City Lights (Book 1)

Chapter 4

Hazel sits next to me, her arm around me, her face buried in my arm, crying. I close my eyes, sorting out the voices in the parade, hoping to hear his voice in the crowd.

"Come on April, you can give up yet." Rush tries to reassure me, "We still haven't check plenty of places."

I look up at him, my cheeks wet with tears.

"But what if we can't find him?" I choke out.

Hazel whimpers next to me. Holding onto me so tight. I stroke her hair, which brings a smile across my face because I know she's here with me.

"Trust me." Rush says, "We will find him."

He holds out his hand, and I grab it. He lifts both me and Hazel up onto our feet. I wipe away my tears, which stain my shirt, and stand completely still taking in everything that has happened.

"Trust me?" Rush asks looking for approval in my eyes.

"Okay." I say back, looking at the ground.

"Why did I ever bring Jax here? I knew he would do something stupid, as always, but I brought him anyway." I vent as we walk.

"You couldn't have stopped him. Stop blaming yourself." Rush says, attempting to reassure me.

"Look. It is my fault! My little brother could be dead for all I know, and I let him go!" I yell.

"Don't blame yourself, it's not going to help your situation." Rush whispers under his breathe.

I calm down and hold onto Hazel's hand, checking on her every few minutes, even though I know she is already there.

"Look, Rush, I'm sorry." I say, fighting back tears, "Just-"

"It's ok, I know exactly how you feel." He says back to me.

He lost his whole family, all three brothers, both parents, he was left alone. Alone in this awful world.

"It's truly am sorry. I really am." I say, "You accept my apology right? It's just really stressful and-"

"I accept your apology, instead of worrying about that, let's worry about your brother." He says as we pass a road that extends far beyond my sight.

"Wait!" I yell.

"What?" Rush says stopping in his tracks.

Something is drawing me towards this road. Like an energy. It feels like my brother, and I hope it is.

"He went down here." I say closing my eyes.

"What? How do you know-" He starts.

"I honestly don't know, but I feel like he's down there." I say.

"Ok. You lead the way." Rush says, escorting me fowards.

I step foward, and instantly I feel relieved that he is ok and well. At least I think he is alive and well. Rush picks up Hazel so we could move along faster.

We walk for a long while on the never ending road, yet I still don't feel and or see my brother anywhere. I call his name a few times, expecting an answer, but I don't get one. I only get a few mockingbirds copy my voice. Until we get to one spot, were the energy is stongest.

"Here." I say and turn into the bushes.

I turn around and see Rush's confused expression across his face. I don't understand how I know where Jax is, which is probably much harder for Rush to understand.

I run though the woods, trying my best to avoid the branches hanging over the path. I hear a voice. Not only one voice, two. But one is eerily familiar.

"Jax!" I scream, as I run into the clearing.