Whispered Shadows

Chapter Thirty-One

Gone

Ryder

The air inside the storage unit is thick with tension and dust. Asher is sifting through another box, his movements deliberate but slow, like he's trying not to disturb the already precarious situation. But I can't focus on the contents of the unit anymore. My mind is elsewhere—outside with Noa.

She walked out to get air almost ten minutes ago, and every passing second gnaws at my patience. My gut twists in a way I can't ignore. Something's not right.

"You need to stop pacing," Asher says, barely looking up from the stack of papers he's flipping through.

"I can't help it," I snap, dragging a hand through my hair. "She shouldn't have gone out alone."

Asher sighs, resting a hand on the lid of the box. "Noa's smart. She knows what's at stake. Give her a minute."

"She shouldn't even have to deal with this," I mutter, the words barely audible. I turn to the door, glancing at the faint strip of daylight spilling in from the outside. My instincts scream at me to move, to check on her, but I try to suppress them. Asher is right—Noa isn't careless.

But something still feels wrong.

"Ryder." Asher's tone sharpens, snapping me back to the moment. "We've got enough on our plate in here without you spiraling. If she's not back in another five minutes, we'll both go look."

"Five minutes might be too late," I retort. My voice comes out harsher than I intended, but I don't care.

Ignoring his protests, I stride toward the door.

"Dammit, Ryder!" Asher calls after me. "You're going to spook her!"

I don't answer. My hand pushes the storage unit door open, and the harsh afternoon light floods my vision. Blinking against the brightness, I step outside, scanning the empty lot.

"Noa?" My voice echoes off the metal walls of the adjacent units, but there's no reply.

The faint crunch of gravel under my boots is the only sound as I approach the spot where she'd been standing earlier. My heart sinks when I see her coffee cup lying on its side, spilled across the pavement.

A flash of white catches my eye. A piece of paper, fluttering just beyond the cup.

My chest tightens as I pick it up. The edges are crumpled, like someone had shoved it into a pocket before discarding it. The handwriting is all too familiar—sharp, deliberate strokes.

You took too long. She's mine now.

My blood runs cold as the words sink in. The paper trembles in my hand as I turn, scanning the area for any sign of Noa. The parking lot is empty.

"Ryder!" Asher's voice calls from the unit. He must have heard the panic in my tone when I yelled her name.

I whirl around, racing back toward the storage unit. Asher meets me halfway, his expression shifting from irritation to concern as he sees the note in my hand.

"What the hell is that?" he demands, snatching it from me.

"It's from Shadow," I bite out, my voice shaking with fury. "She's gone."

Asher's face hardens as he scans the note. "Shit." He looks up at me, his calm demeanor slipping. "You didn't see or hear anything?"

"No." I rake my hand through my hair again, my mind racing. "She was here one minute, and the next..." I trail off, my voice breaking.

Asher grabs my shoulder, forcing me to focus. "We'll find her, Ryder. But we need to think. If Shadow has her, they'll leave clues—just like before. That's their game."