shuhaige
Chapter 29
Hayley’s POV How we ended up here was something I couldn’t understand. But I knew we were searching for Aiden, and this was where it led us. My heart thumped in my chest. Every ignored phone call felt like it lasted forever, with only Alessa’s heavy breathing breaking the silence. “Please answer the phone,” I quietly said to myself, experiencing a wave of powerless exasperation. At last, a harsh voice broke the taut stillness. “Alessa, are you there? What is the matter?” I felt such powerful relief that it nearly threw me off balance. Alessa began a panicked description, her voice filled with sobs. I paid close attention, putting together the frightening story she described: the abduction, the getaway, and Ethan’s scary vanishing. There was an unbearable amount of silence that lasted for a long time. Next, Alessa whispered once more, her voice barely audible. “He mentioned that he was able to assist.” We must rendezvous with him at the ancient mill next to the river, at the stroke of twelve. My chest pounded, a chaotic beat resounding in my head. Is it midnight? The concept of secretly meeting a total stranger late at night seemed like a careless, maybe even irresponsible, choice. However, the idea of Aiden being by himself and possibly hurt caused a strong determination to arise in me. “I hate this idea, Hayley.” Dad’s voice interrupted my frantic thoughts. “We cannot simply rely on any random person.” I was honest; I was not. This Kieran, whoever he may be, appeared to reside in a neutral zone, separate from the pack dynamics that had ensnared Aiden and me. He was a risk, but with no other choices available, it was a risk I was ready to take. “Dad,” I spoke with a forced calmness, “we need to attempt something. “This is our sole lead.” His expression became gentler as the worry lines on his face became more pronounced. His focus turned to Alessa, and his words were filled with a request. “Can we rely on him? Can he be trusted?” Alessa locked eyes with him, a spark of rebellion shining in her gaze. She simply stated that he was in debt to her. “And he isn’t obligated to Aunt Jada’s authority.” I was certain Alessa wouldn’t be dishonest to safeguard her own benefits, especially in such a crucial scenario. This individual, named Kieran, appeared to be our sole opportunity to locate Aiden. My father let out a deep sigh. “Okay,” he admitted, his voice weighted with unwillingness. However, we accomplish this as a team. “Stay away from risky heroism, Hayley.” I nodded, feeling a rush of resolve. I was still enveloped in fear like a second layer of skin, yet it was outweighed by a strong determination. I would not allow them to take Aiden. I would not allow them to be victorious. “I will meet you at the mill,” I stated over the phone, my voice steady despite my trembling hands. “Simply inform us of the necessary steps to bring Aiden home.” The call ended abruptly, creating an eerie silence. I quickly looked at the wall clock. Slightly after eight. We faced four long hours of uncertainty stretching ahead of us, causing agony. “We require a strategy,” Dad uttered with a resolute tone in his voice. “We have to find a way to get you out of here without attracting any attention.” I comprehended. The group of security guards guarding the house posed a significant challenge. We required a diversion, a method to escape unnoticed while they were watching. I began to conceive of a risky strategy, a bold move that might either bring us closer to Aiden or expose us to even more peril. “I have a plan,” I mentioned, a playful twinkle shimmering in my eyes. “However, it will necessitate some chaos.” Dad arched an eyebrow, a brief moment of amusement appearing before the concern on his face. “Please go on.” I moved nearer, whispering my strategy quietly. It was a risky move, almost bordering on insanity, but it was our only shot. He became serious once more. “This has the potential to collapse on us in a spectacular way, Hayley.” “I confess,” I acknowledged, a feeling of worry growing in my stomach. “It’s our sole opportunity. Aunt Jada will be caught off guard.” Dad paused briefly, considering the potential dangers. Eventually, he nodded briefly. “Okay,” he stated. “Let’s stir up some chaos.” The upcoming hours were filled with a flurry of busyness. We collected provisions-a couple of protein bars, a first-aid kit, and a map of the nearby region that Alessa had found. My father assisted me in coming up with a convincing reason to leave the house-a tale of sudden stomach pain and an urgent desire for some fresh air. The guards stationed outside posed the greatest obstacle. Two strong wolves, fiercely devoted to Aunt Jada, guarded the front door with narrowed eyes, watching me closely as I approached, holding my stomach in pain and pretending to grimace. ” One of them growled “Hayley” with a sneer on his lips. “Where do you think you’re going?” “Oh, um,” I stuttered, forcing myself into a believable act, “just… not doing well.” I needed to get some fresh air. The other guard sneered, “Nice breeze, isn’t it?” “It appears as though you are attempting to quietly leave.” Panic grasped at my throat, ready to suffocate my carefully crafted deception. However, suddenly, a wave of inspiration hit. A mischievous smile played on my lips. “I mean,” I said, pretending to be embarrassed, “the situation is actually a bit more sensitive than that.” Would you want me to create chaos in front of everyone? The guards gave each other uncertain looks, their rough expressions twisted in revulsion. The act I had created appeared to be effective. At that moment, Dad came out of the house right on time, pretending to be worried. “Hey, Hayley?” “What’s the matter?” “Dad!” Clutching my stomach dramatically, I cried out in pain. “This is absolutely awful! I believe I ate something bad.” My father’s eyes opened wide in fake terror. “Oh my goodness, not another time. Perhaps being outside for a bit will aid in calming the situation.” His gaze at the guards was sharp, and his tone was filled with power. Please wait for a moment, gentlemen. “We’ll be back shortly.” The guards paused briefly, clearly showing their unease. In the end, they agreed with grunts and moved out of the way, murmuring quietly about “pampered dogs” and “sensitive stomachs.” With Dad following closely behind me, my heart beat against my ribs as I walked past them. Once we were no longer visible, we started running and quickly vanished into the thick vegetation that surrounded the land. “I was almost caught,” I gasped, feeling adrenaline rush through me. “Dad muttered, his voice tinged with a touch of anxiety, “Too near.” It’s time for us to start moving. “We are short on time.” We quickly moved through the forest, finding our way using the diminishing light shining down from the trees above. Alessa’s only guidance was a rough drawing on wrinkled paper. “Do you have confidence in this path, Alessa?” I inquired while moving a low-hanging branch out of the way. “Confident,” she responded, her voice tense as she matched speed. “It is a logging trail that is old and rarely used now.”This belongs to NôvelDrama.Org.
We continued moving forward, with the only sound being the rustling of leaves beneath our feet and the occasional owl’s hoot. The darkness grew deeper, and a feeling of discomfort came over me. Each branch creak and each twig snap made me shiver in fear. “Do you believe they will come after us?” I spoke quietly, my words barely heard over the forest noises. “Dad said grimly that they might.” However, not in a straightforward manner. Aunt Jada wouldn’t dare to deploy an entire search party so close to the uprising. His words provided minimal reassurance. The idea of being chased in the forest, caught, and having to face Aunt Jada’s anger was absolutely terrifying. All of a sudden, Alessa came to a halt. “We have arrived,” she declared, indicating forward. Among the trees, I spotted a faint shape in the dimming sky-the outline of an abandoned structure, its bare bones illuminated by the moon’s soft light. The aged mill. “I really hope Kieran is here,” I whispered, feeling a shiver of fear travel down my back. We were on the brink of encountering a stranger late at night, delving further into unfamiliar surroundings. The scenario seemed hopeless-a risky venture driven by a desperate wish to locate Aiden. We moved silently towards the target, remaining alert. The silence was heavy with tension, only interrupted by the thumping of my heart in my chest. We arrived at the run-down structure, its empty windows gazing back at us like vacant eyes. “Kieran, are you here?” Alessa shouted, her voice bouncing in the quietness. No one responded. I felt a surge of letdown engulf me, extinguishing the small spark of hope I had felt. Did we travel all this distance in vain? As doubt started to seep in, a shadowy figure appeared from behind the mill. A tall man with wide shoulders and a rough attitude, his face concealed in the shadows, He came to a halt just a few paces from us, staring at each of us in turn. “Alessa?” he finally asked, his voice low and coarse. “It’s me.”