The Hunters of Artemis: The Return of the Hunters

Chapter 16: Trip Around Town

"Okay, crew," Lyra said. We were all gathered in the room that she and Robyn shared. "We need to split up and ask around. If anyone acts suspicious, please come and tell us. I will be staying here to make sure no one tries to snoop around the new people in town. We'll be sending groups of two or three to different shops and stores down the main strip.

"If anyone asks questions try to be as vague and inconspicuous as possible, okay?" she said, looking around the room to make sure no one was confused.

"Who are the pairs?" Atlanta asked.

Lyra scanned the group. "To make this as easy as possible, Atlanta, Hannah and Robyn, you'll go together. Rhea, Jack and Anna will go as a group. That way there's no animosity between the members of each search team."

I looked towards Jack, who was looking more nervous than I expected. After our conversation in my room, Anna came back, flushed and sweaty. She said she had gone on a quick run to clear her mind.

She didn't look at Jack once.

I knew that the this expedition would be more work than I wanted to deal with...

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"Anna, why aren't you talking to me?" Jack begged. "You haven't said a single word to me since I came back from my talk with Hannah."

Anna whipped around. "That's exactly it! Why on Earth are you going and talking with a Hunter? I mean, what the heck? They've sworn not to get involved with any guys, and yet, there you are, talking with one shamelessly, and then walking back into the room like you haven't done anything wrong!"

The three of us were heading towards a candy shop at the end of the street. On the way there, of course, Jack and Anna just had to have an argument about Jack's non-existant relationship with Hannah.

"Because I didn't do anything wrong! I was talking with Hannah, so what? That doesn't mean we're getting married!" he burst out.

I shook my head, knowing that if I tried to put in my opinion, I would just get shut down by both of them. I thought of my mom, who would have stopped the argument right then and there. I felt tears threaten to come up, but I was able to stop it before they came.

Coming up to the doors of the candy shop, I ignored the argument that my friends were having and walked into the store.

It was filled with every candy you could dream of. Milky Way, Gobbstoppers, Kit Kat, you name it. It was there.

There was a very elderly man sitting at the cash register. He had snow-white hair and a fluffy beard. "Hello, dear," he said. "Can I help you?"

"Actually, yes. You see, I'm looking for someone. Has anyone suspicious come through town in the last week or so?"

The man thought for a few seconds. "Well, it depends on what you mean by suspicious."

"Okay, well, how about anyone new? Has there been any newcomers lately?" I asked hopefully.

He put a hand on his chin and said, "No, not that I know of... You might want to check at the local hotel. They host every newcomer that passes by this town."

I sighed, but smiled at him. "Thanks for you help."

He smiled back. "Of course."

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I collapsed on a hill above a school yard about twenty minutes later, alone. I had let Anna and Jack go back to the hotel as both of them refused to speak to each other.

Sighing, I put my head in my hands and tried not to cry.

All hopes of finding my mother just flew away. I didn't know where to go next, or what to look for. Heck, I didn't even know who I was trying to follow!

I reached around my neck and found the necklace that my mother had given me for my tenth birthday. I never showed it to anyone since it was so special to me. I didn't want to risk it getting taken.

I circled the circular locket with my thumb before using my nail to crack it open gently. I flipped it open and looked at the little photographs inside of the locket.

The one on the left was of my mom and dad with me right after I was born, as a baby. I smiled. They looked so young and happy... So free of fear and pain, if only for that one moment.

The picture on the right was of me and my parents the summer of my ninth birthday, four years ago. I was laughing as we sat on a beach in Mexico. My parents looked so ecstatic to be there with me, and I was ecstatic to be there with them...

I felt a tear run down my face. I missed them. I missed them both so much. Even though I was looking for my mother, and I knew my father was safe, I was still homesick.

I didn't want to go on this quest anymore. I wanted to go home to find that the police had found my mom, and that she was safe at home. I wanted her to fold me in her arms in the biggest, warmest hug ever. I wanted a kiss of comfort.

I just wanted her.

"Excuse me, dear," a voice called. I looked down and saw a man at the bottom of the hill. "Are you alright?"

I wiped my tears away. "Yes. Yes, I'm fine," I lied.

He started up the hill. I scrambled to my feet, not trusting this man one bit. Stopping, he held his hand out in a non menacing manner. "Don't worry," he said. "I won't hurt you."

I was silent, waiting for more.

He was a tall man with shaggy brown hair and kind eyes. "My name is Jerome Clark," the man said, now only a few feet away from me. "What's your name, dear?"

"Rhea," I replied. "I'm Rhea Montgomery."