Running with Rogues

CHAPTER 29 - SILVER LAKE

Okay lads. I'll be on placement for the rest of the summer now so you've got to decide whether you want your updates shorter or less often. Sorry about that. Things should speed up again when I finish Unhappily Ever After/go back to uni. Whichever comes first. PS. Welcome to Japan and the United Arab Emirates :)

The forest around Silver Lake was like any other forest, and the border was like any other border, but there was an air of menace about the place that sent a shiver racing down my spine. Maybe it was because I knew all of the despicable things they did to our raiders. Maybe it was because Liam was beside me, and I could hear his heart beating faster with every passing second. Maybe it was the smell of fresh blood as we went through the barrier.

There was a corpse hanging from one of the trees. It dripped blood into the leaves below, and it was so mutilated that I couldn't even tell if it was a guy or a girl, let alone how old they were. The only thing I could see was the ripped shirt-collar and the tattoo it revealed. Even after they waved us through the barrier, I couldn't seem to tear my eyes away.

We drove for about five minutes before we reached a car park. To my left, I could see glimpses of the massive, sprawling pack house through the trees. To my right, there were a few young men lounging under the shade of an oak tree. They eyed our car with idle curiosity.

"This is where you get out," the driver told us.

"Thank you," I mumbled. And yet neither of us made any move to leave the car, because it felt nice and safe in here. Outside ... well, those fighters didn't look very inviting. The pack house even less so.

She eyed me through the rear-view mirror. "No need to thank me. I just do what I'm told, pup."

The words weren't as sharp as they could have been, so I decided to try my luck. "Do you, um, know where we're supposed to go?"

"I might," she said. "Depends, really. What can you tell me about Hayden Lloyd?"

Uh oh. I should've just dragged my lazy, procrastinating arse out of the car when I'd had the chance.

"Not much. He's on Anglesey, working on diplomatic relations," I said automatically. That was how Jace had decided to explain his son's sudden absence from New Dawn, and I had no idea if this random fighter lady knew what was really going on.

"Yes," she allowed, and there was an impatience in her tone which made me think she did know. "I was just wondering if you'd heard anything. His family is very worried about him."

I didn't know if I was allowed to tell her anything. I certainly couldn't admit he'd been at the lodge, but I wasn't sure what Mam would want me to say, given that she was about to send his father that severed finger.

"From what I've heard, he's doing alright," Liam said before I could reach a decision. "A bit tired and homesick, maybe, but he's a tough kid. He can take care of himself."

The woman nodded. If I hadn't known better, I might have thought she was smiling. "That's good to hear. Thank you. If I were you, I'd go and introduce yourself to those boys. Say you're new here. They'll make sure you get to someone who can help you."

Liam and I looked at each other, and then we opened our car doors in unison. By the time they'd closed again, the driver had already started to pull off, leaving us alone in the heart of Silver Lake territory. Liam had the bags slung over his shoulder.

The fighters seemed to prick their heads up. One of them stuck his fingers between his teeth and whistled at us. Once he had our attention, he beckoned us over. I trailed after Liam, trying to make it look like I wasn't hiding behind him. I could feel their eyes crawling over us like so many ants.