Grendilton: Rise of the Shadows

38 | Chapter Thirty Eight

Forever and Always.

Connor was mere moments away from turning both the institute and also Stormvein upside down. He asked everyone he knew if they had seen Macey with Logan even enlisting in his lunar deprived Cerberus towards the hunt.

"Where are you?" Connor asked himself, wondering where she would be at a time like this.

He clenched in teeth in frustration, wondering if the stress of all that is happening somehow got to her. Was it all too much that she had decided to go into hiding?

"Damnit!" Connor yelled in the wind. "Where are you, Macey?"

Suddenly, an idea popped into his head and he began to run towards the riverbed. He remembered it was a place where Macey would go to when her arazel became distraught, thinking perhaps it was an area she herself would retreat to.

I hope I'm right.

_____

The moonlight danced along the surface of the river, shimmering against the ripples that emerged. A subtle wind blew against Connor's cheeks and the long blades of grass tickled his bare skin that lingered.

Nearing the edge of the water, his eyes caught a glimpse of someone with their knees tucked under their chin and their long curly hair just gliding in the wind. Without a doubt, Connor knew instantly — it was Macey.

When he walked closer towards her, he felt angry at her because he was incredibly worried for hours. But he could see that she wasn't okay, with puffy eyes and a face shimmering with wetness — Macey had been crying.

"Where have you been?" He asked, trying not to sound frustrated.

He sat next to her, listening to her softly giggle before replying, "Wouldn't you like to know?"

Connor furrowed his brows. From her tone of voice, he couldn't tell whether or not Macey was being sarcastic or if she was serious. He shrugged then said, "Well yeah. Hence why I'm asking."

Macey was disturbingly quiet, something that she wasn't known for. Her lips were pressed together hard and she didn't take her gaze off the ground. Sadness was visible in the way Macey sat and how she wrapped her arms around her legs. It pained Connor to see this usually happy girl so miserable, unknown as to why.

When his answer was nothing but silence, Connor sighed. "I'm not gonna leave you alone until you tell me what's wrong with you."

The sound of fire crackling resonated around them, with Aru suddenly becoming present before his very eyes. Connor would usually scowl his arazel for randomly conjuring itself up without his permission. But the pesky fire arazel did him a favour, nuzzling at Macey's arm, making her silently giggle under her breath.

"Aru," Macey laughed in an annoyed tone. "You were better as a puppy."

Her gaze met Connors. It was only for a brief second but it was enough time for Macey to let her guard down, sighing in defeat before saying, "You're a headache."

"And you're not okay!"

Macey's eyes widened at Connors staunch reply. He exhaled loudly, brushing his hand across his face then said, "So — tell me the reason for your disappearance today...it would really put me out of my ill mind."