Chapter Fifty Seven
1022 Words
Elara's POV
"Do you have anything of Elara's?" I asked, my voice was steady yet laced with urgency.
Elara's friend furrowed his brows in confusion at me for a second, then he let out a short laugh. "Wait, please do not tell me you are about to do the same crazy thing Elara did just to find you?"
It was pointless engaging him in something he did not clearly understand so instead, I just stared at him harder and repeated. "Do you have anything of hers?"
His smirk slowly faded. "Are you kidding me? How is that even supposed to help us find her?"
"Just trust me." I snapped at him.
He scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Yeah right. I would rather trust a police officer than even think of trusting you."
I clenched my jaw tight and spoke through gritted teeth. "Seriously, what is your deal with police officers? Do you really think they can save you from anything and everything?"
"What is your deal with not involving them in things that actually concern them?" He fired back, arms folded and brows raised.
Stepping closer and lowering my voice. "Because if the cops find out Elara is following Gabriel Cross, he will not be the one in trouble. They will come after her because not only is it trespassing but it also seems like a case of stalking. Do you plan to land her in the police station again?" My words sounded like a threat.
He opened his mouth to argue yet again but I did not let him.
"What do you even plan to say to them huh? That Elara is missing? Or that she is out chasing a man we think might be dangerous? Should I add with zero proof?"
I shook my head.
"She does not need to be saved by someone calling the cops. She needs someone who can actually find her."
He fell quiet for a moment, chewing the inside of his cheek which was beginning to irritate me. Just as I was about to figure another way out, he sighed heavily.
"Fine." He muttered. "We can grab something from her locker. I know her code."
His last statement got my attention. I raised an eyebrow.
He noticed. "We have been friends for a long time. Do not read too much into it."
I did not reply. Maybe I was reading into it but now was not the time to make any assumptions.
We stepped back into the school building, the hallways were empty, the sound of our footsteps was the only noise that echoed in the hallways.
He moved quickly to her locker, punching in her code and opened it.
"Here." He said, handing me one of her textbooks. "This should work right?" He eyed me with uncertainty.
I shook my head. "I need something stronger, something with her scent."
He gave me a wary look. "Please tell me you are not going to ask for her clothes."
I ignored him, my hands reached in and pulled out her purse. I lifted it to my face and inhaled.
A hint of vanilla and wildflowers.
That was Elara.
"This will work." I said, eyes narrowing.
I turned around to leave, Elara's scent still fresh in my senses but I stopped when I heard footsteps behind me. I glanced back and my eyes settled on Elara's friend, tagging along like we were about to embark on some exciting adventure.
"Why did you stop?" He paused to raise a brow at me.
A small scoff escaped from my lips. "What do you think you are doing?"
He shrugged. "Obviously, I am coming with you. What else does it look like?"
"No, you are not." I said bluntly.
"Yes, I am." He replied, his voice firm.
"You said it yourself that this was a crazy idea. Why would you even want to come?"
He rolled his eyes and fired back. "Maybe because she is my friend too and unlike you, i do not need to smell her purse to care about where she is."
I narrowed my eyes. "This is not a game. You could get hurt."
"So could you!" He snapped. "But at least I have a car. Unless you plan to run through half the town barefoot."
I paused.
Damn it, he was right.
Gritting my teeth, a sharp breath escaped from my lips. "Fine, but keep your mouth shut and follow my lead."
"Gladly. I have nothing to say to you anyways." He said. He led me to his car, a crappy jeep that looked like it would fall apart if you stared at it too long.
I sat in the passenger's seat while he drove, occasionally throwing me side-eyes like i was crazy as I directed him.
"Left....."
"Now right...."
"Are you sure you know where we are headed because it feels like we have taken this route before..." Elara's friend trailed off.
"You promised to shut up..." I added and that was enough to keep him quiet.
"Keep going straight."
We followed the trail of her scent until the trees started to thicken and the clouds darken.
"The woods again?" He asked with a frustrated sigh. "What is it with you people and forests?"
I did not answer but deep down I thought the same thing too. What was Elara doing in the woods? Or rather what was Gabriel Cross doing there?
Just as I was about to ask Elara's friend to turn to the right, my eyes sighted a black convertible usually parked at the edge of the school's parking lot. I never knew who owned but it had to be a student so who was Elara with?
I got off the car hastily, my heart racing.
"Hey, wait up!" Elara's friend called behind me but I did not listen.
I ran, clutching Elara's purse tight and the sound of my heartbeat rang louder in my ears.
"What are you doing? You could literally be running into a trap!"
I halted in my steps when I reached the car.
There she was.
Elara.
Sitting in the back seat.
And right besides her...
Adrian.
- Writer
