The Devil in the Form of Those That Follow: Calamitous

CHAPTER TWENTY

TW: PTSD

"It's just some random thing..."

"Could we just attempt it with the police? I mean, we have no other plan," Lance asked Lana. Everyone was now at a small restaurant, thanks to Aven's parents offering. Klaus and Remington were still at the hotel with Elian keeping watch.

"Yeah, but we at least need a backup for that. We know how shitty policemen can be," she said.

"I can't think of anything besides you getting closer with Ivan but that could lead to nowhere.... Or you being dead,"

"That's at the bottom of my list, but its seeming like the only option,"

"I hate to ask this, but can you contact Vincent again?" Aven asked, "He proved to be useful last time."

"Neither of us have a phone,"

"Did he tell you where they were?"

"If I didn't tell you it, he didn't tell me,"

"Right when I had hope for him,"

"How about-" Greg started but was soon interrupted by seeing Elena running to them. Ophelia, Melody, and West were following behind.

"Where were you guys?" Greg asked while watching Elena grab a chair from an empty table and sit it beside him. Once the rest got over, they did the same.

"Okay, do you guys remember Atlas and Catrina?" She asked after West finally sat down.

Mostly everyone shook their heads, "Well, we met Atlas at that bookshop and we met Catrina at a picnic. Anyway, they were the ones who kidnapped Clover and Finley. Ophelia found Atlas's ring, which they have never taken off, by Lovis's window. They have never been to Lovis's house. So, they snuck in there, got Lovis's phone and texted us to come by Lovis's house, which wasn't even accurate and was just a death trap. Then we all met up, they drugged us, and took Clover and Finley."

Everyone was silent for a bit, "Okay... So, we have to find Clover, Finley, Gene, and Beatrix. Where do we even start?" Greg asked.

"Well, we need to get them back by the 23rd, which gives us... a little more than two weeks," Kai pointed out.

"Plus they're listening to us constantly at the hotel," Kim added.

"First, we could at least file a police report, even if it won't help," Greg said.

"I'll do that tomorrow," Lana said, "But does anyone have any ideas for if that backfires?"

They all shook their heads no. They looked at each other, then back down at the table where their empty plates layed.

"No matter what we do, even if we can leave, they've gonna follow us," Aisha commented with distaste, arms crossed.

Lana's head lifted back up, "Wait a minute. Aisha, you're right."

"When am I wrong?"

"Right about what?" Kai asked.

"They're gonna follow us no matter what we do," Lana said.

"Wow, that really helps me sleep at night,"

"Yes it's horrifying, but it's helpful," she explained, "If we say that we're leaving, then they're gonna try to catch us. Plus, they're always listening to us in the hotel. Meaning, that if we talk about boarding a ship, they may follow us that day and we can get everyone back."

"We can't determine that though," Greg retorted, "That'll be based solely on luck."

"Luck is all we've been running on," she said, "Plus, it's likely Vincent will try to escape again. If he'd escape from them trying to get me at the ball, then he'd do it if I was leaving the country."