Page 65 of Hunt Me
‘We need to get her,’I state quickly, lacing up my boots.
As we enter the floor below, Vish throws his rucksack onto his back.
I nod my head towards the entrance, signalling for us to go.
‘Any clues as to which area of the city she was talking about?’Liam continues to ask me questions in an attempt to narrow down where to search.
‘I was up at Maryhill when she…’ I try to find the right words for me falling through the floor and her flipping me off as our first encounter.‘We bumped into each other. But I’d come from across the river so Fauna could have followed me from there. She did brag about how I hadn’t noticed her following me for a worryingly long time.’
My stomach has been in knots since I woke to find her not in my arms. Some over the fact that she left me, but also a large part of it has been knowing that she is out there on her own. But then, when I think about it and remember her fighting skills, how she had bashed that sewer rat’s balls in has a small part of me reassured that she might be okay until I get to her.
‘Let’s start from the bridge, working back through the West End to see which one it may be.’Liam concludes, his months of plotting areas to search coming in particular use for this occasion.
Vish skips alongside us to the doorway,‘road trip.’
I sheath my singular axe partially to keep it safe to offer it to Fauna when I find her and partially so I don’t kill this prick. The heap of Fauna’s belongings give me pause as I see the worn-down weapon resting on top. Sickness churns in my stomach at the thought of her being out there without her weapon, but I push it down as I remember that she is not defenceless.
My mischievous little deer is out there using my axe to protect herself.
Chapter Twenty-seven
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Fauna
It took me longer than I hoped to return to the school. Without a map and little prior knowledge of the city, I had to rely on following signs for the university and the park.
About an hour into the walk back, an overwhelming feeling of being watched washed over me. The creepy sensation that I was being followed. I didn’t catch anyone, but surviving these past years I’ve developed a sixth sense for when something is off. Which is another reason why it has taken hours for me to get back. Uncomfortable with the feeling, I’d purposely gone through buildings, cut around corners and hidden in alleyways, but nothing came out. Not a physical sign of anyone.
Eventually, I had to give up, putting it down to the idea that all of my random movements either managed to lose them or signalled that I suspected their presence, and they backed off.
Not wanting to take any unnecessary chances, I opt to enter the school through the back entrance, one where I know one of the girls will be standing guard.
My footsteps are light and well-placed as I make my way through the greenery, jumping over the small fence and into the open space that was once a playground. Soot stains the concrete from where there was once a fire, and the charred remains of a child’s bike stick out of the rubble in the middle. Not wanting to think much more about it I hurry to the doorway.
Before I can get there, though, an arrow whizzes past my ear. On instinct, my hand darts up, and a slight stinging sensation begins in the spot where the arrow sailed past. I bring my fingertips in front of me, finding them stained red.
Elizabeth.
My eyes scan my surroundings, looking for an open window or door. Somewhere she could be hidden but I have no luck.
I rule out it being someone else. If it were, they would have shot me by now; too much time has passed since that first and only shot. And none of the other girls would be confident enough in their abilities not to hit me and cause severe damage accidentally.
‘Come on, Liz.’I shout to the nighttime air.
Another arrow, this time aimed at my feet, is her way of answering me. I look up, smirking as I find her. That shot, having given away her location.
Crouched ten feet off of the ground amongst tree branches is Elizabeth, her fiery auburn hair escaping her beanie in wispy tendrils and a look on her face that would turn me to ice if I was a weaker woman.
I beam a smile at her.‘I see you’re a happy gal today.’
She raises her bow, but a voice from the doorway distracts us both.
‘Fauna Evans, where the hell have you been?’I’d know Isla’s less-than-impressed tone anywhere.‘And what are you wearing?’
With my grin feeling a little more sheepish than the one I’d given to Elizabeth, I turn to face Isla.
‘Long story, Isla. Long story.’I admit, walking towards my best friend.
