HOWL: UNCHAINED (rewritten)

13 - Hidden In A Dark Place

-- Tara's Pov --

I wasn't shocked to hear that Billie disappeared again. I thought I'd gotten through to her. I guess that idiot would never change. I felt her pain, though. When Laura texted me two nights ago, saying that Billie never arrived at the motel, I figured maybe Billie changed her mind and just split. It was something she had a habit of doing lately. I never thought twice about it.

I sigh, typing out a reply. 'Thanks, I guess. I'll send you something for your troubles. She's fucking stubborn.'

I look around the den, shaking my head at the amount of vampires that recently showed up after nearly being killed. The Nightwatch. They're becoming more ruthless. They've never been like this, practically hunting us down. It was like they knew where their den was. I look at my recent message to Billie. It was delivered but never seen. She wasn't in the best headspace that night.

I text Emilia, hoping she'd tell me she at least saw Billie at home, but she hadn't seen her car for two days. I shake my head. Maybe Billie did leave. Probably went back to the cabin. I sigh again, knowing I'd have to hunt her ass down and drag her back by the short and curlies if I had to. I stood from the bar and prowled the den until I found Ezra and Calista, sitting in Blayne's study, speaking to him about the newbies.

"Hey, sorry to interrupt. Ezra, will you come with me? I have to retrieve a stray."

"Billie, again?" Calista asked.

I roll my eyes. "On her shit, same as always. I swear, she can never sit still."

Ezra stands, "Uh, sure. Safety in numbers, I guess." God, things were so awkward with us. But if something went wrong, I know he'd protect me in a flash. I loved him dearly.

We leave the den, taking his car. It was going to be a long fucking drive. We sit in silence, the air thick with tension. He had music playing softly on the radio. He sighs a few times, each one getting louder before he speaks.

"When are we going to talk about it?"

"There's nothing to say."

He hums. "That's a first. You always have something to say."

"Just drive."

The silence is loud, aside from the music playing softly and the sound of tires against pavement and passing cars. I turn the volume up, trying to drown out any sound I could. I was worried about Billie, afraid she might have come up here and did something stupid. That would break me, Emilia, her family. I didn't want to see Emilia like that, broken and lost, despite their current situation.

When we finally reached the cabin, I looked around for a sign that she was here. Her car wasn't here and the place didn't look occupied. I get out of the car, walking up to the large window next to the front door. I saw nothing.

"She's not here," I hear Ezra say.

"I don't think she ever was." I reply, walking off the porch and toward him. "Ronan and Sandy live around here. We should ask if they saw her. Where the fuck is she?"

He sighs, "Have you thought that maybe she just left the city, the state?"

"She wouldn't leave without- nevermind, she would. But leaving the state? Ezra, something's not right here."

-- Emilia's Pov --

When Tara texted me, asking if I'd seen or heard from Billie, I told her no. I haven't spoken to Billie since the hospital. The last time I saw her was when she left in the middle of the night. But she never returned. I figured maybe she finally decided to leave. But when Claudia came to my house, asking me to text Billie, since I was the only one she may answer to, I did so.