I desperately searched among the trees for signs of movement. My lungs seemed to shrink with every breath, and I bent over in a fit of coughing.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKiTMlGt2b 維尼
“We’ll find her,” Nica wheezed. ”We just have to keep looking.”8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAitkpgqa8 維尼
I nodded. I could feel my heart pounding in my throat. “I just need a second.”8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fZo68D7Xv 維尼
Why wasn’t Emily responding? Why hadn’t we heard her scream?8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡlllEcIVxF1 維尼
The sudden sound of branches snapping in the distance sent us stumbling in pursuit. 8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSmPOf4hSo 維尼
Dense, shoulder high thickets made it impossible for us to move quickly. Branches whipped at my cheeks and bare legs, but I hardly felt the sting.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLiQh9MfAc 維尼
Above us, thick canopies blocked out the moon. I couldn’t see a damn thing. Terrified of getting separated, I fumbled for Nica’s hand.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0l825Jbnl 維尼
It felt like we’d been running forever when finally, I could see a soft blue light filtering through the trees ahead. A clearing!8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6g9dTVK1ZM 維尼
We rushed towards it, trying as hard as we could to be quiet. I was about to move into the open when Nica wrenched me back.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzgeioGWsj 維尼
Her eyes were wild. With one finger pressed to her lips, she pulled me to stand behind an old spruce tree.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DolRw6DGj 維尼
My stomach twisted at the sound of sickening, guttural voices emanating from the field.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsBsBcuSt0 維尼
It was them. A group of hunched creatures, carrying Emily’s limp body on their backs.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJZ5mLdH8M 維尼
The first thing I noticed was their skin. A sickly shade of green-grey, covered in what I could only assume to be warts. They didn’t seem to have any ears and their faces were mostly flat, like a toads, with two bulbous black eyes.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tr6SauFZr 維尼
But more than anything, it was their arms that disturbed me the most; exceedingly thin and disproportionately long in comparison to their short bodies, dragging in the dirt behind them like dead appendages.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcseNluKCC 維尼
And they had my little sister. They were touching her.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIDHTU4kgn 維尼
The thought made me physically sick. Bile rushed up my throat. I turned away and retched.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡB94Dza7VCd 維尼
Nica rubbed my shoulder. I could hear her sniffling.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡSboDvL5Dzd 維尼
“I’m so sorry,” she sobbed. “This is all my fault.”8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpw7IIcQwp 維尼
“Don’t,” I said, my voice brittle.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGgDtrqE45 維尼
“They’ve stopped walking.”8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡibEQ2uXMTe 維尼
I glanced up. The toad-men dropped Emily’s body. I cringed as she hit the dirt with a loud thud.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WZdHdhc8a 維尼
Oh god. What have they done to her?8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZc8A6gaHu 維尼
They circled around her with arms pointing inwards. All I could see was their backs.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzH1OL1ZRD 維尼
“Are they –?”8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7Pbz3nSby 維尼
Crack.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dCRfS9KTJ 維尼
Scorching hot wind whipped at my hair. I screamed, feeling my skin blister and crack. I could hear Nica shrieking beside me.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1M3XRI91h 維尼
Then, as swiftly as it had started, the wind came to an abrupt stop – and with it, the pain.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DgKopuH1i 維尼
I examined my hands and arms for damages. Nothing. It was all in my head.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEYtKgicR7 維尼
Nica’s eyes were glued to the field when I turned to check on her. Her skin was abnormally pale, even in the moonlight.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nhEJvwTtn 維尼
Dread crept up from the pit of my stomach.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXYEjaU1OH 維尼
I forced myself to look.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9I53G2mer 維尼
It was empty.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xy91gC2DU 維尼
They’ve disappeared.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJDld4VG5q 維尼
“That looked incredibly painful.” 8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡTffLvsU0gp 維尼
The voice came from right behind me. I nearly jumped out of my skin. Spinning on my toes, I looked up into the face of a young man – and lost my breath.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6M6sxD661F 維尼
His eyes were the most startling shade of amber that I had ever seen. The precise color of liquid honey in the sunlight, flecked with gold and alive with light. They locked onto mine, unblinking.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XcHVjWoYk 維尼
I appraised him, slack-jawed. He looked like he crept straight out of a Jane Austen novel, in a tight-fitting black waistcoat layered over a white ruffle-cuff shirt. All that was missing was the top hat. Instead, his hair flowed freely in shoulder-length waves, as fair as champagne.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHOfPinTMI 維尼
Was this guy for real?8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJWvmetJIJ 維尼
I took a step back, bumping into a tree.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡdeiEhTKX5K 維尼
“W-who are you?” I sputtered.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJT2Kv8uJL 維尼
“Name’s Jack,” the young man said. He had an unusual accent; Scottish, perhaps. Mixed with something I couldn’t quite place. “And we’re here to help you.”8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdcNtU2z8E 維尼
I blinked at him. “We?”8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xsMTakJmj 維尼
Jack held up his left hand.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡjX3BSsIybc 維尼
At his signal, a group of people emerged from between the trees. They too were clothed in a similar fashion, only they wore black, floor-length cloaks, hooded to conceal their faces.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6o8DmZuzD 維尼
“What is this, some kind of cult?” Nica hissed.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5FJ6txpuz 維尼
Simultaneously, they pulled back their hoods.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgkwxmx1zf 維尼
None of them looked to be much older than us; early to mid-twenties, I guessed. Yet there was something off about them. Something altogether ominous.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvCoFRxrcO 維尼
It was the way they carried themselves; poised and unnaturally fluent with their movements.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡyc4EktqJLg 維尼
“Sir,” A man addressed Jack. “We must make haste.”8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4Y7hIMY19 維尼
“Aye.” Jack studied Nica for a moment before his eyes landed back on me. “Would you two like to come with us?”8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡcH0HDx8sSQ 維尼
Nica walked to stand beside me. “Where exactly are you going?”8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIcm57qGdw 維尼
Jack smirked crookedly at us. “I’m not so sure you’d believe me.”8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00AMGc7q5K 維尼
“We just watched those things disappear into thin air with our sister. I’m feeling pretty open-minded,” she snapped.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡXafvTVOwWU 維尼
His eyes softened. “Ah. I’m sorry for your loss.”8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡ242WSLBoiN 維尼
“Sir,” pressed the same young man as before.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡoE9AD7HpJU 維尼
“Yes, I know,” Jack sighed. “Vevila?”8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7v0tOFEuGU 維尼
A petite young woman curtsied then rushed to stand before me. She bared a striking resemblance to Jack, with long, fair hair and striking eyes. Only hers were a lovely violet-blue, much like the petals of an Iris flower, and framed in heavy, dark lashes.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡNScjrETaqQ 維尼
She regarded me, doe-eyed.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7MczFISOR 維尼
“Please don’t be afraid.” Her voice was soft. Melodious. “My name’s Vevila. I’m going to help you.”8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKUnYD3e8O 維尼
She reached into her cloak and pulled out a small, red satin pouch tied with golden thread. She poured the contents into her hand; a vibrant orange powder.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbpvUE75Hu 維尼
“You mean drug her,” Nica snapped.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6nqWu4WLn 維尼
“Close your eyes,” Vevila instructed me.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6viIJLltr 維尼
I shook my head.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQDryd9e3B 維尼
“Get away from me,” I growled, trying my best to appear tough.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJcZUO63yU 維尼
In a blur, Nica tackled Vevila to the ground.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpbHFOmSC4 維尼
The men behind Jack moved quickly. They lifted Nica’s thrashing body and pinned her to a tree. She screamed at me to run.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrhbqavvLF 維尼
Vevila stood, brushed the dirt from her knees and wiped at the blood trailing from her nose with the back of her free hand. Then, with a hushed apology, she tossed the powder at my face.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAknkJgEmp 維尼
Engulfed in a neon cloud, I gasped for air.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7DDNuxQwH 維尼
The breath I sucked in was deep and long, relieving the burning sensation in my chest.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcvVtBCDnf 維尼
Surprisingly, the air didn’t irritate me at all. It smelled sweet, like lavender and chamomile.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCOST3jYCc 維尼
I slid against the bark of the tree until I sat against the roots.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6Owpy9Vjq 維尼
Don’t close your eyes, I commanded myself.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡsq3MOTJF8H 維尼
“It’ll be alright.” Though Vevila was crouched just beside me, her voice sounded distant. “Just relax.”8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡRN0I8fOWQP 維尼
“Mm.” I tried to protest, but my mouth wouldn’t cooperate.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡE66axXyMJS 維尼
Nica’s protests faded into silence as my vision blurred into darkness.8964 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1EW6NE25Y 維尼
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