Rhénee Johnson: Emelda's Sapphire (Book One)

Chapter 13

Dragging the bicycle along became difficult with rocks on the path and the force of gravity as Rhénee went uphill. Sophie had been leading the way the whole time. They already went past the stream, headed north-west and now climbing up a hill.

After a few minutes of struggling with the bike, Rhénee finally gave up and decided to leave it behind making sure it leaned against the tree so as to not let it slide down the slope.

"I feel like we've been walking for hours," she said to herself.

The trees around them were much closer than before that sunlight barely shone through the canopies. The sudden change of scenery sent a chill down her spine. She wondered if Sophie in front of her was as scared as she was. Animals do feel scared at some point. Some were just too stoic to show it; like Sophie.

They were soon at the top and she spotted something further ahead. Her eyes widened even more when she realised that it was the old wooden cottage.

"There it is," she said. Sophie stopped and looked at Rhénee.

Rhénee still had her eyes on it before they fell on Sophie. A question soon popped in her mind. How did the cat know where to find it?

Her facial expression changed as she and the cat continued to look at each other. Rhénee knelt on one knee to look at Sophie more closely. The cat on the other hand, continued to look at Rhénee like any other pet would look at their owner.

"How did you know the cottage was here, Sophie?" Rhénee asked.

The cat didn't even let out a "meow." Rhénee thought as much. She was talking to a cat for goodness' sake.

It didn't matter. Somehow, the cat had managed to find something that would take days for anybody else to find. All she had to do was go in and see why she was wanted there.

Before she could lift herself off the ground, she heard the sound of breaking twigs and movement. A voice of a man came from the cottage and it startled her.

"Hey, did you hear something just now?"

Rhénee quickly lowered herself further. Luckily, there were tall plants around the area making it easier to stay hidden. Sophie in front of her, hadn't moved an inch.

"No, did you?" came another male voice.

"I thought I did," came the voice of the man who spoke first. "Must be an animal or something."

"Should we leave? I don't like being here."

"Me neither. But orders are orders."

"Maybe we should have listened to the madam and called this off."

"But you heard what he said. We have to wait till she shows up."

Rhénee held her breath for a moment. These men were here for her.

"What if she doesn't show?" the second man asked. "What then?"

"The boss assured me that she would come today. If she doesn't show till sunset, we can leave."

"We better get back in position. We don't want her running off when she shows up and sees us."

Rhénee heard the sound of broken twigs again and the creaking of old wood. She slowly raised her head and saw one of them go inside the cottage and the other go round back.

Rhénee didn't have any other option. If she were to stay here longer, they might see her and bring her in to whoever was in charge. Coming here might have been risky, but she was glad she hadn't brought the others with her. Who knows what would have happened.