Something didn’t add up. My arm is wet, I look up, but the tree is dry. I touch my face and feel the tears. I lay on my side and rock myself back and forth until I fall asleep.
I WALK DOWN THE SCHOOL corridor with my books hug tight to my chest. I couldn’t see Hazen today. Please don’t let him be in another class with me. Please take pity of my world. I walk in a daze, after a sleepless night in the woods. Luckily, we wore uniforms around here, so a change was not needed.
I could have taken the grass and leaves out of my hair, but I hadn’t the energy too. My clothes were dirty from the cold ground, and my socks have mud stains. Again, not caring. I avoid the looks from other students as I walk by them, unsure if it’s because I’m a mutt or the state of my appearance.
“Penelope,” Una calls me from down the hall but I keep walking, “Where have you been?”
I don’t answer her. My tolerance for any company right now is nil. I keep walking, and she tries to keep pace with my longer legs.
“We tried to find you.” Una grabs my arm to stop me.
I turn around and can’t help that I have my best scowl on my face. She lets go of my arm and steps back. Her mouth open and her eyes wide. There’s uncomfortable seconds, as I don’t bother to say anything to her.
“Are you alright?” Una said, she steps in closer and her gaze drops to my stained clothes. “Did you get into a fight?”
“No.” I finally break my silence. I didn’t like being mean to her. Of all the people in my new life, she’s treated me more than fine.
“Did you hear?” Una said, as she looks around us.
“Hear what?” There were too many answers I could have said to that question.
“The Stanton boys are missing. Gone. No one knows where they are.” Una grabs my arm and pushes me forward and we walk down the hall.
“That’s impossible.” I don’t even give her comment any thought. No one could hurt those boys. They have more power in their baby fingers than anyone around here. Especially together.
“It’s true. No one has seen them all day.” Una tugs on my arm, enjoying the bit of gossip she is sharing.
“Maybe they’re playing hooky.” I stop in front of my next class. “I’ve gotta go to this one. I missed all my morning classes.”
“I’ll come too.” Una steps in front of me.
“You don’t have this class.”
“You made yourself connected to them. I’m not leaving your side.” Una said, with a quick nod of her head.
“You really think something bad happened to them?” I asked, coming out of my cloud. The last time I had seen Ivor he was pissed at Hazen.
“Principal Stanton, has a crew out looking for them.” Una whispers.
I search her face for anything she wasn’t saying, but she appears sincere. I had to snap out of this mood and come back to my horrible reality. If the boys were missing, then something went down. I wonder if it has anything to do with Hazen or Alexandra.
“Is, Alexandra, missing too?” I try not to sound enthusiastic at the prospect.
“No, she’s a mess. Someone took her off-campus. She didn’t come home last night, so they figure she avoided being taken as well.”
I roll my eyes, not feeling any shame of wishing her to have gone home early. “Come on.” I grab Una’s hand and run down the hall. I wasn’t here to learn after all, and this mess must have something to do with the note that was waiting for me.
We round the corner, and I open the door to an empty classroom. I pull Una in and close the door behind us. I need to find out everything she knows.
“Where was she?” I couldn’t help but ask. Did everyone know about her and Hazen but me?
“I don’t know. Out with friends, I guess.” Una said taking a seat on one of the desks, “Where were you last night?”
“I was sick. I went for a walk and had some bad cramps, so I laid down in the woods and fell asleep.” The words came too freely from my mouth, and I hope she bought it.
“The woods! Didn’t, Clark, warn you about going in there alone?” Una jumps off the desk and for a moment, I thought she might deck me one.
“I’m a hunter, Una,” I said each word slowly. I hadn’t shown her much of who I really was. Perhaps I was too busy exploring this new girlfriend relationship to let her know the real me. Maybe I didn’t want to be me.
“Not here, you’re not,” Una said, flapping her arms and narrowing her eyes at me to show her displeasure.
“What else do you know? About the boys.” I try to change the subject. If they were missing, I’d need as much information as possible to hunt them.
“They aren’t saying much.” Una jumps back up on the desk and looks at her nails, already bored with our conversation.
“Start from the beginning.”
“Clark was looking for you,” Una said, her eyes said more than her words, and I question if Clark had told her about us.
“I should have come back.” I blurt out, hoping that would get her off the topic of where I was last night.
“It’s funny they are missing, and so were you. But you showed up.” Una said, her eyes dark and unfriendly.
I half-laugh at her comment, annoyed at what she was suggesting. I let my bookbag fall off my back and hit the floor. I didn’t like how she could be hot one minute and then cold the next with me. I walk around to the teacher’s desk and remember their plan to search one of the Fae’s offices. Did they try to find me last night? Was that what Alexandra was talking to Hazen about?
“Did anyone come to
