Veiled Horizons

Chapter Eighteen: Edward

Ed settled his bag down and sat with his back against a tree. He watched as the others settled in, low chatter beginning to fill the air. Relaxing his mind, he observed the sparkling droplets of water that scattered after hitting the bottom of the waterfall. Some of the students decided to take a bath, and he realized he hadn’t had a proper wash in a long while.

Steve was the first to jump in, ripping off his shirt and pants to reveal his colorful shorts. The others hesitated, glancing around nervously, unsure if they should follow his lead.

With a loud splash, Steve dove into the water and disappeared below the surface. The group leaned in from the edges, their eyes fixed on the gentle ripples forming on the water, a sign of his underwater antics. Anxiety mixed with curiosity filled the air.

Suddenly, Steve burst out of the water, showering Sia with droplets. She gasped, and he laughed, the sound echoing in the warm afternoon. In that moment, the tension melted away, and the spirit of summer and friendship came alive, drawing everyone in for their own plunge into the cool, inviting water.

Got ya!” Steve shouted triumphantly, his laughter ringing in the air.

“You stupid son of a—” Sia started, her eyes blazing, but Anderson quickly intervened.

“Whoa, hey, take it easy, Sia,” he said with a playful grin.

“But my dress got wet!” Sia huffed, glaring at Steve, who only chuckled in response, splashing water playfully.

Suddenly, Steve’s laughter was cut short as he was yanked underwater. A startled scream escaped him just before he vanished from sight.

Ed almost jumped up in alarm, but then Zane surfaced, grinning from ear to ear. “How did you like that, Stevie?” he teased.

Laughter burst forth among the group as Steve resurfaced, wide-eyed and startled, clutching the roots of a nearby tree for support.

One by one, the others joined in, eagerly splashing into the cool river, their giggles and shouts filling the air. The only one who remained behind was Harvin, perched on a rock after getting some medicine and treatment for his leg from Anderson.

To Ed's surprise, sitting beside Harvin was Adlyn, someone he never expected to see in such a lively setting. Though he usually kept to himself, his presence brought a smile to Ed's face, adding a sense of warmth to the joyful atmosphere.

Ed leaned back against the tree, glancing at the scene of students enjoying. He began thinking out all the possibilities and ways to execute his plan. But first, he would need the detective to be on his side to help.

His gaze drifted to Ash, who was still standing where he had been for the past ten minutes; on the rocky surface at the side of the small river and before the waterfall, looking deeply, either at the waterfall or the forest on the other side of the river.

“Hey! Ash!” Ed called out.

Ash turned his head slightly, “Yeah?” he replied.

“Come over here,” Ed said, and Ash walked over to sit beside him.

Ed let a moment pass, unsure of how to begin the conversation without making it overly serious from the start. He tried for something normal.

“Great view we’ve got here, huh?” he said, forcing an awkward smile.

In response, Ash shot him a strange look, and Ed knew he had misstepped.

“Anyways, you’re not really planning on taking me to the police, are you?” he blurted, shattering the 'being nice' plan.