Chapter 37

After a while of sitting together and just letting the cool evening breeze caress us as we digest the story we had opened up to each other about

We continue our journey again but this time it felt good, holding hands and walking with the people I grew to be real with

We didn’t care about our pride or how we wanted to be perceived instead we let ourselves to be vulnerable and we learned to embrace our weak sides and our experiences bonded us the more

I have found the real friends I have always wanted. Not the kind I hang around with in school, the kind I boast to about how often I made my nails, they will talk about their expensive clothes and they complement my hair while I fake compliments at their crooked make up

the truth is, I had a true kind of friendship with Olivia but I was so used to looking for perfection and gloating in my superiority complex that I didn’t appreciate her enough. Maybe I wasn’t a good friend after all

We might have been caught in the moment when we shared our painful past to realize it but when the emotions fizzled out and the reality of our situation clicked back in our mind we did realize one thing

Even if we got out of here, we still needed each other to face the world. We had all tried to escape the cruel reality of our lives and that is exactly what had led us to this point

The dark night is already upon us a few feet from the hotel but we are not phased instead we stroll hand in hand towards the hotel oblivious of our environment

We are one big team together and we have our weapons in case the shadows comes swinging by in their good old gust

In a few long minutes we step into the hotel compound and next thing we are inside

A breath of relief leaves the teenager we had been leaving in charge anytime we had to leave together – I don’t still know her name even until this very moment

“Mira, how is it going?” Thelma asks – point to note, her name is Mira.

“well, we gathered everything and packed it in the hall way since the reception cannot take anymore baggage without squeezing us in” she replies and her face falls “we didn’t find any trace of her”

“next time such a thing happen, you let us know first” I order and she nods in response

It had been a long day indeed and all I want is to squeeze into my bed and sleep like a baby, I am definitely going to curdle with my best friend tonight.

**************

It is morning already, not just any kind of morning but the kind to which I wake up in anticipation of what we had planned will take place today

From the day we arrived till this day, the real deal had just started and our dear lives depends on it so we had to make the most of it

We hadn’t exactly decided who or what will be the cause of the problem we are about to stir but we do know that Olivia was going to instigate the problem with me and the rest are going to support me making her leave in anger – Tony felt it would be more convincing since I quarrel with her more

Here we go. I stretch out my hands from the tiny bed and make my way to the door, the place is hot as oven and I need to breathe actual air

We should really deal with this shadows or we will start dying of suffocation soon. The cool breeze crash on my face the moment I opened the door and I smile in response spreading my hands apart to let the breeze touch every inch of my body

I am this close to ripping out my tank top and the thick boxers I changed into when I got back. I am definitely running out on change of clothes, but really, these psychopaths packed our things too. Is that not truly crazy of them?

The sound of a sudden rustling of leaves in the hotel compound alerts me, I drop my arms and glance around the compound for any movement but the compound lays still

If I wasn’t closing my eyes I might be able to place where exactly I heard the sound from. I slowly step out from the building and glance around squinting my eyes for a better view

“I heard you and I am not leaving here until you show yourself” I say casually working on the bun I made last night to sleep – I won’t ask anything, they usually die the moment they try to dispense information. So it is useless. I walk slowly away from the building looking at the trees that lined the hotel fence

“Who is it? Show yourself right now” If phones work here I would have just called someone. I know damn well I don’t have the breath for a long chase “the longer you stay, the more likely others are going to wake increasing our chance of catching you. So just show yourself” I am intentionally getting loud enough to wake anyone now, why are they sleeping like that anyway?

“we are here to help you I promise” I know the person might be working for Mr Shadow but I cannot cast myself especially when I am not sure if we will actually catch the person. Leaves move by my left and I shoot my gaze in that direction, the movement doesn’t stop – the person is making a move.

Someone dashes out from the hides of the leaves and I step on my toes to chase but the young guy probably in his early twenties with his hands raised above his deep brown hair that had gold streaks at the end

He is heading towards my direction. One good look and I am left struggling to keep my mouth shut. It is the younger man that carried the dead body the other day. What is he doing here?

“Who are you?” I step back from him when he steps closer. I know I am supposed to not act scared but it is not every time you see a young man that could be part of the very secret organization that is responsible for everything I am going through right now

“The shadows, I heard you can protect me from them. I have been hiding out in the village with my friend. But the shadows took him and I came running here” he pants nervously with desperation in his dark brown eyes

What in the actual fuck is going on right now? Did they just send a spy to pay closer attention to us? Why didn’t we ever think of this? They must have noticed that we are all always away from the hotel

“Yes we do... I am Bella” I stretch out my hand for a handshake hoping he would ignore it but he hold my hands and smile dryly

“I am Harper”

“Welcome” I say through my teeth not bordering to loosen my fake broad smile. Footsteps approach me from behind but stops all too sudden for a few minutes and then approach a lot slower while Harper stared at the person. I turn and smile

“Will!” I raise one of my brows at him and squint my eyes a little before I continue “this is harper, he has been hiding out in the village”

“Harper huh” Willow walks up to us and smiles at harper “come on” he says and turns away from us heading back into the hotel building

He must have been too shocked just like I am