Page 101 of The Devil's Hunt

I breathed deeply. “No, I need to do this. Do anything that doesn’t consist of lying in bed in a T-shirt watching reruns of The Kardashians,” I joked, trying to make light of the situation.

With Archer's hand firmly in mine, I stepped out of the car and onto the bustling sidewalk. Eleanor beamed at me from her seat at a small table under a colorful umbrella, eagerly waving us over. Archer guided me toward her, his presence a shield against the outside world that seemed too bright and loud.

“Oh, Mila,” Eleanor greeted us with a warm smile, her green eyes filled with concern and understanding. “It’s so good to see you out. Thank you for coming today. I know that it was no easy feat.”

I fidgeted with the napkin in front of me, trying to focus on the menu in my hands instead of the memories that threatened to overwhelm me.

Eleanor reached across the table, her hand resting lightly on mine. "How are you holding up, Mila?" she asked softly, her eyes filled with empathy.

I swallowed against the lump in my throat, searching for words to convey the turmoil that raged within me. "It's been hard," I began. “But…I’m trying to move forward. Lacey would never let me hear the end of it if she were here.”

“You don’t have to face this alone, Mila. We’re all here for you every step of the way,” she reassured me.

As we placed our orders and settled into our seats, theatmosphere around us seemed to soften. The clinking of glasses and distant laughter intertwined with the soothing melodies of a nearby street musician, creating a sense of peace that I had almost forgotten existed.

Eleanor was talking to the waiter when Archer leaned in close, his soft gaze meeting mine. "I'm proud of you, baby," he murmured. "You're stronger than you realize, and I'm honored to be by your side through all this."

Tears filled my eyes as I reached for his hand, squeezing it tightly. "Thank you, Archer. I don't know what I would do without you," I whispered, feeling a sense of gratitude wash over me.

Eleanor turned back to us, a smile playing on her lips as she noticed our exchange. "I'm so glad you have each other. Not only am I so happy that you’re a part of our family forever, but I know your mother would be too," she remarked, her words ringing true in the warm sunlight that filtered through the canopy above us.

The waiter returned with our food, placing a steaming plate of eggs Benedict before me. The aroma of hollandaise sauce and crispy bacon filled my senses, momentarily distracting me.

As we delved into our meals, a comfortable silence settled over us, punctuated only by the occasional clink of utensils against plates. I listened to Eleanor and Archer chat about trivial things, their voices a distant hum in the background. My mind, however, was elsewhere, drifting back to memories of Lacey and the unanswered questions that lingered in my heart like a heavy fog. I knew I couldn't avoid them forever.

I excused myself to use the restroom within Archer's eyesight. I leaned against the sink, staring at my reflection in the mirror. The dark circles under my eyes were a stark reminder of the sleepless nights that had become normal for me.

As I splashed cold water on my face, a sudden noise broke through the restroom's silence. It was a muffled sound, like a stifled cry, coming from one of the stalls. Concerned, I hesitated for a moment before tentatively making my way over to the closed door.

"Hello? Is everything alright?" I called out softly, my handhovering over the latch. There was a moment of silence before a shuddering breath filled the confined space.

With a deep breath, I pushed open the door to find a young woman huddled on the floor, her shoulders trembling with silent sobs. Her blonde hair was in disarray and covered her face.

"It's okay. I'm not here to hurt you," I said gently, crouching down beside her. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

She shook her head.

I hesitated for a moment, torn between respecting her space and wanting to offer some form of comfort. "I won't force you to talk if you don't want to," I said softly. "But know I'm here if you need someone to listen. Is there someone I can call for you?"

She let out a shaky breath, and looked up at me.

My stomach dropped as I looked into those familiar blue eyes. “Maddie? Oh my God, what are you doing here? Are you okay? We’ve been looking for you.”

“Oh, poor, sweet Mila. Always so naïve.”

“Wh-what?”

Her eyes bore into mine, cold and calculating. The façade of vulnerability had vanished, replaced with hatred.

Maddie's lips twisted into a cruel smile, her eyes dark and filled with malice. "You really think I need your help? That anyone could keep me from what I want?" she sneered, her voice dripping with contempt.

Maddie rose to her feet, her movements fluid and purposeful, like a predator stalking its prey. "You were always so easy to manipulate, Mila. And now, you'll finally get what you deserve."

Before I could react, Maddie lunged forward, a glint of something sharp flashing in her hand as she brought it down toward me with terrifying speed. Everything seemed to slow down as I braced myself for the impact, the world narrowing down to the needle aimed at my neck.

And then, just as suddenly as it began, everything went dark.

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