Page 54 of No Mercy
A very close distance.
I swing my leg over the bike, gripping the handlebars as the engine roars beneath me. The headlights cut through the growing darkness, and that’s when I see it. My backpack.
It’s sitting in the middle of the trees, perfectly centered.
I cut the engine, surrounding myself in silence. I sit there for a moment staring as the shadows try and swallow the bag.
Sliding off the bike, I take a few steps forward, the crunch of dirt under my shoes is the only sound as it echo’s around me. My eyes flick between the trees lining the track but nothing but darkness outlines it as the branches rustle against the wind.
I bend down to grab the bag, glancing over my shoulder as I sling it onto my back. The track is empty but a feeling lingers, the sensation of eyes on me. Sharp and silent.
She wouldn’t stay here, would she? Watching me like I watch her? No… She would be home by now I’m sure of it.
“Eva?” I call out, my voice low but firm. I wait a few seconds, making sure to watch for any movement but nothing happens.
I turn in a slow circle, scanning the shadows but there’s nothing there. Nothing I can see. The knot in my stomach tightens as I head back to the bike, the faint crunch of gravel sets my nerves on edge.
I don’t waste any time by climbing back on to my bike and switching it on. I twist the throttle as the feeling of beingwatched grows and I race towards the main road needing to know she’s okay.
It doesn’t take me long to pull into the entrance of her driveway but when I do, I see all the lights off and her car is nowhere to be seen.
I slam my hands against the tank of my bike at the thought of missing her. Did she leave? Did someone get to her? Questions race through my head as I turn the bike around. There is no time to waste, I need to speak to Ant. I need to find her.
Storming through the front door, I barely register Flynn rushing to my side, his face full with concern.
“Woah, what’s wrong brother?” He asks, his voice filled with worry.
I don’t answer him as I push past and head straight to Ant’s room. Every inch of me strained from frustration and worry. I can’t help but have a gut feeling that something terrible is going to happen if I don’t find her fast. I shove Ant’s door open ready to start a plan but instead I freeze.
Ant is sprawled out on the floor fast asleep, while Mandy sits on his bed, casually flipping through one of his books. Her head snaps up at the sound of the door opening.
“And how may I assist you?” She asks, her voice covered in a fake politeness.
I open my mouth to response but nothing comes out. I’m not about to admit I’ve lost track of Eva, especially to her. That would be like signing my own death warrant.
Ignoring her question, I walk over to Ant and give him a firm kick to the leg. His head jerks up, his eyes darting around the room as if he’s looking for something. But something happenedthe moment his eyes landed on Mandy. It was like his whole body relaxed. The same feeling I get when I see Eva.
I’ve got no fucking idea what is happening between the two of them but that can wait until I find my girl.
Mandy gives him a small smile which drops the second she looks towards me. Her eyes filled with warmth one second and replaced by coldness the next.
Yeah… There is no way I am telling her about Eva now.
She points to me standing behind him causing him to turn and look at me. I jerk my head towards the door. “Let's go.” I mutter, stepping out without waiting to see if he’s following.
When I return to the living room, Flynn and Gunnar are hunched over the coffee table, examining the photograph that was sent to us earlier on,, both of their faces showing grim expressions.
They glance up as I pass. Neither of them say a word but their silence is full of questions I’m not ready to answer as I walk into my bedroom.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, I pull my phone out of the bag and put it on charge. I tap my fingers against the mattress for every second it takes Ant to follow me. I get to 94 taps before the door finally closes behind him.
He shuffles into the bedroom, rubbing the back of his neck anxiously. He most likely thinks I’m about to grill him for falling asleep with Mandy in the room, leaving both him and her vulnerable.
“Sit” I order, my tone sharper compared to a few moments ago.
He drops into the chair across from me, his faze flickering between me and the door. Anger fills my blood at the fact of him being so distracted about a girl when mine is missing.
“I need to find Eva.” I say, watching his reaction carefully. “One minute we we’re together, then she left to go home. OnceI returned to my bike my phone died and when I went by her place, her car wasn’t there.” I glance towards my phone, my patience slowly thinning as I wait for it to turn on.
