The Half-Giant's Guide to Seeing the Future

The Day I Helped With A Manhunt

Alana promised she would sort it all out. She led Moreno to the camera station where Tres sat on duty, staring down at the monitors. Then, she started going through the footage inside and outside the compound.

It hadn't even occurred to me that there were cameras inside the complex, but it didn't surprise me. Halfants weren't lax on security. Alana mashed buttons, and a frown formed on her face as she tried to pull up what she wanted.

"Someone tampered with this," she growled. "All the footage from before four this afternoon has been deleted. Indoor and outdoor. Who would have done this? Tres, call a compound-wide meeting now. We need to sort this out."

Tres pressed a button on the desk, and a loud alarm sounded through the compound like a fire drill. Alana crossed her arms and continued mashing buttons on the keyboard as if that would magically make the footage reappear. Moreno paced the floor, and I reached out a hand to stop him from panicking any further.

"We're going to find her," I whispered. "I promise."

The remaining compound members entered the lobby in varying dress. Abel, Kaleb, and Cullen were in gear, while Petra and Kimmy both wore pajamas. Daleron towered in the back above the others as the only giant in residency. No one looked happy to be dragged here, and they all looked at Alana with wary eyes after she slammed her fist against the keyboard.

"Doc is patching in," Tres said. "And the other war leaders are connecting on a call. Alana, give the report."

She stiffened. It was easy to forget that she was in command here. That meant she handled everything that happened in the compound, and everyone was under her charge, including a ten-year-old girl.

"Lieutenant Commander McDonald," Doc's voice crackled through unseen speakers. "State your reason for the alarm and give your orders."

Alana took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "After returning home from an outdoor sweep, Lieutenant Moreno discovered his sister Esperanza Carisma Ethesis missing from her bedroom. Her wrist unit was found abandoned. On further inspection, the cameras in and outside of our building have been tampered with and a sizable chunk of the daily surveillance is missing. At this time, I believe these events correlated."

"Yes," Doc said. "Would the child know how to access those computer systems to delete the footage herself?"

"She's young," came a male voice over the speakers. "Carisma doesn't have a habit of running off. She is, however, associated with one who has been deemed a flight risk."

I blanched when I realized they were talking about Milo. He'd run away from Alana multiple times and she'd had to house him with her giant father to keep him from running. He was a little older than Carisma, but there was no doubt they'd have met since their siblings were so close.

"My brother isn't at the compound," Alana said. "And Carisma has shown no signs of wanting to leave."

"Carisma Ethesis is a ranking member of the peerage," came another female voice over the speakers. "It is possible she is a target, just as Theresa Oakeley was recently. We all know that Horus Ethesis associated with rebels before his incarceration."

I tightened my grip on Moreno's hand as he shook beside me. He looked like he might scream or give the commanders a piece of his mind. Neither would help, and it certainly wouldn't find his sister any sooner.

"Alana," the male voice spoke again. "Are all the members of the compound present at this meeting?"

I looked around. Everyone was here except—Alana seemed to realize it the same moment I did. She turned as white as a ghost.