Tall, Dark and Arrogant

Chapter 27 - Gain Or Loss

Chapter 27 - Gain Or Loss

'Time is my foe when it passes so slow...'

Adrian~

I pulled up to the cafe and ignored the curious onlookers as I quickly stormed over to where Stacey stood. 'Do you know where she went?' I demanded.

Her friend looked flustered. 'No, I'm sorry. I didn't know what else to do-'

I held my hand up to cut her off. 'You did the right thing. When did you last see her?' I asked her again. We'd been through this before over the phone.

When she'd finished explaining for the second time I ran my hands through my hair in frustration. 'They could be anywhere.' I muttered darkly to myself.

After my confrontation with Ashley about an hour ago, her friend Courtney had rung up not long afterwards sounding frantic and devastated. She'd said something about Ashley plotting something against Indigo, and had told me that Ashley had asked her to track down Indigo's whereabouts.

When Ashley had called her for the second time, she'd sounded incoherent and Courtney hadn't been able to get anything out of her - not even her location.

Once Stacey had called to tell me that Indigo had gone off with Ashley just after that, the pieces had fit together, forming an ugly picture. Indigo was in trouble and I needed to be quick before something happened to her.

Every second was taking its toll.

When Stacey saw my agitation she widened her eyes. 'Indigo's in trouble isn't she?' She asked, voice quaking. I didn't reply.

'I knew it! I knew I should've just stayed with her! This is all my fault.'

'This is not your fault.' I cut in again. [It's mine,] I added silently and cursed out loud. 'Right now we need to focus on finding Indigo,' I commanded. 'Were there any witnesses?' I asked her

She shook her head. 'How will we know where to look?'

My head snapped towards a particular direction as she asked that and something settled in my stomach. 'This way.' I told her.

She trailed after me when I began to walk away. 'How do you know?' She asked frantically, making sure to keep her distance.

I had no idea.

'I just do.'

It must've been something to do with being Destined, I realised, because I had absolutely no idea where I was going or why I felt compelled to go in a particular direction.

We eventually saw a park on the opposite side of a busy street and i crossed the road, not bothering to keep my eye on the cars. I walked over to the gates, hearing children laughing in the distance. 'She's been here.' I mused as I scented the air.

I could smell her scent -- it was faint but there nevertheless.

'This way.' I said again and began walking along the path with determination. I walked over a grassy area towards a heavy treeline.  When we walked in, the trees thickened and the sounds of the outside world became much quieter.

My arms became covered in goosebumps. Something was wrong.

'Where are we going?' Stacey wondered as she stumbled over broken branches and trod on fallen leaves, trying to keep up. I caught her before she could fall into me and pointed towards an area ahead. 'Over there.'

We kept on going for several minutes until I stopped again, scenting the air. Her scent was much stronger.

Suddenly I stiffened.