize.

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