Chasing Wolves (completed)

Chapter 25 Isadora

Chapter 25

Isadora

I wake with a start, the same thing that's been running through my mind and keeping me from a sound sleep still chanting in my head. Where's Kate? Why haven't you found her yet? Are you even trying, or have you given her up for lost?

The last question is extremely stupid, of course I'm trying, we've spent the last four days searching, I'll never give up on her and I know no one else will.

Lin rolls over (apparently he was already awake) and pulls me to him in a hug. I sigh as he starts to comb my hair with his fingers, "don't worry, we'll find her. It's only a matter of time." We've repeated this process so many times that he doesn't have to ask what's wrong and I don't have to tell him; it's the same thing that's been on all of our minds for days. His words comfort me, like they always do, but the last part sends my brain into hyperdrive yet again.

It's only a matter of time.

Yes, it is. Royce, according to reports, doesn't stay in one place for very long and if Royce has her like we assume, they could be out of the city already. Possibly even the country.

Lin's fingers gradually slow, and then stop, and I look over to find he's fallen asleep. That's odd, usually he doesn't fall asleep until after me. It's probably from all the stress, staying out nonstop looking for her, and then not being able to fall asleep once we can- sleep deprivation has finally caught up to him. I snuggle into his arms and they tighten around me subconsciously.
.

It's been nearly an hour and I still can't fall asleep, the same rotation of taunts circulating my brain as I stare at the clock over Lin's chest. The glowing red numbers slowly get larger, 2:15, 2:32, 2:58, until I finally can't stand it any more, inactivity starting to drive me insane.

I slip out from his arms, careful to not wake him, and put my shoes and dagger holster on. I don't bother with my corset (it's unlikely I'll run into a threat) and almost get to the door before being pinned in place by a pair of strong arms. Mentally groaning, I turn and kiss his nose to try to distract him while I try to escape. It doesn't work (I wasn't really expecting it to), and instead I opt for asking what he's doing.

"I could ask you the same thing."

"You could, but that doesn't mean that I'll tell you." I smirk at this, waiting to see what he'll do. Unfortunately I don't have to wait long, for in a second he's started tickling me until I can't breathe. Darn it! He knows only my stomach is ticklish and because I didn't put on the corset it's vulnerable.

Finally stopping so I can get a deep breath, he looks me in the eye, a smirk evident even in the near-black room. "Will you tell me now?"

He moves in as if to strike again and I snap, squealing preemptively and dodging him. "Fine! Fine, I'll tell you. I was going to go look for her." My voice slowly tapers from amused to serious and he takes a step back, seemingly in surprise.

"And... what, you were just going to leave me here while you went off by yourself?"

"Well... you were asleep..." I've subconsciously started wringing my fingers and I stop myself before he can notice. Why am I being so nervous? It's not like I didn't used to do this all the time, sneaking out in the middle of the night; I guess it's because I actually got caught for once.

He groans, running his fingers through his hair, "really, that's your excuse? You didn't want to wake me up? How many times do I have to tell you that I don't care what I'm doing, take me with you? What if something happened?"

Great, thanks for the instant guilt trip.

I guess getting out of this is useless now, "so do you want to come with me or not? We're waisting moonlight." He seems surprised by my sudden acceptance and I only just realize that he's had his shirt on this whole time. So not only did he manage to get out of bed without making a sound, but he also put his shirt on in the split second it took me to get to the door? Impressive.

We leave out the door and lock it behind us, both of us jumping when we hear a voice from down the hall behind us. "And where do you think you're going?" In an instant I've pivoted and moved in front of Lin protectively, dagger in hand... as I stare down Eli. His hands shoot up automatically, and he takes a step back when he notices the dagger. "Whoa, Iz, chill. It's just me."

I relax, sheathing the dagger back to my back, and sigh, "I know... you just caught me off guard. What are you doing out here?" I check down the hall both ways and then look back to him when I realize that, indeed, he is the only other person in the hall.

He shrugs, "the same as you, I suppose. I couldn't sleep... it's like Kate's taunting me. It's been like this for days but I can't even sleep tonight."

I nod, knowing exactly what he's talking about. "Exactly. Well, come on, you can come search with us. It's not likely we'll find anything, but it's something." He scratches his head, actually able to run his fingers through his hair from where its grown so long (now about as long as to the first knuckle of my thumb; it's actually rather curly), and nods.

They follow me down the hall and we all squish into the elevator (Eli's shoulders are so broad they take up a lot of room), bypassing Peony once we reach the top and just starting down the sidewalk aimlessly.